United States Eventing Association

The last of five EA21 Regional Clinics just wrapped up, so what better way to get the scoop on the EA21 program than by chatting with some actual EA21 riders? This week USEA Podcast host Nicole Brown sits down with EA21 East Coast rider Camryn Chung, EA21 West Coast rider Kayla Dumler, and EA21 Central rider Emeline Gilbert to discuss the clinics, their biggest takeaways, the friendships they made along the way, and more.

Tuesday’s building blocks laid a strong foundation for riders to grow from on the second day of the USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) East II Clinic, held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina. Similarly to the first day, clinician Emily Beshear explained that her goal was to give riders a variety of tools for a variety of situations—some which might solve problems today, but others that may come in handy in the future.

Emily Beshear encouraged riders to get creative and think outside the box on the flat in the first day of the USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) East II Clinic. Twelve hand-picked participants worked with Beshear, a USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coach, at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina.

A good canter with a consistent rhythm was the key to success during day two at the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) West II regional clinic at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington. During the morning lecture that kicked off the day's educational activities, Brown recounted a lesson that she was taught by U.S. show jumper and Olympic gold medalist, Joe Fargis, that "there is no smoke and mirrors in riding. If you sit on the horse well, the horse will go well. Simpler is better." Brown built on this theory throughout the rest of the day, consistently returning to the German training scale and reliance on the flatwork to find success over the fences.

This week, USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) and ECP Level IV coach, Rebecca Brown of Dallas, Texas, is back on the West coast at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington to teach twelve talented Young Riders at the EA21 West II Regional Clinic. Day one started with a dressage lecture from Brown, which focused on the German training scale and the varied uses of each part of the rider's body in communicating with their horse. These themes were then translated into the dressage lessons that followed throughout the morning.

Another chilly morning at the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 (EA21) West I Regional Clinic at Twin Rivers Ranch and another lecture, this time focused on show jumping and cross-country riding. West Coast EA21 coach Rebecca Brown reminded riders that the German training scale that was so the focus of the previous day’s work would remain the focus today. “Show jumping is dressage with speed bumps in the way,” she remarked and emphasized the extreme importance of rhythm.

In yesterday’s dressage lessons at the USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) East I Regional Clinic, Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coach Shannon Lilley worked the 12 EA21 riders through a series of exercises designed to improve rhythm and balance, and today, they got to test what they learned over a course of show jumps at the Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

A chilly morning dawned on the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 (EA21) Regional Clinic at Twin Rivers Ranch, headed by West Coast EA21 coach Rebecca Brown of Dallas, Texas. A woman who wears many hats and is supremely committed to the sport, Brown is an ECP Level 3 coach, FEI 4* rider, U.S. Dressage Federation bronze and silver medalist, co-chair of the USEA Young Rider Committee, member of the EA21 Task Force, and founding member of the EA21 program.

For riders at the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 (EA21) East I Regional Clinic, today’s dressage lessons with Advanced rider and Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coach Shannon Lilley focused on the training scale as it relates to jumping.

After a lecture on Monday, 12 young riders rode in pairs in front of Lilley in the indoor arena at Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday.

The USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) Central Region Clinic resumed at Holly Hill Farm in Benton, Louisiana, on Sunday, June 11. Rebecca “Bec” Braitling, USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructor, streamlined instruction with 12 pre-selected participants who may be vying for a spot at attending the national camp with EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor in January 2024.