Katie Johnson Claims her Second Gold Medal at 2008 NAJYRC

Katie Johnson Claims her Second Gold Medal at 2008 NAJYRC

Parker, CO – August 2, 2008

Competition continued today at the CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) at The Colorado Horse Park Presented by Gotham North. In young rider dressage, Katie Johnson impressed judges and spectators with a 69.05% to claim the gold medal in the young rider individual test.

Johnson was also on the gold medal winning Region VII team on Thursday. Jennifer Brannigan held on to her lead in the CCI** division after turning in a clear round over David O’Connor’s cross- country course.

Young Riders Champion Katie Johnson with proud mom and trainer, Elizabeth Johnson

Dressage

After adding an individual gold medal to her team gold in the young rider dressage division, an emotional Katie Johnson couldn’t hold back tears of joy. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she said. “I came here hoping to be in the top ten.” The El Cajon, California resident said she was in a state of disbelief because she has only been partnered with her horse for three months. Johnson leased Millenium, a 14-year-old Dutch gelding by Inspekteur, with the intent of qualifying for NAJYRC, a goal that eluded her last year. Johnson has nothing but praise for her partner, who is owned by Pam Schachter. “I love him. He works so hard,” Johnson said. “He’s so honest. He went out there today and tried his gosh darned hardest.”

Although Johnson also enjoys snowboarding and wakeboarding, she’s committed to her riding career. “This is what I want to do,” she said. Johnson trains with her mother Elizabeth Johnson, as well as Debbie McDonald.

Presented by Gotham North
Parker, CO – July 31, 2008

The CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented by Gotham North are the premier equestrian event in North America for riders age 14-21. Run in a format similar to the Olympic Games, the Championships feature riders competing for team and individual medals in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as the western discipline of reining, which was added to the schedule this year.

The Region 7 team won the Gold with a score of 4417 points and a percentage of 65.437, followed by Region 8 with a score of 4395 points and 65.111% and Canada- Ontario who received a score of 4374 points and 64.800%. Each team counts its three best scores.

Region 7, whose riders were all competing in their first Young Riders Championship, was led by Katie Johnson of El Cajon, CA who scored 66.356% on Millenium. Region 7 also got scores of 65.778% from Brianna Dutton of Tracy, CA on Tibet, 64.178% from Christine Stephenson of Mission Viejo, CA on Charly 285, and 60.933% from Thomas Walker of Nipomo, CA on Grundsteins Legacy. “This is something you dream about but certainly don’t expect,” said Dutton.

“Even just to place is like a dream come true, but to win the Gold is unbelievable!” Region 7 chef d’equipe Elizabeth Hendrix wasn’t sure what to expect of her team before arriving at the Colorado Horse Park. “I hadn’t seen a lot of the riders and I knew my team consisted of all first timers,” she said. “When I saw them warm up though, I started to realize that this could be a really good team.”

All four of the riders were enjoying the first experience at the NAJYRC even before becoming Gold Medalists. “It’s often hard to get people to understand how we feel about our sport,” Johnson said. “It’s really fun to be with so many others our age who have the same passion for horses that we do.”