Traverse City, Mich. – Competition continued today at the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, with individual medals awarded in both the Young Riders and Children's Individual Competitions. The CDIOU25 Grand Prix Freestyle concluded an exciting day of dressage at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Mich.
FEI Young Riders Individual Test
Eila Fisk (Aiken, S.C.) and Quaresma, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (Quatersprung x Fuerstenball OLD), owned by Gina Fisk, topped the Young Rider Individual field with a score of 68.382%, earning their second individual medal of the week.
"It literally feels crazy. I legitimately would never have thought I would be here," said Fisk. "My concern was really just trying to qualify for NAYC this year, because it is both my horse's and my first year at this level. I spent my winter training, trying to get some pirouettes and tempi changes, and I never thought we'd be able to polish it up in just the past couple of months so we could be here."
Fisk described Quaresma, whom she calls “Quinnie,” as a horse who took time to come out of his shell. "He was a little stoic in the barn, but after six to twelve months, he really opened up. Now he's very cuddly, affectionate, and it really comes out in the ring, too. He's not a big fan of strangers, but when you get his trust, it's there for a million years."
Alison Campbell-Wright (CAN) and Vintage, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (Exquis Vivaldi x Belissimo NRW), owned by Bonnie Campbell, earned silver with a personal best score of 67.177%.
"NAYC is such a fun experience, and representing Canada, it's great to be wearing the red and white," Campbell-Wright said. "It is really nice to see all the different countries come together and have such camaraderie for each other. Even though I'm Canadian, some of my biggest cheers today were for Americans. I always try to watch as many rides as I can and cheer everybody on, because this is such a great experience for youth coming up through the programs."
Of her mount, Campbell-Wright said, "We've only had him since December, so it's been interesting trying to figure out each other. He's a bit of a character; he loves people, but only once does he get to know them. He's very opinionated; he has what he likes and what he doesn't like, and he decides what we're doing. I love him."
Allison Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Delacure, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding (Deveraux 3 x Brentano II), co-owned by Allison and Marianne Berger, rounded out the podium with a personal-best 67.030%, marking Berger's second medal of the week.
"It was so fun just to compete this whole week," Berger said. "It was a little different to compete as a team, but much like on team day, I had my whole team and lots of others cheering me on today as well, and that felt amazing. I just wanted to put together a clean test, and he really tried hard for me. I'm happy with how it turned out."
Berger has partnered with Delacure for four years, moving through the levels together after competing with him at NAYC as a Junior. "He's so patient with me, and he's teaching me. We're learning together. I'm so grateful to him, and to my coach, Jan Ebeling, and my family. It really takes a village to make it work, and I'm so grateful to everyone who makes this possible.”
FEI Children's Individual Test
Austin Hermann (Cumming, Ga.) and Genevieve HF, his own 2011 KWPN mare (Unknown x Unknown), claimed gold in the Children's Individual Test with a score of 72.914%, adding to a strong week of results.
"I know it's a huge deal to win a gold medal, and even multiple medals, at this show," Hermann said. "I'm so very thankful for everybody who came together to put this on for us, and congratulations to my fellow competitors for coming here."
Hermann described Genevieve HF as a loving, easygoing mare. "She'll always come to you, rub on you for a bit, and beg for treats and when you don't have treats, she's like, okay, I'm done with you." Of the test itself, Hermann said, "We just said, ‘let's go big or go home.’ I really went for it, and we came together to achieve a great result."
Roberta Carrillo Morales (MEX) and Artillero Mor, a 2018 PRE gelding (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Abelardo Morales Puron, earned silver with a score of 72.732%.
"My test today was so fun. I was hoping I could make it to the podium, and it was so amazing," Carrillo Morales said. "It feels so good. I was dreaming of winning a podium spot, and thank God I got there." She described Artillero Mor simply: "He's a very good horse. He's so fun to ride."
Following today’s competition, Carrilla Morales was also awarded the 2026 Dressage Style Award. The NAYC Style Awards annually celebrate one athlete from each discipline, recognizing their “style” throughout the week. The 2026 award was presented by US Equestrian president Tom O’Mara
Annabelle Gauthier (CAN) and Northwind Marrakesh, a 2008 Welsh Pony gelding (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Adélia Gauthier, who she affectionately calls “Monty”, took bronze with a personal-best score of 71.874%. "I wasn't ready for it, but it wasn't that bad; it's a great feeling," Gauthier said of the result, "[Monty] is so nice to ride because he's a bit funny."
CDIOU25 Grand Prix Freestyle
Erin Nichols (Wellington, Fla.) and Kind Pleasure, a 2015 KWPN gelding (Governor-STR x Blue Hors Zack), owned by Premiere Sport Horses, topped the CDIOU25 Grand Prix Freestyle with a personal best score of 73.530%, sweeping all five judges' panels and capping a triple gold week for the pair.
"This show is so special, and to come home with three gold medals is more than you could ever dream of," Nichols said. "I'm so proud of my horse. He really shined tonight and enjoyed himself, and that's what we've been working on. I'm really excited for the future with him." Kind Pleasure is just eleven years old, and Nichols noted the partnership is still developing. "We bought him when he was nine years old to develop, and now to have our first championship under our belt, you can't ask for anything more. He's such a cool horse, and he's starting to really shine in the ring and show off."
Nichols rode to a freestyle built around Elton John's music, designed with Karen Robinson. "My goal was to use music everyone knows, and everyone can enjoy it. It's some of my favorite music too. I was listening to it while braiding [Kind Pleasure] and dancing along." Asked to sum up Kind Pleasure in one word, Nichols said simply, "A dream."
Alicia Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Aqua Marin, a 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Ampere x Stedinger), co-owned by Alicia and Marianne Berger, earned silver with a personal-best score of 71.640%, riding to an Avatar-themed freestyle.
"I just love the music, and I think it fits him well," Berger said, referencing her horse's barn name, “Aqua.” "The first part is actually Collier Wimmer's voice; she voices it over just like in the movie, and she says, 'Are you ready to fly?' I love that, because that's exactly what it feels like passaging on Aqua. You're just flying."
Asked about a standout moment from the test, Berger said, "Any time you get the chance to passage with him, is amazing. You really feel like you're floating on clouds, taken in such a powerful but graceful way. There's nothing like it." She described Aqua as being "Full of fire, and he thinks everyone's there for him. That's the coolest part."
Brooke Mancusi (CAN) and DeJohn Ymas, a 2008 KWPN gelding (Glock’s Johnson TN x Sandro Hit), owned by BM Dressage, rounded out the podium with a personal-best score of 70.460%, riding to a Guns N' Roses freestyle.
"My dad actually picked the music out. It was between Maroon 5 or Guns N' Roses, and Guns N' Roses is his favorite, so I said, ‘okay, we're going with that,’" Mancusi said. "I wanted it to be something everybody knew, and we shaped the rhythm and the words to make it flow, which really helps me and my horse find the beat together."
Mancusi pointed to a specific moment as the highlight of her test: nailing the tempi work late in the freestyle. "My coach told me I had to get my twos and threes. I didn't get them in the beginning, so I made sure to get enough twos, and if I had the space, go for the ones. Doing the twos into the ones and getting everything I needed was just really special." Mancusi and DeJohn Ymas, known in the barn as “Johnny,” have partnered for several years. "He's big-hearted; he really drives his heart out for me. From year one to now it's been a huge change, and he tries really, really hard no matter what."
Looking ahead, Nichols confirmed her next stop with Kind Pleasure will be the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill. in late August. Berger will join Nichols at the Festival of Champions aboard Aqua Marin, and Mancusi has a busy fall slate planned, including a show in Bromont, Québec in September and Canada's National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships in Bécancour, Québec in early October, where she'll contest the Open Grand Prix alongside a second up-and-coming Grand Prix mount.
Dressage competition at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships presented by USDF concludes tomorrow with the FEI Junior Freestyle beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST, followed by the FEI Young Riders Freestyle set to begin at 11:00 a.m. EST.
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