Wynn MedingerCompetitive riding’s greatest up-and-coming talent gathered for this year’s Adequan/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) at picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York, July 30-August 4. Show jumping took center stage at this prestigious competition, which offers children, junior, and young riders ages 12 to 21 the chance to contend for team and individual medals under Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules. This one-of-a-kind show is the only FEI championship held every year in North America. The athletes attending the NAYC represent the future generation of equestrian sports for the United States. New this year, the event introduced expanded prizes including the $50,000 Junior Jumping Championship and $75,000 Young Rider Championship.
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Among the developing young talent, two titles were notably claimed by sisters Sophie and Mimi Gochman. The duo earned individual gold in their respective age groups: Sophie in the Young Rider Division and Mimi in the Junior Rider Division. EQLiving visited the Gotchmans at home. Meanwhile, NAYC’s youngest rider Isaac Parada, age 12 from Guadalajara, Mexico, clinched top honors in the children’s jumping. Photo gallery courtesy of Andrea Evans/US Equestrian and Lindsay Brock/Jump Media.