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American Dressage
News
2008 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships
Return to Colorado
February 5, 2008
 The 2008 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships
(NAJYRC) at the Colorado Horse Park Presented by Gotham
North are set to return, July 29-August
3, 2008. This year the championships will be adding the western
riding division of reining to the schedule. The Championships
already feature the three Olympic equestrian disciplines
of show jumping, dressage and eventing. The addition
of reining paves the way for the biggest and best Championships
ever when the NAJYRC returns to the Colorado Horse
Park in Parker, CO for the first time since 2000.
The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships
is the premier equestrian event in North America for
riders, age 14-21. Many young equestrians travel from
the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and
the Caribbean Islands for a chance to compete for team
and individual championships. The NAJYRC operates under
the rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale
(FEI), the international governing body for equestrian
sport and the only FEI championship held in this country.
"We are excited to expand the Championships schedule
to include reining at this year's NAJYRC," said
Larry Langer, who serves as NAJYRC event director. "It's
very satisfying for us to know that in addition to
the juniors and young riders who are able to compete
in the three Olympic disciplines, North America's best
young reiners will now also have an opportunity to
experience what it's like to compete in an international
event under FEI rules."
 The NAJYRC is the continuation of an annual competition
that began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between
Canada and the United States. In the years since its
inception, it has grown considerably with the addition
of a Dressage Championship in 1981 and the Show Jumping
Championship in 1982. The first complete Championships
with all three Olympic disciplines was held in British
Columbia, Canada in 1982. In 2006, a championship division
for juniors was added to the schedule and now, with
a fourth discipline joining the world-class line-up,
the Championships have reached a whole new level of
significance.
Dressage is primarily about the balance and harmony
between horse and rider. Careful attention to detail
and seamless transitions are a top priority. Competitors
perform a standard test, demonstrating obedience, ability,
and precision. Each movement is judged subjectively
and scored separately.
Show jumping tests horse and rider team over a course
of fences and other obstacles. The objective is to
make it over the course with as few faults as possible.
Going over the designated time allowed, knocking down
rails, as well as any refusals or falls, accumulates
faults or results in elimination. Show jumping has
been referred to as having the excitement of horse
racing mixed with the daring of downhill slalom skiing.
Eventing combines dressage, show jumping and cross
country to give each horse-and-rider combination a
cumulative score over the course of three days. Eventing
begins with the dressage test, with cross-country following,
and then ends with show jumping, testing the endurance
and ability of both horse and rider. The cross-country
element consists of a timed ride over an outdoor course,
jumping over natural or natural looking obstacles.
The rider must ride the same horse for all three phases
of the competition.
Reining is designed to show the athletic ability of
ranch type horses in the confines of a show arena.
Riders are required to run one of 10 approved patterns
which include seven or eight compulsory maneuvers based
on movements a cattle horse would adopt while working.
In addition to the championship competition in dressage,
show jumping, eventing and reining, this year's CN
North American Junior and Young Rider Championships
at the Colorado Horse Park will also feature demonstrations
of the FEI discipline of vaulting.
Photos copyrighted: Mary Phelps/Phelpsphotos.com
Related Links
Horsesdaily "On the Scene" at the 2007 North American
Young Riders Championships
Pia Fortmuller, 2006 North American Young Riders Champion
Eurodressage at the 2000 North American Young Riders'
Championships
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