Jessica Pye and Carte Blanche made their final performance together count at the CN North American Young Rider Championships presented by Adequan, when they took home both team and individual gold medals in the CCI**.

They cruised around the challenging course designed by David O’Connor at the Virginia Horse Center to finish on their dressage score, then nearly left all the jumps up, dropping only the last rail on Linda Allen’s show jumping course, but still well within the lead.

Pye, of Lewisville, TX said that the 16-year-old gelding will head home for a well earned retirement after the championships. During his career Carte Blanche has competed in three NAYRC’s, winning three individual medals, as well as numerous other competitions including an Advanced horse trials while overcoming numerous health issues including the loss of vision in his left eye.

“I’ll never have another horse like him,” said Pye.

Her team from Zone V, including Ashley Bailey-Classen on Ballynoe Rum, Bonner Carpenter on Acapulco Jazz and Rebecca Brown on Twinkle Toes also took home the team gold medal. They were coached by Mike Huber, who the girls agreed was outstanding as their chef d’equipe.

“He is a shrink, a dad, and a coach,” said Pye, who is currently a working student at Huber’s Gold Chip stables.

In the CCI*, 18-year-old Nate Chambers of Vienna, VA rode Rolling Stone II for the team and individual gold, assuring a place in the hearts of many of the girls in the horse world. Handsome, charming and talented, Nate’s easygoing attitude combined with hard work and determination has brought him continued success since his win at the Preliminary level at the American Eventing Championships last September.

In addition to Chambers, Area II included Madeline Blackman on Meadow Sparrow, Julia Ward on Squeezably Soft, and Alexandra Zavoyna on Merloch, also took home the team gold medal.

They all agreed that they owed much of their success to Steve and DC McBroom, Carol Kozlowski, and all of the staff and grooms that helped them to their victory.