The 2008 CN FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAYRC) at the Colorado Horse Park Presented by Gotham North were held July 29-Aug 3 in Parker, Colorado.

The Championships are the premier equestrian event in North America for riders age 14-21. Run in a format similar to the Olympic Games, the Championships feature riders competing for team and individual Medals in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as the western discipline of Reining, which was added to the schedule for the first time this year.

The NAJYRC operates under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport. It is the only FEI championship held annually in the United States.

Team Gold
The reiners from the United States were bestowed the honor of being the first reining team in history to be crowned Gold Medalists at the NAJYRC. The four member team of Lakshami Mahajan (Backcinch), Jason Kvols (Sunny Spotacular), Lacey Vernon (Duncans Dun It), and Carlie Thompson (Paid By Corona) put in exciting rides in front of a very enthusiastic crowd, many of whom were seeing Reining for the first time.

“It’s surreal,” said Lacey Vernon of her first trip to the NAJYRC. “To be the first ones (to win Reining Gold) is pretty amazing.”

Each reiner performed the same pattern before a panel of three judges, and the U.S. (640.0) prevailed over Canada (622.5). Carlie Thompson, 21, from Dublin OH, led the US charge with an individual score of 215.5 despite a bobble in her ride on Paid By Corona. The six-year-old American Quarter Horse stumbled coming out of an impressive spin, but he and Thompson made a classy recovery.

“My first concern was that he stand up,” said Thompson. “But I really wanted to make sure he was okay. I walked a few steps and I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurt. He was fine.”

The enthusiasm and team spirit at the NAJYRC were high among the young reining competitors.

“The vibes on this team were really cool,” said Kvols, who lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “It’s so cool and everyone is really supportive.”

The U.S. reiners qualified for the NAJYRC at the NRHA Derby in June in Oklahoma City. Guy Vernon, who served as the U. S. Chef d’Equipe, was impressed with his team and hopes that the competition will only continue to grow.

“It was amazing,” said Vernon. “Not knowing what to expect, I didn’t know that much about it. We were excited coming here but these kids exceeded my expectations as horse people and as people. This is a great bunch of kids.”

The Canadian Team combined riders from Alberta and Ontario. Darcy Williams (Miss Cielo Chex), Kylie Wasiuta (Watch Tiger Jack), Kelly Truesdell (Slide Over Hollywood), and Stephanie Gruhle (Great Captain Jac) were equally impressed with their first trip to the NAJYRC.

“It’s a dream come true,” they all echoed.

Canadian and NRHA Hall of Fame member John Snobelen served as the president of the Ground Jury and was impressed by what he saw in the development of the U.S. Reining program through NAJYRC. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” said Snobelen. “I’m standing on the shoulders of those who built this sport and these kids are the best ambassadors within the sport.”

Individual Gold
Carlie Thompson led a medal sweep by Team USA winning the individual Gold in the United States Equestrian Federation Reining division with a score of 219 on Paid By Corona. Her teammates, Jason Kvols who scored 217 on Sunny Spotacular and Lacey Vernon who scored 214.5 on Duncans Dun It, won the Silver and Bronze respectively.

Thompson said that her horse got a little scared of one of the photographers on one of her circles but overall “was really awesome.” The Ohio Wesleyan junior majoring in neuroscience and psychology said that it was different riding outdoors but that she liked it because “it makes for better pictures!”

Kvols, who started his horse career in rodeo, said that all the reiners knew that no matter what happened this week they were making history. “We knew that we’d always be the first reiners to ride in these championships. We loved being here and really liked watching the other disciplines. All of us would love to try the English riding but I just don’t know if you can get me to wear breeches!”

Vernon, daughter of veteran reiner and NRHA Professional Guy Vernon, said that she was, “born on a horse.” She said that she can’t wait to come back next year. “I’m not sure that I’ve ever had a better time than I did here this week.”