Region 3 Juniors Take Home the First Gold Medal of 2024 Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship
Competition in the Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship presented by USDF at the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) kicked off on Wednesday during the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, with the junior and under 25 dressage athletes completing their first tests for team and individual scores.
FEI NAYC Junior Dressage Team Test
The team from Region 3 moved into a narrow lead after the first day, turning in four solid tests. Justine Boyer (Ocala, Fla.) and Campanero HGF; Alice Burley (Atlanta, Ga.) and S. Classic Conversion Cav-I; Alexis Troutman (Atlanta, Ga.) and Happy Feet; and Virginia Woodcock (Atlanta, Ga.) and Mollegardens Sans-Souci, finished the day with a collective score of 198.455, just a fraction of a point ahead of the combined team from Region 4, 5, and 7, which stood in second with a 198.060. Region 9 was also close behind in third position with a 197.302.
Woodcock is competing at NAYC for the second time with her own Mollegardens Sans-Souci (Sir Donnerhall x Sascha), a 2014 Danish Warmblood mare. The pair had the team’s top score in the first test with a 66.970%.
“It was just an incredible feeling,” she said. “I think everyone knows that horses are different every time you take them out and put their bridle on, and I just rode the horse I had today. She felt great and stayed with me as best she could.”
Fellow second-timer Boyer with Campanero HGF (Camaron IX x Quintera XII), a 2013 PRE stallion owned by Hampton Green Farm, was the final test of Wednesday’s junior section.
“I didn’t really mind going last today. I think it added a little pressure, and I like to compete under pressure,” she said. “I would always like to do well for the team, keeping in mind not to change anything and making sure that he’s with me all the time. I’ve been riding him since he was 7; he’s 11 now, and he’s super sweet.”
Troutman with Happy Feet (Totilas x De Lady K), a 2012 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Alexis, Kevin, and Nina Troutman, and Burley with Classic Conversion Cav-I (Converter x Sweet Song), Grace Burley’s 2009 North American Warmblood mare, are both making their NAYC debut this year and contributed solid scores to the team effort.
“Happy Feet is 12 years old. I’ve had her about four years and we have a really good bond,” said Troutman. “Today, my test was the best test I could put out with what she gave me.”
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