Kalispell, Mont. - Teamwork and connection between the horse and rider is a traditional focus in eventing. The Adequan® North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North (NAYC) takes it a step further and invites individual competitors to band together by Area and cheer each other on. 

Whether it's horse and rider partnership or a team of strangers making life-long friendships, the podium winners of CCIJ2*-L and CCIY3*-S were glowing with the aftermath of a job well done.

Speaking to the connection with her horse 2 A.M., Charlotte Babbitt shared, "I just thought he was going to be a good boy if I went in and rode well. I feel like I did and of course [2 A.M.] came up to the task." Babbitt won the gold medal in CCIJ2*-L representing Area VI after a dressage score of 24.0 and double clears in cross country and show jumping.

Elizabeth Henry and Benjamin Noonan won second and third with scores of 24.9 and 27.0 respectively. All three CCIJ2*-L podium riders finished with double clears in cross country and today's show jumping event. "She can just jump whatever I point her at. She's amazing. Forever in debt to my horse," gushed Noonan about his horse Keep Kitty.

Elizabeth Henry's team, Area VIII pulled away with a decisive team victory in CCIJ2*-L with a combined score of 90.6. "[My horse and I] had our heads on straight, so that was a very calming feeling," said Henry's teammate Gracie Elliott of her horse Ballylanders Finn McCool. "Once I started and came down from the first jump and got over it, I was like 'Okay, I think we got this.'"

In the CCIY3*-S division William Kidwell and his horse Tremolo were great under pressure, a double clear in today's show jumping clinched his first-place award with an individual score of 29.0. He echoed the 2019 NAYC theme of teamwork. "Support is the biggest takeaway," he reiterated. "I wouldn't be here without it."

Katie Lichten finished in second place on her horse Sapphire Blue B with a score of 31.8 and Cosby Green secured a third-place position on Takine De La Barais with a score of 33.1. Lichten spoke to the full circle of competing with a team, "If you have a good day - celebrate that. But also, be ready to pick up your teammates. Not everyone is going to have their best week."

The Area III/VII team followed in Kidwell's consistent hoof prints and performed a very clean show jumping test overall. After fluctuating on the leaderboard, this team was consistent when it mattered and took a commanding lead to claim the gold medal with a score of 107.3. Area IV/VIII took silver with an overall score of 129.2 and Area I/II finished bronze with 135.3.

Said Area III/VII team member Grace Smith, "What a special opportunity it is. Being on a team is not like competing individually. It's a bunch of us working towards the same goal. Very special."

The giggles, group hugs, and erupting screams at the end of each test only reinforce the spirit of teamwork saturating the 2019 NAYC at Rebecca Farm.

Mid-day, the grounds began to echo with the sound of the Canadian national anthem. Sabrina Glaser had taken the gold in CCI4*-S on her horse Rembrandt with a score of 43.9.

Glaser glowed with the memory of the long road it took to get to this point. "She [owner, Patricia Yust] has been there from the beginning to watch all of those little steps. She knows how hard it's been," said Glaser. But in discussing the performance this week she described her relationship with Rembrandt as it has grown,"We have a great partnership and I know him really well."

To close the final day of an exciting week, Jennie Brannigan edged ahead of Lauren Billys in the CCI4*-L show jumping. With a double clear round, Brannigan maintained her score of 32.9 on Stella Artois, taking the gold medal. There was stillness across the arena as Billys entered, and the first and second standing reversed when Billys knocked a rail down in the Swedish oxer. 

After a tough journey to get to this point Brannigan was tangibly emotional coming into this unexpected win. "Time goes on, things happen. This sports' tough but we've got good people around us and it makes it possible to keep going," said Jennie about her supporters.

Lauren Billys finished in second on Purdy Syndicates' Castle Larchfield Purdy with a score of 35.0. This score qualifies Billys to ride in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a sight she has set her eyes on throughout the competition.

Whether its horses and riders, new teams or old teams, competitors or supporters - the camaraderie at Rebecca Farm is contagious. 

For 2019 results, please visit www.rebeccafarm.org.

For 2019 NAYC team results, please visit https://eventing.startboxscoring.com/eventsr/rebecca/yrht0719/index.php.

For more information about The 2019 Event and other upcoming festivities at Rebecca Farm, visit www.rebeccafarm.org.

ABOUT THE EVENT AT REBECCA FARM

The Event at Rebecca Farm presented by Montana Equestrian Events is held every July in Kalispell, Montana. One of the largest equestrian triathlons in the United States, The Event is also considered to have some of the world's finest scenery. Each year it draws hundreds of riders of all levels, from amateur to Olympians. In addition, the 2019 Event celebrates 30 years of sanctioned eventing in the Flathead valley, with longtime participants returning to the farm and reminiscing amongst future generations.

The Event at Rebecca Farm features thirteen courses ranging from novice to Olympian qualifier, which were originally developed by world-renowned course designer, Mark Phillips. In 2012, Scottish equestrian Ian Stark redesigned the Rebecca Farm courses. Known for his immense contributions to eventing, Stark has won multiple Olympic medals and was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

For more information, visit www.rebeccafarm.org.