Parker, Colo.—July 29

In 2014, Nicholas Hansen listened as his veterinarian told him some devastating news about his mount, Ritter Benno. The horse had a stifle injury, and the chances he’d come back to full dressage work? They were not good.

But fast forward to today, when Hansen and “Ritter” led the victory gallop for the FEI Young Rider Individual test at the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, gold medal draped around Hansen’s neck, and Ritter outfitted in a championship cooler. 

“The vets told us he would maybe be a trail horse,” said Hansen, 21. “For the following five months as he recovered, you have the feeling, I don’t know if this horse is going to be rideable again. To put him back in work and have him feel better than even before he went lame, and then to get here after being told your horse probably can’t work again—it’s amazing. It honestly is.”

Their final score of 72.50 percent easily gave them first over Rachel Robinson and Indira (68.92%) and Lexy Donaldson on Power Play (68.05%). Hansen and Ritter were also part of the Region 1 gold medal-winning young rider team on Wednesday. 

“The individual test is easier than the team test because you’re only riding for yourself,” said Hansen. “In the team test, you’re riding on behalf of your team. It’s a weight off your shoulders going into the individual day, and how you do is just for you. You own your result, and your team doesn’t necessarily own it.

“My favorite part today was the trot work,” he continued. “It’s something we’ve worked on the last couple months, and felt great to sit on the trot like that and have it be so adjustable.”

Nicholas Hansen and Ritter Benno. Photo by Lisa Slade.

Hansen has ridden with Canadian dressage Olympian Jacqueline Brooks for the last three years. But he also has a background in another sport; he’s ridden at the two-star level in eventing. He started getting more serious about the dressage when he got Ritter, a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding (Rolls Royce—Workuta, Weinberg), as a donation horse via Lendon Gray’s Dressage4 Kids from Ann Sanders about three years ago. His last event was in 2015, but he’s still hoping he’ll get back to eventing in addition to doing the dressage. 

“My horse has such a big heart, and he’s such a hard worker, but he’s such a happy horse,” said Hansen. “If he were a human, I always say he’d give really great hugs. He tries 100 percent of the day and never gives up.

“[Winning gold] hasn’t really sunk in yet,” he continued. “To be on the top for the second time, it’s not real. It takes so much work—you’re working for so many hours, and to actually have that work pay off… I can’t thank anybody enough who’s helped me get here. I also can’t thank the horse enough.” 

Rachel Robinson and Indira. Photo by Lisa Slade.

As for Robinson, she sustained her own injury that left her feeling uncertain she’d be competing at this year’s NAJYRC. She broke her foot in a jog at a competition a few months ago. She finished the show, had surgery the week after, and then she got back in the saddle in preparation for this competition. 

“Three-quarters of my qualifiers were done on crutches,” said Robinson, who’s had Indira about 10 months now. “My test today was most likely the best test I’ve ever had in my whole life. I actually came out crying, which never happens for a good reason. Her canter was up and engaged, and her tempis were beautiful. It was definitely the best ride I’ve had on her.” 

Lexy Donaldson and Power Play. Photo by Lisa Slade.

Donaldson and Power Play, a 19-year-old Oldenburg gelding, have been a team for about 1 1/2 years. 

“I was happy with the canter work, especially the tempis,” she said. “I went into both tests knowing I had to try my best, and I knew ‘Player’ would try his best.”

Next up for the dressage riders are the freestyle tests, with the young riders competing tomorrow evening, and the juniors doing their final tests on Sunday. 

See full results from the class, or check out the Chronicle’s dressage coverage from the Junior Team test or the Young Rider Team test. 

Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco earned fourth individually (67.23%). Photo by Lisa Slade. 

Eventing Finishes The Dressage Phase 

The one-star dressage completed their tests today, and Makenna Rold will head out on James Atkinson’s cross-country tomorrow in first place with Fernhill Imperial (41.9 penalties). The CCI* team from Ontario (Alisa Morrison on Princess Sophia, Alexis Murray on My Principle, Annick Niemuller on FE Akari, and Emma Johnston FE Coconut Kiss) is sitting first.

In the CIC**, Elena Hengel is first and second on Zipp (42.7) and Say I Do (46.0). The team from Alberta and Ontario lead that division. See full eventing scores. 

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