United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: EA21 Regional Clinics

One of the best parts of summer is the return of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) Regional Clinics! This will be the third year that the USEA is offering these two-day educational sessions for the chosen applicants. There are five clinics taking place across the U.S. over the course of the summer. A USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) certified instructor will guide 12 hand-selected applicants at each clinic.

The purpose of the EA21 program is to create a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and developing young talent, improving horsemanship and riding skills, and training and improving skills and consistency. The intention is to provide young athletes with access to an added level of horsemanship and riding skills to further their training and skill development with greater consistency.

The first of this summer’s EA21 Regional Clinics, the EA21 Central Regional Clinic, kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, June 18, at the Longview Horse Park in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Facts

• EA21 riders consist of members of the USEA Young Rider program who are aged 21 and under per FEI standards. The riders must be established at the Training level or higher (minimum 4 MER’s at the Training level or higher).
• There were over 160 highly qualified applicants for the 2024 USEA EA21 program. The EA21 team of selectors carefully reviewed each application to narrow down the field to the 60 riders that will participate in the five regional clinics, with 12 at each one.
• Each applicant was first evaluated by Area selectors, who created rankings for each applicant in their Area. Then, the EA21 Selection Task Force reviews the rankings, and pulls 12 riders into each clinic, based on the following criteria:
  • Competitiveness and desire to continue in the sport;
  • Ability and effectiveness in dressage, cross-country, show jumping;
  • Demonstration of horse welfare, stable management, general veterinary knowledge;
  • Willingness to learn from coaches, trainers, and peers;
  • Good sportsmanship and an ability to be a “team player;”
  • Ability to progress through the Performance Pathway;
  • Evidence of an effective work ethic;
  • Personal: loves horses and dedicated to the sport for the future;
  • Physical: athletic and coordinated;
  • Mental: positive attitude, willingness to learn/improve, inquisitive, competitive, educated to a level, and ability to concentrate
• The USEA will cover the regional clinic cost, stabling fees and provide lunch each day for all accepted applicants. Applicants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Athletes will be contacted by the USEA, ECP Coaches, and on-site Young Rider Coordinators with more information and scheduling.
• Thanks to the USEA EA21 sponsors, ARMA, Kerrits, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, Schneiders Saddlery and #WeRideTogether, all regional clinic participants will receive custom merchandise.
• After the regional clinics have concluded, a select group of talented riders will be chosen from the regional clinics to participate in the national camp with EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor, which will be held in Ocala, Florida, Dec. 31, 2024 through Jan. 4, 2025.
• O’Connor will also mentor the ECP coaches selected for the regional clinics and will help to develop a curriculum that leads to the national camp.

The Clinics

• Central Clinic | Longview Horse Park in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 18-10
• East I Clinic | Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia, on June 25-26
• West I Clinic | Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, on June 25-26
• East II Clinic | Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on July 23-24
• West II Clinic | Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington, on Aug. 13-14

The Coaches & On-site Coordinators

• Central – Coach Bec Braitling & On-site Coordinator Christy Hagan
• East I – Coach Shannon Lilley & On-site Coordinator Chris Donovan
• West I – Coach Rebecca Brown & On-site Coordinator Teresa Harcourt
• East II – Coach Emily Mastervich Beshear & On-site Coordinator Shelley Ryan
• West II – Coach Rebecca Brown & On-site Coordinator Scott Weide

The Participants

Central | Longview Horse Park | Kansas City, Missouri

• Camryn Chung
• Ava Davis
• Sierra Fishell
• Addison Hagan
• Megan Hopkins
• Scarlett Peinado
• Finley Powell
• Willow Schwartz
• Eva Taylor
• Sierra Thomas
• Abigail Williams
• Brett Youssi
• Waitlist: Ava Staton, Katherine Hyndman, Annabelle Friend

East I | Morven Park Equestrian Center | Leesburg, Virginia

• Emma Armstrong
• Sylvia Byars
• Emeline Gilbert
• Madison Haney
• Lizzie Hoff
• Samantha Homeyer
• Caitlin O'Roark
• Audrey Ogan
• Eliza Quigley
• Adelyn Rinehart
• Camila Saenz
• Annabelle Sprague
• Waitlist: Carlin Keefe, Ruth Rosendaul, and Elle Stephenson

West I | Twin Rivers Ranch | Paso Robles, California

• Kayley Batt
• Julia Beauchamp Crandon
• Lauren Crabtree
• Molly Duda (Scratch)
• Ella Garcia
• Fiona Holland
• Jillian Mader
• Taylor McFall
• Soobin Oh
• Nadia Vogt
• Elsa Warble
• Anna Weston Smith
• Brooke Corsaut (First alternate pulled from the waitlist)
• Waitlist: Lauren Bebb and Coco Ramkowsky

East II | Stable View | Aiken, South Carolina

• Kate Bell
• Hadley Bruce (Scratch)
• Grace Dilger
• Catherine Frank
• Audrey Littlefield
• Jillian Newman
• Tate Northrup
• Lara Roberts
• Breeana Robinette
• Rebecca Roth
• Kelsey Seidel
• Devon Tresan
• Jake Tessler (First alternate pulled from waitlist)
• Waitlist: Sophia Brady-Owen and Chloe Paddock

West II | Aspen Farms | Yelm, Washington

• Shruti Bona
• Simone Clark
• Gabrielle Curtis
• Ella Eisenbarth
• Olivia Keye
• McLaine Mangum
• Harper Padgett
• Kaylee Petticord
• Abigail Popa
• Caterina Ritson
• Kendal Smith
• Hanni Sreenan
• Waitlist: Lizzie Lynch, Briana Rasmussen, and Lorelei Frederickson

The Schedules
This article will be updated with corresponding schedules as each regional clinic nears.

Central | Longview Horse Park | Kansas City, Missouri

Monday, June 17th

• 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Open Schooling
• 6:00 p.m. | Welcome Meeting and Dressage Lecture

Tuesday, June 18th

• 7:00-1:00 p.m. | Dressage sessions in groups of two
• 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Lunch
• 2:00 p.m. | Horse management session
• 3:00 p.m. | Jumping Lecture and setting the course
• 6:00 p.m. | Dinner gathering and daily recap (Riders only)

Wednesday, June 19th

• 7:00 a.m-11:30 a.m. | Show jumping sessions, three groups of four
• 12:00 p.m. | Lunch and wrap-up lecture
• 1:00 p.m. | All available hands help move jumps

East I | Morven Park Equestrian Center | Leesburg, Virginia

Monday, June 25th

• 5:00 p.m. | Meet & Greet and Dressage Discussion in the Hoffman Center

Tuesday, June 26th

• 8:00 a.m. | Dressage lessons in groups of two
• 2:30 p.m. | Show jumping discussion and course setting
• 5:30 p.m. | Cross-country discussion with video and group dinner

Wednesday, June 27th

• 8:00 a.m. | Show jumping lessons in groups of three
• 1:15 p.m. | Lunch and recap discussion

*Please note, in instances of excessive heat lessons may begin at 7 a.m. for horse and rider welfare. A final decision will be made Monday evening.

West I | Twin Rivers Ranch | Paso Robles, California

Tuesday, June 25th

• 8:00 a.m. | Dressage lecture
• 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Dressage sessions in groups of two
• 1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. | Lunch
• 1:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. | Dressage sessions in groups of two
• 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Set show jumping course
• 6:00 p.m. | Group dinner

Wednesday, June 26th

• 7:30 a.m. | Lecture
• 8:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Show jumping sessions, four groups of three
• 1:00 p.m. | Put away jumps and farewell

East II | Stable View | Aiken, South Carolina

Monday, July 22nd

• 6:00-7:30 p.m. | Meet & Greet with Dressage Presentation

Tuesday, July 23rd

• 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | 1 hour dressage lessons in pairs
• 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Lunch and dressage reflection
• 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Jumping presentation
• 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Set jump course and horse and stable management presentation
• 6:00 p.m. | Dinner Q&A with cross-country discussion

Wednesday, July 24th

• 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | 1.5 hour jump lessons in groups of three
• 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Lunch and jumping reflection

West II | Aspen Farms | Yelm, Washington

Tuesday, August 13

• 8:00 a.m. | Dressage lecture
• 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Dressage sessions in groups of two
• 1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. | Lunch
• 1:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. | Dressage sessions in groups of two
• 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Set show jumping course
• 6:00 p.m. | Group dinner

Wednesday, August 14

• 7:30 a.m. | Lecture
• 8:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Show jumping sessions, four groups of three
• 1:00 p.m. | Put away jumps and farewell

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About the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21)

The purpose of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) is to identify and provide consistent quality instruction to the next generation of elite event riders. The aim is to create a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and developing young talent, improving horsemanship and riding skills, and training and improving skills and consistency.

The USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program was launched in 2022 with a model of five summertime regional clinics taught by selected USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructors, leading to a winter national camp consisting of selected Young Riders from the regional clinics. Athletes who are 21 years or younger, are current members of their USEA Young Rider Area program, and are established at the Training Level or higher, are eligible to apply for the EA21 program. Click here to learn more about the USEA EA21 Program.

The USEA would like to thank ARMA, Kerrits, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, Schneiders Saddlery and #WeRideTogetherfor sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.