United States Eventing Association

When he was 11, Pace Deppa’s only goal with horses was to carry the flag at a rodeo. He’d been riding western, but a chance meeting between his grandmother and his current trainer Lauren New in Jasper, Georgia, three years ago introduced him to eventing, and he hasn’t looked back.

Deppa took western lessons from New for a year before starting to compete one of her mustangs, Khaleesi. When it was time to get more serious at the Beginner Novice level, he got the ride on New’s Thoroughbred gelding Galivantor, who took him to a top-10 finish in the junior beginner novice division at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (Lexington, Kentucky).

This May, Deppa and his younger sister, Marloe Deppa, competed on a combined team at the USEA Interscholastic Eventing Championship (IEL) at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, and for his mother, Julie Deppa, watching the siblings compete together was very rewarding.

“They both have so much fun doing it and encouraging each other and the team. It's just really nice to see them doing what they love and seeing their abilities really shine through,” she said. “To see them go out there at a big show like that, competing amongst kids who are a lot older than them, and holding their own, showing up and, and being competitive—it's really rewarding.”

New remembers first meeting Pace when his grandmother, who lived across the street from her farm, came over to say hello and inquire about lessons for her grandchildren. Pace started taking western lessons, then New invited him and his family to Tryon (Mill Spring, North Carolina) to watch her compete, which is where Pace fell in love with the sport.

New connected him with Khaleesi, then Galivantor. Once he was ready to move up to Novice, New found Toby The Coal Man, a teenaged Thoroughbred gelding (Mineshaft x Major Melissa) with FEI experience. ‘Toby” and Pace earned a top-10 finish at the 2024 AEC in the junior beginner novice division alongside Galivantor.

Comparing his two former schoolmasters, Pace said, “Toby was more of a kind of, you just put your legs on, and he'll do it, but ‘Van’ tries a lot more for the rider.”

This season, Pace leased Dee Ron, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Turn Him Back x Spirit Wall) owned by Gracelyn Mogelnicki, so he could move up to Training level. The pair had a solid season and finished well at the IEL Championship.

“I'd say probably the best thing about him is, no matter what, he'll always jump the jump. He tries a lot, but the dressage work is very, very tricky,” said Pace.

At the IEL Championship, Pace enjoyed competing on a team with his sister and meeting teammates AnnaGrace Hartfield and Charli Kendrick from River Run Eventing. He also loved the festivities like the hobby horse competition—he had a custom hobby horse made to look like Toby—and decorating stalls.

“All the other people on the team were good riders and did really well,” he said. “[And it was fun seeing all the] glitter and crazy setups that the other teams did.”

New said Pace truly embodies what she wants to see in a team rider, always working on his progress, but lending a hand to anyone who needs it.

“It's really important as a coach that I have this opportunity to foster a team that shows up and supports, but they're never comparing themselves to each other, because that's not what it's about, and he just does a beautiful job of that—supporting his team, but not getting into any type of petty comparison, because everyone's journey is always different, “ said New of Pace. “He's very dedicated. He is really in it for the horse. Pace is just such a horseman, and really does a fantastic job putting his horse first.”

When his lease is up with Dee Ron this summer, Pace will keep busy with a new project mustang mare his family bought and who he’s trained, Arrow, who is ready to compete Beginner Novice.

About the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL)

In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to unite junior riders who are in the 5th—12th grade and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 5th—12th grade who share a common bond, such as the same barn, school, Pony Club, or other connection, can register with the USEA as an IEL Club. The 2027 USEA Intercollegiate & IEL Championships will be held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 7-9. Click here to learn more about the Interscholastic Eventing League.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Aiken Saddlery, AllStar Tents & Events, Horse & Country, Meybohm Realtors – Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, Powell Asset Protection Agency, Sidelines, U.S. Equestrian, Wendel Mobile Equine, WeRideTogether, World Equestrian Brands, Young Rider Magazine, and 100xEquine for sponsoring the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program.