North American Young Riders' Championships, Presented by State Line Tack: Training Ground for Top International Equestrian Athletes

WADSWORTH, IL—July 16, 2001—The North American Young Riders’ Championships, presented by State Line Tack, held August 8-12, 2001 at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL and designated by the U.S. Olympic Committee as a “Junior Olympic” competition, serves as a training ground for many international competitors. One example is Canadian Olympic hopeful Frankie Chesler.

Chesler, 20, a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) and six-time Nations Cup competitor, got her start at the NAYRC in 1997. During this competition, Chesler and her horse Bravehart earned team and individual Silver Medals in the show jumping division.

“The NAYRC was the greatest experience—it gave me confidence, team experience and my first taste of international competition,” said Chesler. “It’s incredible. It was the beginning of such a personal growth experience for me and thus far has been the most rewarding experience of my life. It was the stepping stone of my riding life,” she said. Since first riding for the CET, Chesler has continued to support the NAYRC. “If one has the opportunity to qualify for the NAYRC—go again and again, it is well worth it,” she concluded.

Many top international and Olympic riders got their start at the NAYRC including two-time Olympic team Medalist Karen O’Connor (1996 team Silver and 2000 team Bronze), 2000 U.S. Show Jumping Olympic team member Lauren Hough and 1998 Olympic Silver Medalist Greg Best, as well as Megan Johnstone, Elise Haas, Buck Davidson, Abigail Lufkin, Alison Firestone, Chris Kappler, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, Chris Pratt, Lisa Carlsen Lubitz, Kathleen Raine, Heather Mason, David Wilson, Tiffani Loudon, Mara DePuy, and Julie Gomena.

NAYRC riders compete in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. The competition is run under rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport, and hosts equestrians from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands vying for championships.

The NAYRC began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A dressage championship was added in 1981, and show jumping debuted in 1982. The first complete NAYRC was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982. Tempel Farms has hosted the Championship 12 times since 1985.

Tempel Farms is home to the world's largest private herd of Lipizzan Horses. It is widely considered to be one of the finest equestrian facilities in North America with extraordinary facilities, excellent footing, and a challenging CCI** cross-country course. Admission to the NAYRC is free Tuesday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday admission is $7 per day or $18 for a three-day pass. Children under eight and senior citizens are half price.

For more information on NAYRC activities visit www.youngriders.org. At the NAYRC web site you will find zone, region, area contact information, a competition schedule, Tempel Farms information, and many other details pertaining to the event.