The Maryland International + Horse Trials in Adamstown, Maryland, is going to be crawling with talented young riders ages 25 and under for the 2024 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships (YRC). This year’s Championships has been transitioned from a fall long-format event to a summer short-format event to encourage participation and will offer CCI1*-S, CCI2*-S, and CCI3*-S Championship divisions.
The Field:
There are six teams of four riders, two teams of three riders, and seven individuals competing across the three levels in the Young Rider Championships this weekend. In total, 37 horse and rider pairs will compete in the YRC.
To be eligible to compete, horse and riders have to meet the following qualifications within the qualifying period of January 1, 2023 through May 26, 2024:
Athletes wishing to compete in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships CCI1* must have been born on or between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010.
Athletes wishing to compete in USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships CCI2*-S must have been born on or between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2010.
Athletes wishing to compete in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships CCI3*-S must have been born on or between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2008.
Athlete/horse combinations wishing to compete in the event must have met the minimum eligibility requirements as stated in the USEF Eventing Rules and FEI Eventing Rules for the relevant division.
There are riders representing six USEA areas and Canada across the various teams.
Three of the teams are “Scramble Teams” which feature riders from different USEA Areas, while the other three teams are comprised of athletes all from one Area.
One rider, Avery Tallman, has two horses entered in the CCI1*-S division. She will be competing Alison Tallman’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rehy Investor (Orestus x Graigueahesia Jewel) for Team Canada and her own BDE Olympic Royale (Orestus x Shannondale Silver), a 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, as an individual.
Eleven of this year’s 37 entries are past or present participants in the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 program (EA21).
In addition to the YRC, The Maryland International + H.T. will also be offering separate CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, CCI1*-S, Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified divisions, and Training divisions.
There are just over 180 entries across the board that will be competing at The Maryland International + H.T.
The USEA Young Rider Mentorship Program is back for 2024 and Izzy Lenk and Nicola Villarino were selected to participate at the YRC. Stay tuned for a write-up on their experience this weekend at www.useventing.com.
The Facts
Andrew Temkin (USA) is the Technical Delegate for the four-star with Martyn Johnson (GBR) assisting. Johnson will also serve as the Technical Delegate for both the three-star and two-star. Rumsey Keefe is the CCI1* Technical Delegate and the National Technical Delegate.
Peter Gray (CAN) is serving as President of the Ground Jury for the four-star. Marilyn Payne (USA) is the President of the Ground Jury for the two-star. Debbie Adams (USA) is the President of the Ground Jury for the three-star and one-star. Marilyn Payne (USA) is the President of the Ground Jury for the two-star.
Ian Stark (GBR) is the cross-country designer with Andrew Heffernan (GBR) assisting.
Chris Barnard (USA) is this year's show jumping course designer.
Santa Anita Park, located in proximity to the Los Angeles city area, has been confirmed as the venue of the equestrian events of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28).
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is delighted to announce the selection of athletes for the 2025 USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21). Members of the USEA Young Rider program who are aged 21 and under are eligible to participate. The EA21 program aims to establish a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and nurturing young talent, enhancing horsemanship and riding skills, and fostering consistency and improvement for the next generation of elite event riders.
The following excerpt is from "Relaxation Exercises for Horses: A Guide to Soft, Supple, and Light," by Guillaume Henry, and published by Trafalgar Square Books.
The Twin Rivers Spring International showed that there isn’t just one right answer when preparing your horse. The CCI4*-S served as a qualifier in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing, but before the $200,000 finals at Morven in Virginia, on Oct. 9-12, seven of the 11 horses were competing in their final prep before the approximately 2,300-mile haul to Lexington for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in two weeks.
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