Kait Meggenhofen and Diva de Talma Claim Gold in the NAYC Young Rider Individual Final at Traverse City 2026.

Consistency and trust, the two words that define Kait Meggenhofen’s week at NAYC.

Kait Meggenhofen (USA) claimed the gold medal in the Young Rider Individual Final at the Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Championships 2026, presented by USHJA, in Traverse City, Michigan. Meggenhofen completed the three days of competition on 12.99 total penalties aboard Diva de Talma, a 13-year-old chestnut SF mare (Kannan x Quick Star), one of only two athletes alongside JJ Torano to post two clear rounds in the Individual Final. “My mindset was really just to keep consistent and keep going start to finish. I just trust my horse. She’ll do everything to jump for me.” Of Diva de Talma she said: “She’s a chestnut mare but doesn’t act like one unless she sees a jump — and then she’s all game. She’s perfect.”

JJ Torano (USA) claimed silver with I Am Inge, a 10-year-old grey Holsteiner mare (Uriko x Clearway), finishing on 13.60 total penalties — identical round-by-round scores to Meggenhofen but with a fraction more from the Individual Qualifier. “From start to finish I thought Inge jumped great. Knowing my horse well helped me out today.” Torano was selected to represent the United States in the Youth Jumping Competition at the 2026 FEI World Championships.

Isabelle Ehman (USA) completed the podium with bronze aboard Darra du Soleil, a 13-year-old chestnut SF mare (Kannan x Bouton d’Or IV), finishing on 10.28 penalties in the Individual Final; consistency was her greatest weapon. “I’ve had her for a while now, and I know her pretty well. I was never really guessing about what I had to do to make it happen, so that kept me levelheaded throughout the week.”

Top 3 Results — Young Rider Individual Final | NAYC 2026 — Traverse City