Two exceptional mares, two talented equestrians, and two zero-jumping-fault outings led to the first individual gold medals at the 2023 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship presented by USHJA. Hailey Guidry and Ezmeralda EH Z finished five-rounds of competition in the Children category with zero penalties. Lauren Frandson and Golda completed their NAYC week with no rails down across five rounds and only 0.28 penalties from the first round.

Photo – Hailey Guidry and Ezmeralda EH Z. (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian)

Children Individual Championship

Hailey Guidry (Poplarville, Miss.) made an undeniable entrance to her first NAYC, winning team gold with Zone 4 and then going on to win individual gold, and doing it all without racking up even a fraction of a penalty. Guidry gives credit to her horse, Ezmeralda EH Z, a 2012 Zangersheide mare owned by her family’s Honor Hill Farm LLC.

“My horse is absolutely amazing. I couldn’t have done this without her,” said Guidry. “She was a little tired [coming into the final round], but she definitely had a lot of energy. By the end of the course she was very spicy, and by the second round, she was really fast.”

Guidry said she came in with no expectations of winning at her first NAYC and just wanted to get the experience. Along with her medals, she leaves the competition with an appreciation for the team environment.

“It’s very exciting and you meet so many new friends,” said Guidry. “Everyone is so sweet, and it’s very exciting to have a team because you have friends; sometimes you know them and sometimes you get to make new friends and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a good experience.”

When asked how she would celebrate with “Ezme,” Guidry said, “I’ll go back to the barn and feed her all the treats I have!”

Exciting Jump-Off

Silver and bronze medals came down to an exciting jump-off between Haley Honegger (Elizabeth, Colo.) with Wilde Hilde, her own 2011 Holsteiner mare, and Alexa Curry (Plantation, Fla.) with Ciemusic Z, Ga Stables LLC’s 2008 Zangersheide gelding. Both combinations finished the week of competition with four penalties. Ultimately, Honegger clinched silver by going clear in the jump-off against Curry’s eight-fault round.

“My mom, who is my trainer, told me that I needed to ride clear,” said Honegger, sharing the advice she received before heading in for the jump-off. “I did exactly what she said and my mare pulled a clear round and I was so happy with her.”

Honnegger was especially grateful to be able to compete at NAYC with her horse after Wilde Hilde had a serious injury a year ago.

“I’m so happy to be with her and to be able to show,” Honegger said. “This medal really means a lot. I really almost lost my mare, so to have her here—I’m really happy.”

Despite having a couple of costly rails in the jump-off, Curry was pleased with her NAYC experience.

“Going into [the jump-off], I knew I had to be clear and I also had to be fast because Haley is so fast,” said Curry. “I didn’t pull out the round I wanted, but it was really good.”

2023 FEI NAYC Jumping Children Individual Results

Gold: Hailey Guidry and Ezmeralda EH Z (Zone 4)
Silver: Haley Honegger and Wild Hilde (Zone 8)
Bronze: Alexa Curry and Ciemusic Z (Zone 4)

See full Children individual results