The 2023 edition of the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships Presented by USDF came to a spectacular conclusion on Sunday, August 13, as the Juniors and Young Riders performed their freestyle tests.

Junior Freestyle Championship

After winning two silver medals in team and individual competition, Madison Sumner (Wellington, Fla.) and Briar, the 2007 KWPN gelding she co-owns with Wayne Sumner, struck gold in the freestyle. The pair posted a 73.540% to top the leaderboard in the FEI Freestyle Competition for Juniors.

“After my final centerline, I was very proud of my test,” said Sumner. “He was with me the whole time, and I was just so grateful.”

Photo – Madison Sumner after winning the Junior freestyle (©KTB Creative Group)

Sumner pointed to the changes on a circle as one of the high points of her test as a difficult movement that she and Briar execute well.

“His strengths are definitely in the canter work,” said Sumner. “Definitely his changes. He has some big, expressive changes. Also his trot work, some of the extendeds and half-passes were also really good.”

Sienna Rowe (Urbanna, Va.) and Lightfire Just Do It, a 2010 Westphalian gelding owned by Jason Rowe, won silver with a close second-place score of 73.320% for her freestyle to Michael Jackson’s music. In addition, Rowe and “Nike” were awarded the Amanda Johnson Award for their consistently excellent performances over the course of the week.

If the Music Fits

“We thought that [the music] fit Nike very well, because he’s a little mover,” said Rowe. “I was very glad we had a clean test because he can be a little bobble-y sometimes. I’m very happy that we won that award.”

Allison Berger (Chicago, Ill.) secured the bronze with her ride on Delacure, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding she co-owns with Marianne Berger. The pair scored a 72.915% from the judges.

“The whole freestyle was really fun,” said Berger. “I love riding to music. My favorite part was the extended canter. He’s so powerful, and I just laugh out loud every time. It’s so fun. I was really confident going in and going last in the order was nice because I had some time in the morning to prepare.”

2023 NAYC Dressage Juniors Freestyle Results

Gold: Madison Sumner and Briar (Region 3)
Silver: Sienna Rowe and Lightfire Just Do It (Region 1)
Bronze: Allison Berger and Delacure (Region 2)

Full Schedule and Results