Team Canada and American Austin Hermann became the winners of the gold medal in the Children's division at the 2026 North American Youth Championships held at at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City (MI - USA) on 28 July - 2 August 2026.
Team Gold for Canada
Canada topped the Children's Team Competition podium, posting a combined score of 207.701 to take the gold medal. Region 1 & 6 earned silver with a combined score of 206.093, and Region 3 & 8 rounded out the podium in bronze position with 204.951.
Representing gold medal-winning Canada were Isla Grant and Wonder Woman (pedigree unknown), Estella Gosniak and Impact (by Zambesi x Caretano Z), and Annabelle Gauthier and Northwind Marrakesh (by Small Land Martello x Cusop Jovial), led by Chef d'Equipe Jillian Taylor-Mancusi.
Grant, competing at her first NAYC, said the win still feels surreal. "This is insane! It's my first year at NAYC, and we worked so hard to get here. Credit goes to my horse and my teammates and Team Canada. They pushed me all the way here. This is just a dream come true," Grant said.
Gosniak said the team turned around a previous, difficult first NAYC appearance last year. "For me, this is everything. This is my second year at NAYC. Last year, we didn't do super great, but we came back this year, and I think my team is doing so amazingly. I couldn't wish for anything more," Gosniak said.
Gauthier, competing in her final year of NAYC Children's eligibility, said the medal carried extra meaning alongside her sister's finish earlier in the week. "Winning this test means everything, because last year I came, and this year is my last year in FEI Children's. I'm sharing this moment with all of my teammates and my sister, who came here too, and won silver in the FEI Junior category this morning," Gauthier said.
Helinski called it the biggest moment of her life so far. "This is the biggest moment of my life and I'm so thankful for all my teammates who have helped me get here. Watching Canada and watching the Mexican team has helped so much; just seeing the way they ride, it's so pleasant and so beautiful. I'm just so happy to be here with my team. I couldn't have done it without them," Helinski said.
Burris said NAYC has become something of a family tradition. "NAYC is such a crazy thing in my family – my mom went, my aunt went, and my cousin went multiple times. I'm so grateful that I got to share this silver medal with my team. I'm beyond grateful for everyone who has helped me on my way here," Burris said.
Wood said simply qualifying for the championship still feels surreal. "The whole aspect of NAYC is amazing because we're welcoming all these youth riders to such a big, international horse show. It's kind of crazy that I even get to be sitting here in this moment. It's just amazing to be here in general," Wood said.
Representing bronze medal-winning Region 3/8 Team were Austin Hermann (Cumming, Ga.) and Genevieve HF, his own 2011 KWPN mare (by Winningmood x Oscar); Brooklyn Young (Loganville, Ga.) and Mio Bello Ragazzo, her own 2010 Morgan gelding (pedigree unknown); and Juliana Sardelli (Warwick, R.I.) and Cupid, her own 2017 Gypsy Cross gelding (Lazarus of Feathered Gold x Unknown), with the team advised by Chef d'Equipe Elizabeth Molloy.
Young said her teammates pushed her to improve throughout the week. "It means so much to be on this podium with my teammates, Austin and Juliana. They push you to work harder and do better than the last test you did," Young said.
Sardelli said the team format offers lessons beyond the arena. "NAYC is very unique because of the team. It means a lot to me to work with other people, learn leadership, and have a great support system. I think it's really important that we're on a team and we can learn these skills along the way," Sardelli said.
Individual Gold for Austin Hermann
"I know it's a huge deal to win a gold medal, and even multiple medals, at this show," said Hermann who trains with Maribeth Hebert. Seventh grader Austin has been riding and competing for three and a half years. "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 (by Gaucho MOR x Lenin MOR), owned by Abelardo Morales Puron, earned silver with a score of 72.732%. Roberta is the daughter of renowned PRE breeder, dressage horse owner and amateur Grand Prix rider Lorena Morales, who partnered with Spanish Olympian Juan Antonio Jimenez for many years (Euclides MOR). The family owns the PRE breeding farm Las Morerias.
"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."
Champion
Annabelle Gauthier (CAN) and Northwind Marrakesh, a 2009 Welsh Pony gelding (by Small-Land Martello out of Northwind Just for Fun (by Cusop Jovial)), got bronze with a personal-best score of 71.874%. She and Marrakesh, whose affectionately called “Monty”, have been a pair since 2024. This is her first major sports achievement.
"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." Monty has had a long, distinguished career as a hunter with a string of Canadian riders, such as Camille Ducap Harnois, Mya Kwiatkowski, Mackenzie Solomon, Savannah Singh, before selling to the Gauthier family. He was first shown in dressage by Adélia Gauthier before Annabelle took over in 2024.
-- USEF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © US Equestrian/Centre Line Media
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