The Adequan® North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North kick off next week with eventing at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Mont.) July 24-28. Old Salem Farm (North Salem, N.Y.) hosts FEI dressage and jumping championships July 30-Aug. 4. The NAYC is the pinnacle of equestrian sport in eventing, jumping, and dressage for young U.S. riders aged 12-21. Young riders compete for individual medals in those three Olympic disciplines, but they also ride for team medals—giving these young equestrians a special opportunity to ride on a team while facing international rivals.

Whether you’ll be watching USEF Network’s livestream or attending in person, we’ve got five fast facts to get you up to speed.

 

1. USEF Network has the livestream.

We’ll livestream the eventing from Rebecca Farm July 24-28 and both the dressage and jumping from Old Salem Farm. Stay tuned to the USEF Network page for details on the NAYC and other great events. You can also catch 2018’s NAYC coverage.

2. NAYC: it’s the tops.

For many young equestrians, it’s their first taste of international and team competition. Teams from around the U.S. compete, and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean also are invited to send teams. Riders must qualify to compete, and the standard of competition at the NAYC itself is high, making it a good steppingstone toward adult international competition. NAYC eventing at Rebecca Farm is run at the CCIJ2*-L level for athletes aged 14-18 and at the CCIY3*-S level for athletes aged 16-21. At Old Salem Farm, the dressage is open to athletes aged 14-21 competing in the FEI Junior and Young Rider divisions, and the jumping is open to those aged 12-21 who compete in the FEI Children, FEI Junior, and FEI Young Rider divisions.

3. The venues are special.

The NAYC eventing takes place in conjunction with The Event at Rebecca Farm, which features novice- to CCI4*-level competition, while the NAYC jumping and dressage is a standalone event at Old Salem Farm.

Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Mont., has been hosting eventing competition since 2002, and in that time the venue, known for its sweeping views of Big Sky country, has become one of the nation’s most treasured destinations—and a deeply valued community partner. The Event at Rebecca Farm alone has created more than $5 million in annual economic impact to the local area. Named after the late Rebecca “Becky” Broussard, who founded the farm and the competition with her husband, Rebecca Farm also raises funds for national cancer research and local support services through the charity Halt Cancer at X. Broussard’s daughter, Sarah, founded Halt Cancer at X after her mother’s death from breast cancer in 2010. To date, the charity has raised about $600,000 to fund research and support organizations.

Old Salem Farm in North Salem, N.Y., is a boarding and training facility that’s also

the home base for 2016 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Lucy Davis and trainer and rider Christian Coyle. Located just an hour north of New York City, the 120-acre facility is a bucolic setting for some of equestrian sport’s best competition. Among its most famous features are the historic grass grand prix field and the iconic hilltop barn, which covers 85,000 square feet.

4. There are big prizes on the line.

The 2019 NAYC features expanded prize money, including $50,000 in the Junior Jumping Championship and $75,000 in the Young Rider Jumping Championship. Jumping athletes will also have the opportunity to qualify a Young Rider team for the 2019 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Finals in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

And there’s more: Ariat is giving an apparel prize pack to the top-placed U.S. Rider of the Young Rider divisions in each discipline, and Prestige is awarding a total of seven saddles and 31 bridles across all the disciplines, too. At the NAYC dressage championship, the top three finishers in the Junior and Young Rider divisions also will receive gifts cards, saddle pads, and halters.

5. There are double-headers for spectators at Rebecca Farm and Old Salem Farm.

At Rebecca Farm the NAYC eventing competition runs alongside The Event at Rebecca Farm, which offers eventing at the CCI2*-L, 3*-L, and 4*-L, as well as at the CCI4*-S levels. At Old Salem Farm, fans of equestrian sport get two different disciplines: the jumping and dressage competitions take place in the same timeframe, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy both sports.