Nov 12, 2021

Dressage Concludes at the 2021 Adequan®/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge – East Coast Final

By USEF - Edited Press Release
Grace Mykityshyn and MTF Cooley Classic. Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Photo.

With the second day of competition at The Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event in the bag, Area II is dominating the leaderboards in the inaugural Adequan®/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge (YTC) – East Coast Final.

The Youth Team Challenge invited athletes ages 14-25 to compete as team members and individuals in the CCI1*-L, CCI2*-L, and CCI3*-L divisions. Teams consist of three or four members and may be composed of members from different USEA Areas to accommodate entries. Each team’s three best scores will be combined to determine the team score.

In the CCI3*-L, the combined team from Area II, Area III, and Area VIII holds the lead after dressage with a total combined score of 96.1. The team includes Alexandra Baugh and MHS Fernhill Finale (Area VIII), Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Belongs to Teufer (Area II), Benjamin Noonan and Keep Kitty (Area II), and Sarah Bowman and Altus Louvo (Area III).

In the CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L, Area II has hold of top position heading into cross-country. The leading CCI2*-L team roster is Jackson Dillard and Layla Q, Mia Braundel and Junkanoo, Maddie Hale and Cinzano 87, and Kiera Kenny and FE Black Ice.

In the CCI1*-L, the Area II team is composed of Ella Braundel and Categorically Cooley, Caroline Brown and Sydney, Grace Mykityshyn and MTF Cooley Classic, and Juliana Cassar and Cheranimo.

Area II Youth Coordinator Chris Donovan says that a lot of the preparation for the YTC Finals from an Area standpoint is on the logistics side.

“Area II is a little larger than most areas,” said Area II Youth Coordinator Chris Donovan. “There are 300 kids in the program and 70 of them that were part of Youth Team Challenge. Their preparation is individual, with their own trainers. It’s not done as an area program, but we supervise and provide support. So the prep that went into this is a lot of follow-up and making sure the kids had the right qualifications, telling them not to do their first three-star here but to stay at the two-star level.”

Donovan says that several of the Area II competitors had previously competed in the North American Youth Championships, the predecessor to the YTC program. She says the feel of the program is different, but that the participants are enjoying the team experience. Several of the riders are also working students with different trainers, but the YTC gives them a chance to spend time outside of their own barns.

“They’re having a lot of fun, they’re bonding. They’re having a good time together. They’re sitting at the tables together, they’re hanging out in the barns together, even though they’re not all stabled together. Most of them are working students, so they’re working as well as having time in their own tack room. There are four moms that are making sure they’re well-fed. The new kids on the block have all been introduced. It’s a fun camaraderie.”

The Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event continues on Saturday, Nov. 13 with the cross-country phase for all Youth Team Challenge competitors as well as The Dutta Corp USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship.


Helpful Links

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA