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2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships Presented by Gotham North

by Kim MacMillan, MacMillan Photography & Media Services, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , phone 260-468-2392

The competition was as hot as the weather at the 2011 renewal of the Adequan FEI Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) presented by Gotham North and held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington at the end of July. Temperatures and humidity levels soared into the upper nineties each day causing concerns about horse and rider welfare. Coats were waived in the competition ring and every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of all competitors - horses and riders.

During a heavy rainstorm on Saturday afternoon lightening hit a transformer just outside the Park causing a 3-hour delay due to a power outage. No one was injured and the dressage freestyle competition resumed when the storm subsided and a generator was brought in to power the sound system.

Approximately 250 riders from six countries competed in five disciplines (dressage, endurance, eventing, reining and show jumping). Riders ranging in age from 14 - 21 competed with the Junior division being for riders from 14 - 18 and the Young Rider division for ages 16 - 21. Due to the overlap, riders age 16 - 18 could choose to compete either as a Junior or a Young Rider. In the coming years para dressage and vaulting are to be added as official sports.

For a complete list of results from the last three years of competition and information about how to qualify for the 2012 NAJYC, go to www.youngriders.org.