Region 3 Wins Team Gold at 2026 North American Young Riders Championships

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2026 North American Youth Championships

Riders from Region 3 have recaptured the team gold medal at the 2026 North American Young Riders Championships at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Mich, on 30 July 2026.

Region 3 Strong

In recent years Region 3 has been the dominating young riders' region in the U.S.A. with consecutive team gold medals in 2024, 2023, and 2022. Last year Region 4 took highest honour while in 2021 it was California's region 7 that took off with gold. This year, Region 3 was back on top. Region 3 covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Region 3 topped the Young Rider Team Test podium, posting a combined score of 198.941 to take the gold medal. Region 9 earned silver with a combined team score of 194.853, and Canada’s Team Ontario rounded out the podium in bronze position with 193.705.

Golden Girls from Region 3

Representing the gold medal-winning Region 3 Team were the combinations of Allison Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Delacure, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding (by Deveraux x Brentano II), co-owned by Allison and Marianne Berger; Ava Babnick (Starke, Fla.) and Sir Sincere, her own 2015 Westphalian gelding (by Sunday x Florestan I); Reece O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) and Kamora, her own KWPN mare (by Dark Pleasure x Blue Hors Zack);and Eila Fisk (Aiken, S.C.) and Quaresma, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (by Quantensprung x Furstenball), owned by Gina Fisk, under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Katharine McQueen.

Fisk and Quaresma posted the top individual score of the class with a 67.529%. Eila said returning to NAYC with Quaresma, a year after anchoring Region 3's Junior team to gold on the same horse, made the win especially meaningful.

"To be here on team competition day is really cool because last year was my first year representing Region 3. It was also my first year at NAYC. My horse and I were able to anchor our Region 3 team to gold. I would have never thought one year later we could ever do that at the Young Rider level; that was our goal. To be here on top with my beautiful team that I love so much is just a crazy feeling," Fisk said.

Asked about the highlight of her test, Fisk pointed to her horse's changes.

"[Quaresma] has always been a little bit sensitive in his changes, especially in our Junior career. To see him get it today, it was so on the beat, he was like a schoolmaster out there. He was so expressive and happy to be there in that moment, and he was relaxed," Fisk said.

Berger, aboard Delacure, said the team's bond carried them through the day.

"We've had such great spirits in the barn, and we've really bonded as a team,” she explained, “To do this together was such an honor and such a fun day. Delacure really tried his heart out for me. I've been riding him since Juniors, so I'm so proud of him as well.”

Babnick, competing at her first championship with Sir Sincere, said the gold came as a pleasant surprise.

"I'm over the moon happy. It's our first championship together, so I definitely wasn't expecting a gold medal. My team is just incredible, and it's an amazing feeling," Babnick said.

Silver for Region 9

In the silver medal-winning Region 9 lineup, athletes pointed to team chemistry as a defining factor in their finish. Representing Region 9 were M.K. Connatser (Dallas, Texas) and Schnell's Highlight, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding (by Hotline x Rotspon), co-owned by M.K. and Aubrey Connatser; Catherine Schmidt (Houston, Texas) and Fontainebleau JCD, a 2013 Westphalian gelding (by Feedback x San Amour), owned by Kelly Battle; Sloane Macomber (Benbrook, Texas) and Elburg T, her own 2009 KWPN gelding (by Oscar x Ronaldo); and Adeline Batcheller (Little Rock, Ark.) and Luminosity JP, her own U.S.-bred KWPN gelding (by Glamourdale x Sir Sinclair), and riding for Chef d'Equipe Marsha Lewis.

"My team is amazing. Adeline and I did Juniors together in 2024, and Sloane has been at Young Riders before, and so has Kate, so we've all been here at least once before. We all just have so much fun together, it's such a fun team environment, and we're all there to lift each other up. We love to cheer each other on and I think that really helps lift our team when we do well," Connatser said.

Schmidt said the team's long history together added to the emotion of the day.

"Being part of this team is just surreal because we've known each other forever. We all go down to Houston to compete together. We're best friends. I think all of us cried happy tears today for everybody. It's been a really good day, and we're really proud of this team," Schmidt said.

Macomber praised her teammates' support throughout the competition.

"This team is just so incredible. After you finish a test, no matter how you did, they're always there cheering for you, and before you get on, if you need anything, they're always there for you. We lift each other up, we cheer loudly for each other, and our horses are all very good friends too. I think it's just harmony all throughout and I'm so proud of everyone here," Macomber said.

Batcheller said the week has been defined by time spent with her teammates.

"Being here with this team has been so fun so far this week. I love these girls — it's fun to be in the barn with them every day and spend time with our horses and each other. It's been a great week so far," Batcheller said.

Bronze for Team Ontario

Rounding out the podium in bronze position was Canada’s Team Ontario, represented by Sapphire Daly and Stiletto, Taylor Wells and Hidalgo AYM, Imogen Hawes and Knights Cavollo Dolce, and Eliza Marshall and Ramazzotti Langholt.

The Canadian equestrian federation did not issue a press release on this bronze medal feat with statements from the riders nor chef d'equipe.