84 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Kim MacMillan
In July, hundreds of riders descended on the Kentucky Horse
Park in Lexington, Kentucky to take part in the 2012 Adequan FEI
North American Junior & Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC),
presented by Gotham North. The championships began as an
eventing challenge in 1974 held in Jokers Hill, Ontario, Canada.
In 1981 dressage was added and the FEI recognized the event
for the frst time. In 1982 show jumping joined the NAJYRC roster
with reining and endurance coming on board in 2008 and 2011
respectively. Over the history of the event it has moved to several
locations around the U.S. and Canada.
Zone 10’s Kilian McGrath and Salerno
took the Young Rider gold in show
jumping.
Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Last year’s NAJYRC Junior gold medal
team member Brandi Roenick returned
as a Young Rider this year paired with
2011 Pan Am gold medal winner Weltino’s
Magic who she is leasing from Jen and
Bruce Hlavacek. Roenick and Magic led
the Region 5 Young Rider team to gold
this year and earned individual gold and
freestyle gold as well. Magic’s regular
rider, Steffen Peters is Roenick’s trainer at
home, although Roenick’s mother was her
coach during NAJYRC as Peters was in
London preparing for the Olympics.
Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Colombia’s Nicolas Torres
Rodriguez and Silver Label
turned in stellar performances
in Junior dressage all week
at the 2012 NAJYRC. They
were the highest scoring pair
in individual dressage and
in the freestyle, in either age
group; but the NAJYRC is
the championships for North
American countries only and
Rodriguez is from South
America. Colombian native
turned American rider Cesar
Parra is Rodriguez’ coach.
The Ground Jury awarded
Rodriguez a special prize for his
efforts. For 2013, expanding the
NAJYRC to include riders from
all of the Americas is under
consideration.
Photo by Sarah Miller/MacMillan
Photography
Young Rider eventer Connor Husain was frst out on cross-country holding
their dressage score through that phase and stadium to take the gold
Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Junior eventing Junior gold medalist was
Victoria New riding Fleeceworks Mystere
du Val. They led their Region 5 Junior
team to gold as well .
Photo by Dee Kochensparger/MacMillan Photography