As the 2019 winner of the Junior category, Mimi Gochman knows what it takes to win gold at the FEI North American Youth Championships.
She knows that a few faults can make all the difference and that a strong start in the first individual qualifier class is vital for setting yourself up for success. So that’s what she had in mind when she returned to the NAYC this year and entered the Young Rider First Individual Qualifier aboard Celina BH on Thursday afternoon.
“Since today’s format was a speed with the faults converted, my plan was just to go smooth and try not to flatten [Celina BH] out before the team competition, but to go and get up there,” said Gochman, who trains with Ken Berkley. “I wanted to go a little bit and get her in there and get going. She hasn’t jumped in a while, so I had a nice and fresh horse, and she was excited. She was revved to go, and she jumped incredibly. I followed the plan, and Ken was happy, so I think I did okay!”
