Eila Fisk and her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Quaresma anchored Region 3 to team gold in the Junior category at the North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, Michigan (USA).© FEI / Centre Line Media

A year ago, Eila Fisk and her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Quaresma anchored Region 3 to team gold in the Junior category at the North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, Michigan (USA).

The pair continues to successfully navigate the youth pathway in dressage sport. At NAYC 2026, they added another three gold medals to their tally, this time in the Young Rider category.

Fisk and Quaresma anchored Region 3 to Young Rider gold. Alongside teammates Allison Berger (Delacure), Ava Banick (Sir Sincere), and Reece O’Keefe (Kamora), Region 3 finished on a top score of 198.941. Region 9 finished second, with Ontario, CAN third (193.705).

Fisk then earned two more gold medals, topping the Individual Championship on a score of 68.382% and the Freestyle Championship with a score of 72.600%.

“It just really speaks to Quaresma’s heart. As a horse, he’s so consistent, and he always tries his hardest,” Fisk said. “He’ll always put forward as clean of a test as he can. This week, it was really, really clear. We had three really good rides, and I’m especially proud, because it’s our first year at this level, that he can pull that off. It’s a wild feeling.

“I’m so thankful to be here,” she added, “and I would have never thought at the beginning of the week that I’d take home three gold medals.”

Region 3 displayed its dressage prowess at NAYC, also taking top honors in the Junior Individual Championship and Junior Freestyle Championship. Bennett McWhorter and the 11-yearold mare Dalia danced to the top in both events, recording scores of 71.059% and 74.355%, respectively.

“It’s wonderful to see all of our hard work come together,” said McWhorter, who created his Freestyle alongside his mother with songs from the musical, Wicked. “At the end of a long week, [Dalia] was still so determined and so incredibly supportive of me so that we could both achieve our goals together.”

Region 3 also saw Erin Nichols earn individual gold in the U25 Grand Prix 16-25 test as well as U25 Freestyle gold with the 11-year-old gelding Kind Pleasure, on a personal best score 73.530%. Her teammate Alicia Berger (Aqua Marin) earned silver (71.640%), followed by Brooke Mancusi of Canada (Dejohn Ymas, 70.460%). Nichols and Berger also contributed to U25 team gold when combined with Region 6’s Kylee McKereghan (Red Riding Hood An). Their total score was 197.794.

“I’m so proud of our team. We didn’t have a drop score, so we really had to come and give it our all, and we did that,” Nicholas said. “I’m so happy for every one of us. Our horses really tried hard.

“To come home with three gold medals is more than you could ever dream of,” she added. “I’m really excited for the future with [my horse].”

In Junior team competition, it was Region 2 that earned top honors. The quartet of Madelynn Williams (FHF Rockstar), Vee Dravilas (Wilona HSR), Grace Christianson (Outsider DRH), and Autumn Vavrick (One de la Fazenda), led the way with a total score of 201.879, edging Region 3 by four percentage points (198.273), with Region 5 third. The group consisted of several new partnerships and young horses; Outsider DRH and One de la Fazenda are just 7 years old.

“Outsider was very focused in the ring. I was really pleased with him, especially with him only being 7 years old. This is really the first big competition he’s been to, so I was super pleased with him and how he performed in the arena,” Christianson said. “It’s so much fun being on a team with these girls.”

Canada prevailed in the Children’s Team Test, finishing on a total score of 207.701. Region 6 earned team silver (206.093), followed by the combined team of Zones 3 and 8 (204.681). The winning squad consisted of Isla Grant (Wonder Woman), Estella Gosniak (Impact), and Annabelle Gauthier (Northwind Marrakesh).

“For me, this is everything,” Gosniak said. “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.”

Region 3’s Austin Hermann was the Children’s Individual Champion, riding the 15-year-old mare Genevieve HF to a winning score of 72.914%. This category boasted the most international podium, with Roberta Carrillo Morales (MEX) second (Artillero Mor, 72.732%), followed by Gautheir (71.874%).

“We just said, ‘Let’s go big or go home,’” Hermann said. “I really went for it, and we came together to achieve a great result.” 

FULL RESULTS