Road to NAYC/ Youth Olympics?

[kitequestrian]

Road to NAYC for Jumping?

Hey everyone! Recently, I’ve decided I’d like to advance my show jumping career and look towards NAYC, or any sort of recognized Equestrian Team for the United States. Maybe Youth Olympics?

I just turned 17, and I’ve been riding horses my entire life, and I’ve grown up on my family’s horse farm. I’ve done everything from barrel racing, to training/ schooling prelim eventing. I’ve trained and done clinics with numerous olympians and FEI stars, but I’ve never shown. I’ve always just been in it for the enjoyment and experience, but now I’d like to get deeper into it!

I can get access to numerous horses, so I’d defiantly have a mount for any of these competitions/teams. My personal horse is a 18 y/o German Sporthorse who has experience jumping 6ft+ in Germany, and he has about 3 more years of extensive showing before he eases into retirement if he wants to (he loves his job and could be off for weeks, but still dominate a 4 foot course without thinking about it, ex-prelim eventer who hates dressage) Obviously im not expecting to show him 6ft, just whatever height I need to qualify!

I know these are not competitions I can just sign up for, but how do I go about qualifications? Is this a goal I could reach in a year, given I have the resources and skill set? I’m in Zone 4 (GA), so what teams do I/my trainers need to look at? I do not know the rules/regulations for these events, so I defiantly need to do research as well.

Are there certain organizations I need to register for, or my horse needs to register/qualify for?

Without bragging I have the skill and technique to ride at this level, plus I come from a well-known racing family, I just have absolutely no show experience.

Any help is greatly appreciated! I will also be discussing this with my trainers if I can think of a plan

[Jealoushe]

Your trainer is the one who you should be making a plan with.

Young Riders is cancelled for this year. Not sure about next year. Realistically even if you have the skill, the lack of experience showing is an issue especially if you plan on showing FEI. Showing and schooling are not the same. Riders on teams need to know how to ride under pressure, having never shown you would have never have been in this situation. Riding at FEI is a whole other ball game of rules. Do you have a coach familiar with FEI?

Are you currently schooling 1.4m-1.5m succesfully on your horse? I mean a real full course with full height and width? If not, then it is not likely you can attain this in a year.

Talk to your coach and Google is your friend
https://www.usef.org/compete/discipl…h-championship

https://www.usef.org/events/youth-championships

[kitequestrian]

Yes, two of my closest trainers are familiar with FEI, and have competed in such an atmosphere so I will defiantly be reaching out to them with my plans.
I’m very comfortable in high-pressure situations, but I know it’ll be very different for my first time showing so I need to keep that in mind.
Since I’ve moved him from our show barn to my house to be with my two others, we’ve only been doing courses with a max of 4’6, sometimes putting a 5 ft vertical at the end. I am looking into switching him back to a showing barn, because as good as I like to think I am, and even though I ride/school him 5-6 days a week, I know he’ll get the most exercise and reach his full potential again in a competitive environment.

Lots of riders from my barn and clients from my trainers have gone to Young Riders (for Eventing though) and we all go through the same training process, so I have an idea of the work and input needed, but like you said, actually showing will be very different.
Are you familiar with any other shows/championships that might be more obtainable without pure showing experience?
Thank you!

[Laurierace]

In any sport a championship is the finale of the competition season to determine who is the overall champion, therefore one must participate in the season to qualify to be the potential champion. So no, you can’t be in any championship without competing to qualify for it.

[joiedevie99]

It is very unlikely, but not impossible, to get to the point where you qualify for FEI Juniors at NAYC next year (if it occurs). Step one is to find a trainer who has students now (or in the recent past) who have shown at FEI Junior or Young Rider level. See if you can do a boot camp - ask they to teach you a few days in a row and give you an honest assessment of your readiness to show and their recommendation of what level you start at. Then come up with a plan to attend a show at that level, or one below. See how you do at your first jumper show and go from there.

[kitequestrian]

@joiedevie99

It is very unlikely, but not impossible, to get to the point where you qualify for FEI Juniors at NAYC next year (if it occurs). Step one is to find a trainer who has students now (or in the recent past) who have shown at FEI Junior or Young Rider level. See if you can do a boot camp - ask they to teach you a few days in a row and give you an honest assessment of your readiness to show and their recommendation of what level you start at. Then come up with a plan to attend a show at that level, or one below. See how you do at your first jumper show and go from there.

One of my trainers actually competed at Adequan/ FEI NAJYRC and won with her team in 2013, so she will definitely be a big role model/ guiding figure for that step.
I will take your advice and see if she can give me an assessment since she knows what to look for, thank you so much!!

[largo]

@kitequestrian

Lots of riders from my barn and clients from my trainers have gone to Young Riders (for Eventing though) and we all go through the same training process, so I have an idea of the work and input needed, but like you said, actually showing will be very different.
Are you familiar with any other shows/championships that might be more obtainable without pure showing experience?
Thank you!

Keep in mind that at 18 your horse may struggle with the campaign to bring you to the Young Riders level. If he has not been showing since you owned him, that will be a major change for him. Many of the kids who go and are competitive are those who have had a string of horses to give them experience.

If you need a different goal, you may try Zone Children’s or Junior team finals. I did the adult version last year and had a great time. You do have to qualify, and the teams are canceled this year, but you could try for next year. Individuals who medal are invited for a Gold Star clinic the following year.

https://www.ushja.org/competition/jumper/zone-jumper-team-championships

[showy]

Hi OP. In Atlanta, I would be asking either Kim Land or Nancy Boggio to come out and evaluate you/ help you at HJ shows. Kim Land was/is the Zone 4 coordinator when I was doing YR and Prix Des States. Her two daughters did both. Nancy is similar- I think both her kids did YR and Prix Des States. Chase and the Land sisters are both older than me but I overlapped with them a couple times.

To do Young Riders you have to qualify by being one of the top four horse/rider combinations in your zone. Zone 4 is typically strong because it includes Wellington. You could be doing the YR level just fine and still not make it on the team because there are better combinations in your zone. I think only SJHOF High Classics (1.45) and National Level Grand Prixs (1.50) count for Young Riders. Prix Des States is similar if not the same (been a few years sorry if I’m not correct). Plus you need an open water certificate.

At shows around you, you would need to be doing this level AND getting ribbons. Very few A/AA Georgia shows have these classes. Wills Park and Chatt Hills usually do not. Conyers does have a 25k Grand Prix but its never been set huge. You would likely have to run up to Tryon or down to Ocala/Wellington. Both Nancy and Kim could help you do this or point you in the right direction. I recommend them as tried and true jumper coaches. Although eventing does have a jumping phase, you need a specialist who has proven results of bringing up their kids and clients to this level.

I do want to clarify this is EXPENSIVE. It is not cheap to enter these types of classes and when you don’t win anything back, plus shipping, stabling, training, feed, etc. it adds up. No you won’t win your first time out. HJ land is more expensive than eventing.

Source: Did both Young Riders and Prix Des States but for my rando zone as a kid.

Good luck!

[supershorty628]

OP, what have you shown up to at HJ shows? Jumping a course at home isn’t the same thing.

I think it would be best to have something like Young Riders as a reach/stretch goal and have those zone championships as a more realistic one. You have an older horse and, if I remember how FEI ages work, will only be eligible for the Young Rider height, not the Junior height, which means you need to be solidly competitive at a real 1.50m. That’s a tough order to ask of a then-19-year-old horse that hasn’t been showing, and a big expectation for a rider and trainer who have experience but in a different arena. And as @showy said, it’ll be expensive to get there.

The zone championships are, from what I’ve heard from people who did them, loads of fun and give you a chance to get that team experience too. They might be a more realistic goal to have alongside the bigger goal of Young Riders. Good luck and have fun, no matter what you do!

Edit: I did remember how FEI ages work, but forgot that you can be 18 and do the Junior height.

[kitequestrian]

@largo

Keep in mind that at 18 your horse may struggle with the campaign to bring you to the Young Riders level. If he has not been showing since you owned him, that will be a major change for him. Many of the kids who go and are competitive are those who have had a string of horses to give them experience.

If you need a different goal, you may try Zone Children’s or Junior team finals. I did the adult version last year and had a great time. You do have to qualify, and the teams are canceled this year, but you could try for next year. Individuals who medal are invited for a Gold Star clinic the following year.

https://www.ushja.org/competition/jumper/zone-jumper-team-championships

Since i’m 17, could I still participate in the Juniors division? (man I really need to do some research) That still seems like a very good goal, I will defiantly look into that!
April will be my 1 year anniversary with him- he just fell into my lap, and even with his experience level I usually would never get a horse that old to still compete. He’s very sound and healthy, and is showing no signs of slowing down, but his age does worry me sometimes… He gets ridden 5-6 times a week, and jumps around 2 of those. Forbid something happens, but if he is not longer able to compete I do have back up horses who are much younger, and beginning to do some of the higher-level stuff.
Thanks for your advice!

[kitequestrian]

@showy

Hi OP. In Atlanta, I would be asking either Kim Land or Nancy Boggio to come out and evaluate you/ help you at HJ shows. Kim Land was/is the Zone 4 coordinator when I was doing YR and Prix Des States. Her two daughters did both. Nancy is similar- I think both her kids did YR and Prix Des States. Chase and the Land sisters are both older than me but I overlapped with them a couple times.

Source: Did both Young Riders and Prix Des States but for my rando zone as a kid.

Good luck!

I will defiantly do some research on them! As I mentioned, some of my trainers have shown/won the FEI/Adequan NAJYRC, so they will be able to help model/shape me towards what I would like to accomplish, but i’m ALWAYS up for making new connections, or starting even better ones!
I do have experience in Eventing (again, not showing but lots of clinics and schoolings, although not the same) and one of my trainers is tried and true in that specialty, but thats just not where my heart is set.
I wish Chatt, and especially Wills had more of those classes since i’m very close to Wills, but theres nothing I can do about that. I’m very lucky that my main trainer has a barn down in Ocala, and as you mentioned that would have more opportunities, so I will see about that as well.
While money isn’t an issue, nobody wants to spend an immense amount of money if they don’t have to, plus it would be added insult to injury to dumb a bunch of money, and not win.
I will defiantly check up on Kim Land and Nacy Boggio- thank you so much!

[kitequestrian]

@supershorty628

OP, what have you shown up to at HJ shows? Jumping a course at home isn’t the same thing.

I think it would be best to have something like Young Riders as a reach/stretch goal and have those zone championships as a more realistic one. You have an older horse and, if I remember how FEI ages work, will only be eligible for the Young Rider height, not the Junior height, which means you need to be solidly competitive at a real 1.50m. That’s a tough order to ask of a then-19-year-old horse that hasn’t been showing, and a big expectation for a rider and trainer who have experience but in a different arena. And as @showy said, it’ll be expensive to get there.

The zone championships are, from what I’ve heard from people who did them, loads of fun and give you a chance to get that team experience too. They might be a more realistic goal to have alongside the bigger goal of Young Riders. Good luck and have fun, no matter what you do!

I will 100% start setting my goals on Zone Championships, as with my experience, yet lack of actual show/ring experience, I feel as though I’d have a better chance qualifying.
My horse is defiantly a rockstar, and I was very lucky to have him fall in my lap, but his age has always worried me. He really does love jumping that height, and is not showing any signs of slowing down, but I don’t want to push him after all he’s done for me. In the case something happens, God forbid it, I do have access to other younger horses that are beginning to start towards that height and level. And while money isn’t an issue, my parents still won’t be thrilled with the idea of essentially throwing thousands away. Sorry mom and dad!

Do you know if for Zones, I need to qualify or is it more of a horse thing? For instance, If I win and qualify with a few shows on him, and then switch to another horse and complete the qualification, would I still be eligible, or does it need to be a continuous partnership for the entire season?
Thank you so much, i’m very excited to start this new stage!

[lintesia]

OP – totally off topic, but why do you keep writing “defiantly” when you probably mean to write “definitely”?

[skydy]

@kitequestrian

I will defiantly do some research on them! As I mentioned, some of my trainers have shown/won the FEI/Adequan NAJYRC, so they will be able to help model/shape me towards what I would like to accomplish, but i’m ALWAYS up for making new connections, or starting even better ones!
I do have experience in Eventing (again, not showing but lots of clinics and schoolings, although not the same) and one of my trainers is tried and true in that specialty, but thats just not where my heart is set.
I wish Chatt, and especially Wills had more of those classes since i’m very close to Wills, but theres nothing I can do about that. I’m very lucky that my main trainer has a barn down in Ocala, and as you mentioned that would have more opportunities, so I will see about that as well.
While money isn’t an issue, nobody wants to spend an immense amount of money if they don’t have to, plus it would be added insult to injury to dumb a bunch of money, and not win.
I will defiantly check up on Kim Land and Nacy Boggio- thank you so much!

People often spend a “bunch” of money and don’t win. You’ll have to get used to it.

[skydy]

@kitequestrian

I will 100% start setting my goals on Zone Championships, as with my experience, yet lack of actual show/ring experience, I feel as though I’d have a better chance qualifying.
My horse is defiantly a rockstar, and I was very lucky to have him fall in my lap, but his age has always worried me. He really does love jumping that height, and is not showing any signs of slowing down, but I don’t want to push him after all he’s done for me. In the case something happens, God forbid it, I do have access to other younger horses that are beginning to start towards that height and level. And while money isn’t an issue, my parents still won’t be thrilled with the idea of essentially throwing thousands away. Sorry mom and dad!

Do you know if for Zones, I need to qualify or is it more of a horse thing? For instance, If I win and qualify with a few shows on him, and then switch to another horse and complete the qualification, would I still be eligible, or does it need to be a continuous partnership for the entire season?
Thank you so much, i’m very excited to start this new stage!

You will want to familiarize yourself with the rules. https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/rulebook

Since your parents are paying, they will need to be involved when you speak with your jumper trainer about your goals.
Showing is very expensive. :yes:

[largo]

@kitequestrian

I will 100% start setting my goals on Zone Championships, as with my experience, yet lack of actual show/ring experience, I feel as though I’d have a better chance qualifying.
My horse is defiantly a rockstar, and I was very lucky to have him fall in my lap, but his age has always worried me. He really does love jumping that height, and is not showing any signs of slowing down, but I don’t want to push him after all he’s done for me. In the case something happens, God forbid it, I do have access to other younger horses that are beginning to start towards that height and level. And while money isn’t an issue, my parents still won’t be thrilled with the idea of essentially throwing thousands away. Sorry mom and dad!

Do you know if for Zones, I need to qualify or is it more of a horse thing? For instance, If I win and qualify with a few shows on him, and then switch to another horse and complete the qualification, would I still be eligible, or does it need to be a continuous partnership for the entire season?
Thank you so much, i’m very excited to start this new stage!

That’s great your horse enjoys jumping at that level still! For the jumper championships, the horse accumulates points for your zone ranking. If you switch to another horse you will need to reapply with that one and qualify with that. The link I posted has the rulebook, where you can see the selection process. My zone is not very big and is not terribly challenging to qualify for, it will probably be more difficult in zone 4. Your USEF age is the age you were December 1, so if you are showing as 17 you can do the juniors. However, the team is canceled this year because of COVID and if you show as 18 next year, you are an adult.

[AOinCA]

A lot of good feedback above.
The only thing I would add is that the courses for NAYR at the finals (and most of the qualifiers) are incredibly technical tracks. I went to the NAYR finals on the A team (1.45-50) a few years ago and while I had been successful in my zones Grand Prix and High AOs, there was no track more technical than the one at NAYR finals. It’s different to school a course at home vs to ride a technical track at that height under pressure. I’d suggest checking out some videos online of the finals from previous years.
To qualify, like someone else mentioned you must jump a water jump and have four faults or less in at least one trial to be eligible for the team (at least in my zone). There were probably 10-15 top riders at every show trying to qualify for those 4 spots on the team during the trials. It’s very hard to qualify without being able to attend all of the trials which gets expensive, as you are attending 5+ shows at top venues between January and June before finals in July. Many kids also started out great in the first few trials and had crashed and burned out their horses before they even qualified.
The B team is 1.40 I think and since you’re 17 I would consider it but if you age out, the A team (up to 21 yrs old) at 1.45-50 is a whole different game. The finals themselves included 3 days of jumping competition at that level too which is a lot to ask of a horse as well and important to keep in mind.

[supershorty628]

OP, still wondering what you’ve actually shown up to. If you haven’t been showing in the 1.40m+ classes, being in a competitive zone like Zone 4, it’s unlikely that you’d qualify for NAYC in your first year doing that height (it’s not impossible, but that’s a steep uphill climb in a zone like that). Not an eligibility issue since you have a few years left, but it makes it more likely that you’ll be aiming for the Young Rider section.

Zone 10, as I’m assuming @AOinCA was describing, is unique in that they do a trial system to qualify, but none of the other zones do that (as far as I know). You’d have to qualify by being in the top 4 in your zone with money won, so it’s unlikely that you could just do a few shows and get it done that way.

The USHJA site has information on both the zone team championships and the platinum championships (for those jumping 1.40-1.45m but not yet doing the 1.50m GP classes) here: https://www.ushja.org/competition/jumper/zone-jumper-team-championships . Those didn’t exist when I was showing so I don’t know much about them, but a friend of mine went to the zone 6 one and had an absolute BLAST.

[poltroon]

@kitequestrian

And while money isn’t an issue, my parents still won’t be thrilled with the idea of essentially throwing thousands away. Sorry mom and dad!

At this level, money is always an issue. For a one year campaign, you’d be very lucky to get it done for only 20k on top of your regular ongoing expenses. You could potentially spend 100K (or more, if it involved buying or leasing another horse) and not get there. Others here might be able to help you come up with a ballpark, but when you talk to your trainers, the budget should be part of the discussion.

In addition, if the shows are not local, it adds not just to expense but to the time required from you and possibly your parents to get to venues out of state, and between school and work that time may be in short supply.

[blackbeauty]

I just find it incredibly curious that OP has the skills, horses, trainers, and money to show at this level, yet has never shown before. Not unbelievable, but curious. I would think that a rider of that caliber would be an asset to any trainer’s show program, especially a junior that could ride sale horses/ponies.