Traverse City, Michigan, USA – August 03, 2024 – The 2024 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships (NAYC), presented by USHJA, ramped up the action at Flintfields Horse Park during week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders on Friday as the Junior and Young Rider team medals were decided.  

Producing a nearly perfect final round of jumping, the four athletes that made up the Zone 4 Junior Team procured the gold medal. The up-and-coming competitors who made up the team consisted of Franklin, Tennessee’s Amy Krebbs (USA), Lily Geitner (Aiken, S.C.), Christian Hacker (Wellington, Fla), and Isabelle Ehman of Milton, Georgia. While the first round of team competition  came with an eight penalty-points, their low score of 7.12 coming from the previous day proved crucial for the victory. The team rallied during Friday’s second round and created clear rounds from all but one rider, the second round’s drop score. On a total of 15.12 points across all phases, they still earned the competition’s best overall score.  

“I had a clear first round, and then I needed to help my horse out a little more in the second round,” explained Hacker, who navigated the track fault-free during round one but suffered an unfortunate rail during the second round with CSH Equine LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Français mare Cocaine de Riverland (Epsom Gesmeray x Allegreto). “But that’s why this is a team event. My team rose to the occasion and helped me out and I’m so happy for all of us.” 

“I’m so thankful for everyone on our team that helped make this happen,” added Krebbs, who only collected four faults throughout the day with Amy Krebs’ 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Jabantos (Corsari van de Helle x San Patrignano Cassini). “This is my third year competing at NAYC so I really wanted to come home with the gold this year.” 

Alongside Krebbs, Ehman was the only athlete on the team who had been a part of NAYC before, but as an alternate during the 2022 year. Now, as a crucial member of the team, she and the Double E LLC’s 12-year-old mare, Magnolia (Mylord Carthago HN x Van Gogh) not only earned team gold, but also currently sit in second place in the junior individual rankings heading into Sunday’s final.  

“I wanted to be solid today because we had a great first day yesterday,” Ehman said. “I had a minor mistake in the first round, which cost me a rail, but she rose to the occasion for the second round. I knew that I could leave whatever problem I had in her hands and she would help me. We won’t change anything going into the final; I just need to stay out of her way and help her out, and I think we can have a good result.”  

While Geitner’s inexperience at the championships may have led to a less consistent score across the first day and Friday’s first round, she and the Oak Ledge Farms’ 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Fazous (Up to Date x Purioso) found their footing to produce a clear round in their final effort.  

“I’ve only been riding this horse since the beginning of this year, and he was my dad’s old grand prix horse,” stated Geitner. “I rode a little bit nervous yesterday and in the first round today, but he really pulled through for the last round and made it truly special.”   

Bringing home a total of 16 faults across the day’s competition and an overall score of 25.68, the Zone 2 team took home the event’s silver medal. The New York, N.Y. duo of Clara Propp and Maison McIntyre delivered a flawless finish across the final round, while James Leone’s (Great Lakes, N.J.) four faults became the drop score and Alexa Elle Lignelli (New York, N.Y.) added only four faults to the board.  

The bronze medal was awarded to the combined zone 3/8/9 team as they carried a total of 33.35 points across all phases of competition. Riding for the team was Riley McKesson of Lake Lure, N.C., Eve Westfall (Boulder, Colo.), Abigail Gordon (Statesville, N.C.), and the only zone 9 contender, Declan Talla from Bozeman, Montana.  

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Megan Giese Photography / Andrew Ryback Photography

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Link