United States Eventing Association

The USEA Area II Championships are always hotly contested, and this year 10 new champions were crowned from the Starter level through Preliminary. Read on to learn a bit more about each of them!

Preliminary Champions | Tim Bourke & Sing To Me Cooley | 33.2​

Tim Bourke (Berryville, Virginia) took over the ride on Hedgerow Farm’s 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sing To Me Cooley (Tyson x Millchem Dreamer) in 2024 and has brought him up from Modified to the CCI2*-S level over the past two seasons. Together, their 2025 season has been full of top three finishes at the Preliminary and two-star level, including a second place finish in the CCI2*-L at the Virginia Horse Center Eventing horse trials this spring. ​They started out the weekend at the Area II Championships in fourth on a dressage score of 33.2, but double-clear jumping rounds in both phases moved them up to bring home the victory.​

Modified Champions | Avery Cascarino & Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier | 30.5

​The 2025 Area II Modified Champion, Avery Cascarino (Strafford, Pennsylvania), calls her partner Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier, owned by her mother Gloria Cascarino, her horse of a lifetime. ​

“Of all the horses I've ridden, I've never trusted a horse more than I trust ‘Leo,’” she shared. “Whether it's an intimidating, complex cross-country course or a hack through unknown, spooky trails, he's the horse I want to be riding! He puts his heart into everything he does—always aiming to please, but his best quality is that he keeps me safe no matter what we do. He's my best friend, and I like to think I'm his!”​

She’s been competing the now 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Quidam Junior x Kilmoon X Cavalier Royale) since 2023, where they started at the Beginner Novice level together. This year, they made their Modified debut and have never placed outside of the top 5. ​

“Winning the Area II Championships for Modified is a huge achievement for us,” said Avery. “Leo moved up to the division this season, and we've worked hard all year. I couldn't be more proud of him and of our success! With just one more event to attend, it's a great way to start to wrap up our 2025 competition season.”

​Her favorite moment from this year’s Championships was their cross-country ride, where she stated that Leo, “felt focused, confident, and ready for anything. I could tell that he was enjoying himself, and he made everything feel effortless!”​

Junior Training Champions | Emma Whitaker & HSH Golden Boy | 30.0

​Emma Whitaker (Clarksville, Maryland) got the ride on Hedgerow Farm’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Golden Boy (Eastern Hero x Princess Boo) in 2023. They have made a steady climb through the levels together ever since. ​

“I started riding ‘Oscar’ in 2023, and we competed in Beginner Novice that season. We moved up to Novice in 2024 and Training this year. He is the best horse, always giving me his all and helping me learn confidently as we moved up each level. I trust him on cross-country, and that makes it so much fun!”

​It was their cross-country trip around Loch Moy Farm that made the weekend at the Area II Championships so special. ​

“I was so proud of Oscar and going double-clear,” noted Whitaker. “We have been working on our pace this season and crossing the finish line with him under time and feeling strong was a great feeling.”

​Even with countless top finishes under their belt, winning the Championship doesn’t lose its special feeling for Whitaker. If anything, it motivated her to aim for a new goal next season. ​

“Winning the championship this year is giving me the confidence to move up next year. Oscar has been the perfect partner for me at each level so far, and we hope to move up to Modified together in 2026.”​

Training Champions | Rachael Livermore & Accuraat Z | 28.6

​The 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Accuraat Z (Atomic Z x Linsy) was started as a show jumper in the Netherlands before making his way stateside, where he met his current owner, Abigail Akre. A few years ago, Akre began sharing “Ace” with fellow amateur Rachael Livermore (Gordonsville, Virginia), and a partnership began to blossom. ​

“Abigail was kind enough to start sharing him with me a couple of years ago, and now she and I both ride and compete him, though neither of us has time to compete much,” said Livermore. ​“My first Novice on him, I was 30 seconds slow after not having competed for several years, so learning to ride faster and in a better rhythm has been my main focus. He’s incredibly bold and genuine, and the more I let him do his job, the better he is.”

​Livermore and Ace worked their way up to the Training level together and have had several top placings together. ​

“Though I don’t compete much, I do like to be competitive,” she noted, “and my favorite memory from the weekend was probably how smooth our cross-country felt. The Area II Championships were a fun goal for the fall after getting through the heat wave we had this summer. I’m super appreciative to Abigail for her support and generosity, and for always being our biggest cheerleader!”​

Junior Novice Champions | Quinn Miller & Jules Verne | 29.2

​When Quinn Miller purchased the Dutch Warmblood gelding Jules Verne (Expression x Ziggy Stardust) in 2023, he had a significant trailering issue.

“Jules frequently refused to load into a trailer and would do anything to get away from it, including rearing and hitting his head on the trailer roof, and one time even broke one of the trailer side windows, which fortunately was made of safety glass,” recalled Miller.

She found herself having to cancel lesson after lesson because she couldn’t get Jules to load, but then she connected with Martin Douzant of The Frame Sporthorses in Middleburg, Virginia, who helped Jules gain confidence in the trailer and at competitions.

In 2024, the pair finally saw themselves being competitive at the Beginner Novice level, until one day that summer. Jules stumbled while walking into his stall one day, and Miller and her mother immediately knew something was wrong. They began treatment and rehab protocols for EPM and were finally cleared for work in early winter of last year.

“By this spring, he was jumping Beginner Novice height, and by summer, we were back to competing at USEA recognized events, moving up to Novice and qualifying for the 2025 Area II Championships. The road to the Area II Championship competition was difficult at times, but I never gave up on Jules, and he never quit on me. I learned a lot through the adversities, and I will never forget all the good and challenging times we have had.”

In fact, all of those bumps in the road make the win even more special, according to Miller.

“I am grateful because there is no feeling in the world like winning your first recognized event on a horse that you have spent a lot of time training. I am grateful for my parents, who have made my dream of eventing come true; my trainer, Martin Douzant, for all his time and patience he has given Jules and me; to the other competitors who have encouraged me throughout the competition season and congratulated me after the Championship ride; and to my wonderful and exuberant horse and partner, Jules Verne.”​

Novice Champions | Martin Douzant & Frame Nantucket S | 26.9​

In addition to helping Miller and Jules Verne ride their way to the win in the Area II Junior Novice Championship division, Douzant also got a taste of victory when he piloted his own 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Frame Nantucket S (Contendor I x Cantanita S) to the win in the Novice division. ​

This was Frame Nantucket S’s first year competing with the USEA, and he has had a stellar career so far, logging nothing but top-5 finishes at all of his outings. He started the year at the Beginner Novice level and worked his way up to Novice towards the end of the summer. They finished on their dressage score of 26.9 to bring home the win at the Area II Championships. ​

Beginner Novice Champions | Liana Theroux & Our Golden Chance | 23.8

​Elizabeth Bales’ 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Our Golden Chance (Golden Missile x Quite by Chance) has helped many riders achieve big goals over the years, and this year, Liana Theroux of Media, Pennsylvania, is the lucky rider who is partnered with “Rudy.”​

“As an adult rider getting back in the saddle after years away from the sport, Rudy has taken such great care of me,” shared Theroux. “He always tries his heart out, and he has given me the confidence to get back to competing when I wasn’t sure I could.”

​They had their first USEA outing together this past April and have won every single USEA event that they have contested so far.​ “This season has exceeded my every expectation, and I am so proud of how Rudy and I have progressed in our partnership this year,” she noted. “To be able to win in such a competitive championship division was truly an unforgettable experience, and I am so grateful to my trainer Susie Beale for the opportunity to compete this little unicorn!”​

Making the victory even more special was the support team that surrounded Theroux at the championship as they finished the weekend on their dressage score of 23.8.​

"It was extra special to be able to share this moment with Rudy’s owners and former rider, who were waiting at the gate to celebrate with us. I think she was almost as emotional as I was! I’m so lucky to have the support and encouragement of my entire Cairn O'Mount barn family!” she said.​

Junior Beginner Novice Champions | Claire McMillan & RVR Coldstone | 29.1

​Claire McMillan has been partnered with Cathy Schroeder’s 7-year-old Westphalian gelding RVR Coldstone (Cabdula Du Tillard x Plum Naked xx) for over a year and a half now. ​

“He is truly the most incredible horse,” she said of “Otto.” ​“He absolutely loves attention, and he is really fun to have in the barn because he will do the funniest things, including playing with the stuffed animal in his stall. One of my favorite things to do with him is just hang out. He also loves cross-country, and I know that every time I go out of the start box I can count on him to try his hardest while keeping both of us safe.”​

Competing at the Area Championships has been a goal of McMillan’s for some time now, so winning there made the experience even more special.

​“Winning feels almost indescribable, especially since I have been working towards this for multiple years. Just getting to compete at Area II Championships has been a goal of mine for three years now, so I was happy just to be there, but to win feels incredible.”​

She loved getting to lead the way in the victory gallop and was absolutely tickled to come back to the barn after the weekend was done to find Otto’s stall decorated in celebration, courtesy of her trainer and her barn family.​

Junior Starter Champions | Carmen Defelice & Bazinga | 28.3

​Carmen Defelice (State College, Pennsylvania) began looking for a new horse to lease at the end of the 2024 season when someone mentioned Anna Hendey’s 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Bazinga (Victory Gallop x Complete Spring) might be a good fit. ​

“He was a perfect fit for what I needed, and he charmed us with his affectionate and silly personality,” she said. ​

Defelice had to really work to understand a new type of ride— “Sheldon” is off the track, and her former mount was an older lesson pony, but she knew that he had a lot to teach her as she progressed through the 2025 eventing season and kept working to build their partnership. ​They competed at some unrecognized shows before making their USEA debut together at Waredaca in August of this year, where they finished in second place in the Starter division. ​

“It felt really good to see all of the progress I had made this season,” she said. “I started the season thinking I would not be able to place well in a normal rated show, let alone a championship. It also makes me excited for next season to see how much more I will improve!”​

Defelice had a great time at the Area II Championships, and it was even more fun to get to share the experience of the victory gallop with her friend Arabelle Armstrong, who finished second. ​“This show season was very similar for us as we both moved onto new horses and progressed quickly. The Area II Champs was the real test, and getting to win with my friend was my favorite part. We both got neck ribbons for our horses and got to lead the group in our victory gallop.”

​Starter Champions | Stella Uiterwaal & Crossfire | 26.7

​Stella Uiterwaal (Silver Spring, Maryland) began taking lessons on Crossfire a year ago after a few years away from the sport and riding in general. ​

“‘Eddie’ is an OTTB and former upper-level horse that I am half-leasing from my trainer Lauren Sumner at Crossfire Farm,” said Uiterwaal of the 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Malibu Moon x Spring Rush). “He is really sweet and goofy, and Eddie and Lauren have helped me get back in the swing of things!”​

The Area II Championships at Loch Moy was only Uiterwaal’s second recognized event with Eddie, so the win was very exciting. She is looking forward to gearing up towards a Beginner Novice move up after this result. ​The pair finished on their dressage score of 26.7, a feat that the rider was very proud of. ​

“I was most excited after dressage because our test felt so good,” she said. “All the pieces we worked on came together, so it was a fun ride. Topping it off with clear cross-country and show jumping rounds made for a great weekend.” ​

For full results, click here.