Sienna Rowe Wins Junior Individual Gold, Claire Robinson Wins Inaugural U25 Freestyle Grand Prix at 2023 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships Presented by USDF
Competition continued today at the 2023 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF and welcomed Individual winners in the Junior and U25 Freestyle divisions.
Junior Individual Championship
Sienna Rowe (Urbanna, Va.) and Jason Rowe’s 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Lightfire Just Do It landed atop the podium in the Junior Individual Championship with the only 70% of the class, riding to a final score of 70.676%.
“I was thrilled because my ride Thursday was close to a 70%, but not quite,” said Rowe. “I was very happy to get a 70% and to have had a really good ride.”
Rowe and “Nike” have been partnered for three years, and Rowe described him as a personable mount.
“He’s like the perfect little guy,” Rowe said. “He’s like this little ball of fire. He’s got a great personality. When you go to open his stall door, If you try and leave, he sticks his face out and doesn’t let you shut it.”
Rowe set her sights on NAYC and will decide her next moves with the gelding soon.
“I was just really hoping to do good here,” Rowe said. “From here, we’ll see where it goes.”
Madison Sumner (Wellington, Fla.) and the 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Briar, owned by Madison and Wayne Sumner, rode to a personal best score of 69.382% to take home the silver medal.
“It’s been an amazing experience to be here with all these talented riders,” said Sumner. “I’m grateful to have my amazing support team, and it means a lot [to be at NAYC]. I was really happy with my half-passes today. And the overall feeling he gave me, he was really with me the whole time.”
Norah Wright (La Grande, Ore.) and her own 18-year-old Andalusian gelding, Baccos Do Retiro, rounded out the top three by claiming the Junior individual bronze. The pair began their week as members of the gold medal-winning Region 6/4 team and today earned a score of 69.382%.
“What makes Baccos special is that he really tries no matter what he does and just loves to get out there and show,” said Wright. “Today, our high points were the trot for the whole test; he was balanced and really with me.”
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