August 11, 2021 
While the 2021 Olympic Games may have come to a close on Sunday, there are more than a dozen gold, silver and bronze medals still to be awarded this week.
These particular medals may not bear the Olympic insignia, but for many of North America’s top young show jumping and dressage riders, they are considered the youth equivalent to those awarded in Tokyo.
From Wednesday, August 11, through Sunday, August 15, nearly 200 riders from the U.S., Canada, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica will contest the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) in Traverse City, MI. They’ll be vying for both team and individual medals in the premier equestrian competition in North America for riders ages 14–21.
Here’s what you need to know to keep up with the action!
The Useful Links
- Schedule
- Results and Orders of Go
- List of show jumping teams
- Where to Watch
- Where to find latest news coverage: Here on Horse Network!
The Gist
As the name implies, the FEI North American Youth Championships are run under governance from the Federation Equestre Internationale. The event has the distinction of being the only FEI championship held annually on this continent.
Show jumping riders will compete in team and individual competition in the following divisions:
- Children’s Championship (NAChC): athletes FEI ages 12–14, with fences up to 1.25m
- Pre-Junior Championship (NAPJC): athletes FEI ages 14–16, with fences up to 1.30m (a newly introduced division for 2021!)
- Junior Championship (NAJC): athletes FEI ages, 14–18, with fences up to 1.40m
- Young Rider Championship (NAYRC): athletes FEI ages 16–21, with fences up to 1.50m
Dressage riders will compete in team, individual and individual freestyle competition in Junior and Young Rider divisions.
The Daily Rundown
WEDNESDAY
8 a.m. – Junior Team Dressage Test and Medal Ceremony
Thirty junior dressage riders will complete their first test, and their team results will determine the first medal winners of the week.
8 a.m. – Children’s First Individual Show Jumping Qualifier 1.20m
9:15 a.m. – Pre-Junior First Individual Show Jumping Qualifier 1.30m
Twenty-two Children’s riders and 33 Pre-Junior competitors will complete their first qualifying class, with Wednesday’s results carrying over to the remainder of the competition to help ultimately determine both the team and individual medal winners.
THURSDAY
8 a.m. – Young Rider Team Dressage Test and Medal Ceremony
Today, it’s the 36 Young Riders turn to compete for their team and for a chance at gold!
8 a.m. – Children’s Team Show Jumping Competition
10:30 a.m. – Pre-Junior Team Show Jumping Competition
With faults carried over from Wednesday’s class, today’s two-round competition determines who will be standing on the Children’s and Pre-Junior team podiums.
2 p.m. – $5,000 Junior First Individual Show Jumping Qualifier 1.40m
4 p.m. – $10,000 Young Rider First Individual Show Jumping Qualifier 1.45m
Like the Children’s and Pre-Junior riders on Wednesday, Thursday’s qualifier classes begin the road to the medals for the 47 competing Juniors and the 36 Young Riders.
FRIDAY
8 a.m. – Juniors Individual Dressage Test and Medal Ceremony
8 a.m. – $35,000 Junior Team Show Jumping Competition and Medal Ceremony
12 p.m. – $40,000 Young Rider Team Show Jumping Competition and Medal Ceremony
While the scores from Thursday will help determine the show jumping team results on Friday, the Junior dressage riders start on a clean slate as they ride for their individual medals.
SATURDAY
8 a.m. – Young Riders Individual Dressage Test and Medal Ceremony
8 a.m. – Children’s Show Jumping Farewell
The top 60% of Children’s riders will qualify to compete for medals in the Children’s Individual Show Jumping Final, but the remaining riders are invited to participate in this final farewell class.
8:30 a.m. – Pre-Junior Show Jumping Farewell
In the Pre-Junior division, the 25 highest-ranked riders will advance to the Pre-Junior Individual Show Jumping Final, with additional competitors contesting the Pre-Junior Show Jumping Farewell class.
9:30 a.m. – Children’s Individual Show Jumping Final and Medal Ceremony
12 p.m. – Pre-Junior Individual Show Jumping Final and Medal Ceremony
Both the Children’s and Pre-Junior Individual Show Jumping Finals will consist of two rounds, with only the top 15 riders returning for the second round of the Pre-Junior Final.
SUNDAY
8 a.m. – Juniors Freestyle Dressage Test and Medal Ceremony
8 a.m. – Junior Show Jumping Farewell
8:30 a.m. – Young Rider Show Jumping Farewell
11 a.m. – $10,000 Junior Individual Show Jumping Final and Medal Ceremony
12 p.m. – Young Riders Freestyle Test and Medal Ceremony
2 p.m. – $25,000 Young Rider Individual Show Jumping Final and Medal Ceremony
The final day is filled with the most medal ceremonies, with dressage Juniors and Young Riders riding for freestyle podium honors and the top 25 Junior show jumpers and top 25 Young Rider show jumpers riding for their individual medals.
