Molly Pellegrini | President, At-Large
Molly is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and earned her BS in Finance from Boston College. She worked in Treasury Management and Hospitality Services Management before she and her husband, Hank had their four children. Since then, she has worked for and served on many non-profit boards, including The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, YWCA, Tulsa Zoo Management, Tulsa Community Foundation, Route 66 Marathon, Monte Cassino School, National Charity League, and Pony Club. She became involved in eventing when they moved from Oklahoma to Orange County, California in 2014, and her 10-year-old daughter changed from the hunter/jumper discipline and fell in love with eventing, spending six years training with Lisa and Brian Sabo and being active in Newport Mesa Pony Club. She was an active volunteer at West Coast events, and she served on the Area 6 Council as Young Rider Representative until the family moved to Wayne, Pennsylvania, in 2020 where they are diving into the Area II and East Coast eventing community.
Sharyn Antico | Vice President of Competitions/Organizers Representative, At-Large
Sharyn was born and raised on her parent's farm in Southwick, Massachusetts, where she lives today with her own family. She attended Midway College in Kentucky, where she first found her passion for eventing. After college, Sharyn moved back to Massachusetts where she then spent over 10 years working in riding programs for two prominent private girls’ schools. It was during that time that Sharyn started to secretary a number of horse trials in Area I.
Since 2006, Sharyn has been the secretary and co-organizer for the Millbrook Horse Trials (New York). In addition to her responsibilities running the competition, she is a member and secretary for the MHT Board. Sharyn is also the secretary for the Carolina International (Raeford, North Carolina). In addition to her secretary/organizing roles, Sharyn holds a USEF ‘R’ Eventing Technical Delegate license. Sharyn has been actively involved with the USEA Area I Council since 2004 and is currently the Organizer Representative for Area I. In 2021, Sharyn joined the USEF Eventing Sport Committee and the USEF Calendar Working Group.
Sharyn’s endless energy includes working two jobs. She is the Assistant Director of the American Horse Trials Foundation {AHTF) and works at the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center as the Marketing and Events Manager. Sharyn spent many years in the saddle, both competitively and for pleasure. However, in her limited free time, she enjoys spending it with her two children, Jacob and Samantha. They are avid fans of all things outdoors, including skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Mogie Bearden-Muller | Area II, At-Large
Coming from an equestrian family, Mogie grew up in California with eventing and Pony Club. At age 9, she competed at her first USEA-recognized event at the Pre-Training Level. A strong Pony Club background (her mother was DC of local Pony Club as well as a national examiner, and her brother is graduate 'A' Pony Clubber), Mogie is an H-A graduate and functioned as a C3 regional examiner. In 1982 she won the B Level Pony Club National Championships. In addition, Mogie was a working student for Derek di Grazia in 1984, which opened up a lot of connections that are key to this day. From 1982-2007, she competed with horses that she produced through the upper levels and successfully competed at the Fair Hill CCI4*-L in 2005. Mogie had the opportunity to compete in many USEA Areas throughout her career. USEA Areas: I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, IX and X.
Moving full-time to the East Coast in 2012 allowed her to focus more on coaching and course design while continuing to compete at the lower levels on clients’ horses. In 2004 she received her USEA ECP Level IV certification. Mogie has coached several riders through the five-star level in the U.S., along with the World Championships and four-star competitions in Europe. In 2017, she achieved her U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal and became a USEF licensed cross-country course designer in 2008, receiving her 'R' license in 2020 and her FEI Level 2 license in 2022. She is actively pursuing her USEF 'S' and FEI Level 3 licenses. She is designing courses for Stable View (Aiken, South Carolina) from three-star to Beginner Novice, TerraNova (Myakka City, Florida) from three-star-Beginner Novice, and GMHA (South Woodstock, Vermont). Past events that she has designed courses at include the Maryland Horse Trials, Sporting Days, CDCTA, Ram Tap, The Event at Kelly’s Ford, Rebecca Farms, and Tryon CCI4*-L as an assistant CD. She spends her winters in Aiken and summer and fall seasons in Maryland. Mogie works daily balancing an eventing training program at home, coaching, and cross-country course design.
Dana Bivens | Board Member, At-Large
Dana Bivens has been eventing since age 14 and has competed to the CCI3*-S level. Originally from Southern California, Dana currently lives in Virginia. She has two young event horses competing at the Training and Preliminary levels. She was a working student for many years and taught and rode full-time after college before returning to graduate school. Dana now works as a Congressional and Legislative Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dana is interested in expanding eventing opportunities to all ethnicities and is a member of the USEA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Jacob Fletcher | Treasurer, At-Large
Born and raised in Arkansas, Jacob Fletcher was introduced to the sport of eventing under the guidance of Mike Huber. His training advanced in Texas from 2009-2013, and later in England with Australian event rider Kevin McNab during 2013 and 2014.
Jacob completed his undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business at the University of Arkansas.
He is a part-owner of 5o1 Sport Horses LLC, with operations in Cabot, Arkansas, and Ocala, Florida. In 2021, he co-founded Fletcher Sparrow Capital Management LLC, a concentrated and long-only hedge fund. Alongside his spouse Cornelia, Jacob manages a select roster of competitive horses and manages the portfolio for Fletcher Sparrow.
His track record in eventing includes notable wins and placings at several four-star events on several different horses.
Christina Gray | Board Member, At-Large
Christina Gray is the founder and principal of Gray Area Events, where she has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality, athlete-focused equestrian competitions. With extensive experience in event organization and management, Christina brings a comprehensive understanding of the operational, safety, and strategic considerations required to deliver successful events. She works collaboratively with officials, volunteers, venue partners, sponsors, and governing bodies to ensure competitions meet the highest standards of professionalism, efficiency, and competitor experience.
Christina is widely respected for her practical leadership, clear communication, and ability to navigate complex challenges with consistency and sound judgment. Her work emphasizes risk management, volunteer engagement, fiscal responsibility, and continuous improvement—skills that translate directly to effective governance. Through Gray Area Events and her service within the sport, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to the long-term health, sustainability, and growth of eventing.
Teresa Harcourt | Board Member, Area VI
Teresa Harcourt grew up in Grass Valley, California, and quickly formed a love of horses and the sport of Eventing at a young age. Teresa was able to represent Area VI at NAJYRC in 2012 and competed through Advanced. Teresa’s love of eventing has continued to drive her to stay actively involved in different aspects of the sport. Most recently, Teresa has served as a freelance groom for Arnell Sporthorses and Bec Braitling for three years. Along with her day job as a Market Analyst for Aflac, Teresa currently serves on the Area VI Council as the Area VI Young Rider Coordinator.
Jennifer Holling | Board Member, At-Large
Originally from Orangeville, Ontario, Jennifer Holling is a dedicated equestrian and co-owner of Holling Eventing, a full-service training, lesson, and sales program based at Willow Run Eventing in Ocala, Florida.
Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree in molecular biology from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada while simultaneously being long-listed for the Canadian Equestrian Team—a testament to her discipline and drive. She has successfully competed through the three-star level on multiple horses at major events such as Foxhall and Fair Hill and remains an active competitor at the upper levels of the sport.
Her academic background in science provides valuable expertise in equine veterinary care and nutrition, complementing her practical experience in eventing. Known for her attention to detail, Jennifer ensures the smooth operation of the program both at home and on the road.
Beyond competition, Jennifer is passionate about coaching and is actively involved in developing riders. Together with her husband, Jonathan Holling, she brings more than 26 years of combined experience to the sport, making Holling Eventing a respected name in the eventing community. Jennifer is also mother to a fantastic son, who thank the lord does not wish to ride.
Jennifer Howlett-Rousseau | VP of Education, At-Large
A career equestrian, Jennifer began riding at age five just outside of Montreal, Canada. Her first experiences with horses included competing at Nationally rated hunter/jumper shows, fox hunting, and ultimately achieving her “A” Pony Club rating. It was through Pony Club that she was first introduced to the sport of Eventing at age 13.
Jennifer’s early career, in addition to her steadfast commitment to competing in and training riders for Eventing, included working for a top hunter/jumper trainer, riding competitively for a big dressage training barn, and starting young Thoroughbreds for the track. Along with these varied positions came the opportunity to groom at an Olympic training camp, and serve as a veterinarian’s assistant at the 1976 Olympic Games; all formative experiences which only served to galvanize her quest to participate in the sport at the highest levels.
After spending a year in New Zealand riding jumpers and event horses, she returned to the Montreal area and developed an active Eventing training business which grew, as the sport grew, through the 1980s and early 90s. Her special interest lay with developing Young Riders, several of whom represented her home province of Quebec at the NAYRC.
She was recruited in 1992 to manage a private equestrian estate in Northern Illinois and immigrated to the United States. She spent her first 10 years there developing a private breeding/training program and starting a family of her own. Once that project was well-established, she began building an active teaching and training program under her own business banner, L’Esprit Equestrian, LLC. In the summer of 2020, L’Esprit Equestrian relocated to the beautiful Jigsaw Farms in Woodstock, Illinois, where they have been hard at work developing a top-quality Eventing and cross-country training facility.
Jennifer is a USEA ECP Level IV Certified Coach, serves on the USEA ECP committee and chaired the committee which produced the USEA Eventing By the Levels Handbook. Recently awarded the Going Forward Grant for licensed officials funded by the Broussard Family Trust, she has successfully completed the requirements to become a “r” Eventing judge. Her interest in developing Young Riders has continued to inspire and produce riders competing at the NAJYRC, and in 2017 she served as the Young Rider coach for Area IV riders, winning the Team Gold Medal in the NAYRC two-star (now three-star) competition. L’Esprit Equestrian continues to flourish as a top eventing training program, producing riders and horses through all levels of competition, including fielding 11 riders for the 2023 American Eventing Championships.
Melanie Loschiavo | Board Member, Area I
Melanie Loschiavo is from Bradford, Vermont, where she began eventing in Area I in 1975. After putting horses on hold while she got degrees in nutrition, married, and became a mother of three, she returned to the horse world when her daughter, Anna Loschiavo, showed an interest in riding. Passionate about bringing along the youth in our sport, she has worked for many years in various roles in U.S. Pony Club and the USEA, currently as the Area I Young Rider coordinator.
As a registered dietitian/nutritionist, she established a nutrition counseling and consulting business and worked for many years as an eating therapist. She is now enjoying spending time with her husband of 40 years on their horse farms in Vermont and Reddick, Florida, and eventing at the Preliminary level with her horse-of-a-lifetime, Spartacus Q.
Rusty Lowe | Vice President of Safety, At-Large
Rusty Lowe, NRP (AL) is the Safety Coordinator/Medical Officer for several events in the U.S. and was Medical Safety Officer for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. As a past member and Chair/Vice-Chair of the USEA and USEF Safety Committees, he worked with other committees and organizations to improve safety within the sport such as improved rider safety equipment, increased medical care requirements for events, concussion management, and ECP first aid/CPR training standards. Rusty has been a Firefighter/Nationally Registered Paramedic for 40 years including 30 at the Hoover, Alabama, Fire Department where he retired in 2018 as EMS Captain and Public Information Officer, and EMS Instructor at Jefferson State Community College. He works now as an ALS Specialist for Go Rescue Brands, Paramedic for Tide EMS at Bryant-Denny Stadium (Roll Tide!), and resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dan Michaels | Board Member, At-Large
Dan is a Colorado native. With BS and MS degrees from MIT in electrical engineering and computer science, Dan spent most of his professional career at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado as a lead systems engineer. Now retired since 2007, Dan splits his time between owner and manager of the Rabbit Mountain Equestrian Center, training and competing his own horses, volunteer activities with the USEA, and other recreational pursuits. With his wife, Barb, Dan has lived on 35 acres near Longmont, Colorado, since 1980. They have built their own house, raised two children, built a horse boarding facility in 2000, and continue to be outdoor enthusiasts. Dan has successfully trained his own horses and competed at horse trials through the Preliminary level. His USEA volunteer activities include: treasurer of Area IX (13 years), long time Membership committee member, and now member of the Board of Governors. Dan was awarded the USEA Governor’s Cup in 2022. Dan invented, developed, and patented the Jump Latch, a mechanism for the implementation of frangible fences.
Allison Deveraux Murphy | Vice President of Area Affairs, Area IX
Raised in Wyoming, Allison spent her childhood alternating between the family-owned Rawhide Ranch Camps in Jackson and Cody, and winters in Laramie. With her parents preoccupied with 180 other children, she enjoyed a feral upbringing, fortunate to have a choice of 140 horses to ride across 160 acres of high mountain ranchland and the adjacent Shoshone National Forest. Her summers included a few weeks at the Pony Club in Jackson, where she learned jumping and dressage, leading to her start in eventing in the late '90s and early 2000s. In the past she's been locally, regionally and nationally involved in USPC while her daughters were pony clubbers.
Since 2017, she's organized The Event at Archer, transforming an empty calendar slot into the largest event in Area IX, attracting competitors from 15 states. Starting with Starter through Training levels in 2017, she introduced Preliminary in the winter of 2018, and a full Modified course in 2020. She runs two USEF/USEA shows per year as well as a schooling event/YEH. She is excited to share that she is in a position to begin offering annual grants to Area IX upper-level riders who have a tremendous amount of mileage to travel to compete at the intermediate and above levels.
A Realtor since 1998, she's self-employed, residing on her farm in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She is a mother to two remarkable daughters, caretakers of a charming golden retriever, a sweet rescue dog, a couple of barn cats, two OTTBs, and an up-and-coming young warmblood. Her competition circuit spans the western U.S., from Texas to Montana and the West Coast. Having competed up to the Preliminary level with her beloved Weatherbee, she has great aspirations for her 4-year-old warmblood, Norbert aka Gemini Nürburgring.
Lauren Nicholson | Vice President of Active Athletes, At-Large
Lauren Nicholson (née Kieffer) began riding at the age of six and competed in her first horse trials at the age of 12. As a high school graduation present, Nicholson participated in a week-long eventing summer camp with Olympians David and Karen O’Connor, which led to a six-year working student position. Her talent and work ethic helped her reach the top levels of the sport and represent her country in international championships.
Nicholson was a member of the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with the Dutch Warmblood mare, Veronica, and the 2018 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with her Anglo-Arabian gelding, Vermiculus. In 2015, she won team gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto riding Meadowbrook’s Scarlett.
Nicholson won team bronze in 2005 and team silver in 2007 at the North American Youth Championship with her Anglo-Arabian gelding, Snooze Alarm, a full brother to her future WEG partner, Vermiculus. She made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2010, when she and Snooze Alarm completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Since then, Nicholson has had numerous top finishes at the five-star level, including finishing in second place overall and as the highest-placed U.S. athlete at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2014 and 2016 with Veronica, where she won the title of USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champion. The pair also had top-10 finishes at the CCI5*-L level at Pau in 2014 and Badminton in 2018. With Vermiculus, Nicholson finished in the top 10 in the five-star events at Kentucky in 2018 and 2019, Burghley in 2019, and Lumühlen in 2022. She finished in the top 10 with Landmark’s Monte Carlo at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star in 2021. In 2022, Nicholson and Vermiculus represented the U.S. at the FEI World Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, and helped secure a team silver medal.
Siobhan O'Brien | Vice President of Strategic Planning, Area V
Siobhan has ridden and competed in Eventing for over 27 years. Siobhan competed throughout the U.S., attending several AEC and FEI competitions. She has ridden multiple horses from Beginner Novice through Intermediate and produced her horse, Hoodwink to Intermediate before selling him to a young rider for NAYC. Siobhan has been involved in the North Texas Eventing association as vice-president, Area V Chairperson for two terms and is a USEA ECP certified trainer with over 14 years of experience training beginners through Preliminary riders. Siobhan and her business partner, Shelley Peters, own and operate Horselife Farm in Bartonville, Texas, teaching beginners through competitive riders how to enjoy the world of horses.
Yvonne Ocrant | Board Member, At-Large
Yvonne is a trial lawyer, transactions attorney, and certified mediator who practices in the areas of equine law, employment law, and commercial litigation. Yvonne’s equine law experience includes handling litigation and transactions involving the Equine Activity Liability Act and various other state and federal laws affecting equine industry activities. She assists individual horse owners, trainers, breeders, facilities, veterinarians, and others in the equine industry litigate and resolve claims for personal injury, property damage, and other losses caused by allegations of negligence, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, and other legal issues.
She also drafts contracts for horse purchases, sales, and leases, assists with negotiating and drafting employment and independent contractor agreements for equine industry workers, and creates equine liability releases for horse owners, trainers, breeders, facilities, veterinarians, transporters, and other individuals and entities sponsoring or participating in equine activities. She also has extensive experience developing multi-owner syndicates for horses in numerous disciplines, including eventing, dressage, and jumpers, as well as creating stallion and mare breeding syndicates.
The syndicates completed to date range from several owners to multiple owners, range in value from $5,000 to $850,000 in value, and vary from very young horses beginning their training to mature horses competing at the highest levels of their sport. Yvonne speaks extensively on the topic of equine law to national and local organizations and competes in eventing for Area III.
Shawn Ortiz | Board Member, Area X
Shawn Ortiz has been an eventer and a participant in the Area X Adult Riders program for over 25 years and has competed in events up to the Preliminary level, mainly in Area X and Area VI. Ortiz is currently competing at the Training Level with her horse “Liberty,” and recently purchased a new horse, “Justice,” who Shawn aspires to bring to the FEI level. Ortiz recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after a 35-year career as an Intelligence Officer. Ortiz lives in Tolleson, Arizona, with her husband, Hector. Shawn has two children and eight grandchildren. Ortiz is looking forward to serving Area X and all eventers as a member of the Board of Governors.
Leonie Padgett | Board Member, At-Large
Leonie Padgett was born and raised in New Zealand, where, as a young girl, she got her first pony and became actively involved in Pony Club. While lessons and registered horse shows were not a financial option, Leonie was passionate about horses and continued to ride and compete in small, local gymkhanas and pony club events, recalling a time she hacked her pony over an hour and a half each way to compete at a small local horse show. After 10 years riding in Pony Club, it came to hang up her helmet and head to university. Her father insisted she study and work hard so that one day she could come back to horses as an Amateur. That day finally came 25 years later when her daughter, Harper, showed an interest in and asked to ‘ride ponies’.
During the 25 years away from the horse world, Leonie completed three degrees, a Bachelor of Commerce, double majoring in Management and Marketing, a Bachelor of Physical Education/Sport, and a Master of Business. Leonie started her working career with Deloitte Consulting, as a global business management consultant, developing skills in overall business strategy and process improvement in multiple industries and working with many companies to re-engineer their business strategy and improve their bottom line.
While at Deloitte Consulting, Leonie lived and worked in South Africa and then in Australia on various assignments. While living and working in Melbourne and then Sydney, Australia, she moved into the field of strategic alliances and corporate partnerships for a number of large firms such as ADP and Expedia, as well as a number of smaller companies. Also, while in Australia, she met her husband, Barry Padgett, an American. They married, had their first child, Dane, in Australia and then moved to London where they had their second child, Harper.
After almost four years in the U.K. the family moved to Seattle in 2011, where their children attended elementary, middle and high school. During that time the family brought their 20-acre, 20-stall equestrian facility, in Woodinville in 2017. Their son Dane is now in his second year attending West Point US Military Academy, and Harper is now a rising senior in high school, and in her second year, at Foxcroft boarding school in Middleburg, Virginia, where she attends school and rides, being part of the USEA EA21 program for the past three years.
For the past couple of years, Leonie has been a member of the EA21 Taskforce, putting her business skills in strategic planning and business development to use, advising and helping the Program develop and grow into an even more successful, grass roots equestrian education and talent development program for USEA. She is passionate about horses and helping facilitate their place in an ever-changing human world; helping educate and open doors for equestrians to be the best they can be and putting her acquired business acumen to good use in helping USA achieve consistent podium finishes on the global stage in any way she can.
Wayne Quarles | Board Member, Area VIII
Wayne Quarles says that he has been fortunate to have been able to make his hobby and passion for horses into a full-time career for many years. He was advised and mentored early on in his career by some top outstanding horsemen in several disciplines. Waybe is a licensed FEI level 3 Evening Judge and TD, level 2 Steward, USEF ‘S’ Eventing Judge and TD, ‘R’ Dressage Judge, ‘R’ Connemara Judge, and ‘r’ Western Dressage Judge. Wayne has chaired and been a member of several USEF and USEA Committees and is currently a Board member of the USEA. Wayne still actively competes in dressage and eventing with his fifth-generation homebred.
Erin Tomson, Ph.D. | Secretary, Area VII
Erin grew up riding and working on her family’s boarding farm in Washington. She is a graduate 'A' from Pony Club, competes through the Preliminary level, volunteers at Area VII events, develops young horses, and has a small lesson program for beginner riders. Erin is on the leadership team for Strides for Equality Equestrians and is actively working to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in her spheres of influence.
Erin balances her horse activities with her job as a strategic communication professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. She earned her Ph.D. (2010) in communication, and her teaching and research focuses on crisis prevention and response planning for nonprofit organizations, public relations and strategic messaging, and creating an inclusive learning environment for any and all types of students.
Angie Yates, DVM | Secretary, Area VII
Dr. Angie Yates was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and had the opportunity to be involved with horses at a very young age. Her childhood included showing on the AQHA circuit in diverse events from halter to reining, in addition to the all-around classes. Following graduation from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, Dr. Yates accepted a hospital internship in Ocala, Florida. During that time, Dr. Yates developed a strong interest in lameness work and was able to train in diagnostic procedures involving some of the country’s best race and show horses.
At the completion of her internship in 2009, Dr. Yates made the decision to return to her hometown of Indianapolis and begin Yates Equine Veterinary Services. From 2009-2021 Dr. Yates provided equine ambulatory and sports medicine services to the greater Midwest. She was certified in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) in 2010, equine chiropractic by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) in 2011 and named a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CERP) by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2015. She completed the curriculum of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP) in 2017. In January 2021, she returned to Ocala, and in 2022, reopened her business as Yates Equine Sports Medicine.
In addition to her daily practice, Dr. Yates has a long history of serving as a veterinary official at some of the country’s most prestigious events. She has worked the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event since 2006, as well as acting as a treating vet at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. She is currently a Level 2 FEI veterinarian and acts as the Veterinary Services Manager and Veterinary delegate for many of the venues in Florida. Outside of her practice, she continues her own competitive career as an amateur eventer and jumper rider. Dr. Yates and her husband, Eric, live on the south side of Ocala with their three young daughters.
