The final day of the 2024 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship, presented by USHJA, saw the crowning of junior and young rider champions on Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park. Both representing a dominant Zone 2 at the 2024 NAYC, Stephanie Garrett (New York, N.Y.) climbed atop the young rider podium, while Clara Propp (New York, N.Y.) claimed the junior gold medal.
Stephanie Garrett posted a near-perfect week with only a single rail that came in the second round of Zone 2 team competition earlier in the week. She finished with 8.70 penalties at the close of the week aboard Darius de Kezeg Z, a 13-year-old Darco x Heartbreaker gelding owned by Postage Stamp Farm, to take the gold medal.
Over international course designer Alan Wade’s (IRL) track, the 18-year-old scored her first NAYC gold medal. “It feels surreal, and I am still processing it; I feel like I’m dreaming and I haven’t woken up yet, but to do it beside Lauren and Mia makes it even more special,” said the 18-year-old. “This tops the list of wins I’ve had in my career.
“Coming into it, I wanted to have a quick round on day one,” she continued. “I was looking to be in a good position going into the rest of the week, and I felt we got that even despite the rail. He felt so strong going into today and he performed amazingly.”
Darius de Kezeg Z is the former mount of Germany’s Richard Vogel and joined Garrett’s string at the start of 2022. “He’s taught me everything,” she said. “He’s taken me through my first grand prix and some two-star, three-star classes. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without this horse.”
Mia Bagnato, 18, (Fishkill, N.Y.) rode Ballyoskill Big Bucks, a 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Royal Concorde x Lux Z) owned by Elan Farm. She had the gold medal in sight as the final rider to return with the top 15 for round two. Unfortunately, two rails came down for them to finish on 10.52 penalties and take the silver medal.
“I’ve been here [at NAYC] four years now, and before this year I don’t think I even jumped a clear round,” said Bagnato, who jumped four clear rounds throughout the 2024 championship. “So, to come here and have all those clear rounds, it felt great. My horse was tired [in the final round] and there’s sometimes nothing more you can do.
“He wants it just as much as I do,” continued Bagnato, who took her time with many days of bareback riding to get used to Ballyoskill Big Bucks’ powerful jump. “We are going to enjoy this medal, and he headed to the field.”
Laurel Walker (Copper Canyon, Tex.) rode her own Armani, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Namelus R x Lester), to the bronze medal. After two rails during team competition, the pair ended on 10.88 penalties.
“My goal coming in this year was to get on the podium because I was fourth in the junior section last year,” said Walker, 18, who finished double-clear on Sunday. “I feel like we really clicked and today was our day. His biggest strength, especially when it comes to these championships, is his stamina and that really helped me out today and set us above.”
As the 2024 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Champion, Garrett was awarded the USET Foundation Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award, which was established to recognize and assist talented young show jumping athletes with the potential to represent the United States in furthering their quest for equestrian excellence on the international stage. After claiming NAYC gold, Garrett will start her first year at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., in the fall to study psychology and applied statistics.
Stephanie Garrett posted a near-perfect week with only a single rail that came in the second round of Zone 2 team competition earlier in the week. She finished with 8.70 penalties at the close of the week aboard Darius de Kezeg Z, a 13-year-old Darco x Heartbreaker gelding owned by Postage Stamp Farm, to take the gold medal.
Over international course designer Alan Wade’s (IRL) track, the 18-year-old scored her first NAYC gold medal. “It feels surreal, and I am still processing it; I feel like I’m dreaming and I haven’t woken up yet, but to do it beside Lauren and Mia makes it even more special,” said the 18-year-old. “This tops the list of wins I’ve had in my career.
“Coming into it, I wanted to have a quick round on day one,” she continued. “I was looking to be in a good position going into the rest of the week, and I felt we got that even despite the rail. He felt so strong going into today and he performed amazingly.”
Darius de Kezeg Z is the former mount of Germany’s Richard Vogel and joined Garrett’s string at the start of 2022. “He’s taught me everything,” she said. “He’s taken me through my first grand prix and some two-star, three-star classes. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without this horse.”
Mia Bagnato, 18, (Fishkill, N.Y.) rode Ballyoskill Big Bucks, a 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Royal Concorde x Lux Z) owned by Elan Farm. She had the gold medal in sight as the final rider to return with the top 15 for round two. Unfortunately, two rails came down for them to finish on 10.52 penalties and take the silver medal.
“I’ve been here [at NAYC] four years now, and before this year I don’t think I even jumped a clear round,” said Bagnato, who jumped four clear rounds throughout the 2024 championship. “So, to come here and have all those clear rounds, it felt great. My horse was tired [in the final round] and there’s sometimes nothing more you can do.
“He wants it just as much as I do,” continued Bagnato, who took her time with many days of bareback riding to get used to Ballyoskill Big Bucks’ powerful jump. “We are going to enjoy this medal, and he headed to the field.”
Laurel Walker (Copper Canyon, Tex.) rode her own Armani, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Namelus R x Lester), to the bronze medal. After two rails during team competition, the pair ended on 10.88 penalties.
“My goal coming in this year was to get on the podium because I was fourth in the junior section last year,” said Walker, 18, who finished double-clear on Sunday. “I feel like we really clicked and today was our day. His biggest strength, especially when it comes to these championships, is his stamina and that really helped me out today and set us above.”
As the 2024 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Champion, Garrett was awarded the USET Foundation Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award, which was established to recognize and assist talented young show jumping athletes with the potential to represent the United States in furthering their quest for equestrian excellence on the international stage. After claiming NAYC gold, Garrett will start her first year at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., in the fall to study psychology and applied statistics.