United States Eventing Association

MARS Bromont Rising U25 Grant Recipients Announced for 2025 MARS Bromont CCI

The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program, administered by the USEA Foundation, is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s grant funding for riders aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, Canada) taking place June 5-8. Each will receive $2,500 toward their travel and competition costs, and participate in an extensive educational component during the event.

The brainchild of Bromont organizer Sue Ockendon and the late Steve Blauner, the scholarship program was first offered in 2019 for riders competing at Bromont and at the time, the Ocala International (Florida), and was expanded to include Galway Downs (Temecula, California) in 2022 and 2023.

Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy, as a guest coach. Hoy will be coaching athletes on dressage days as well as providing course walks for cross-country and show jumping.

Program director, Olympian, and FEI five-star eventing judge Peter Gray also acts as a clinician at each event, including his “centreline sessions” on how to make the most of your warm-up and exactly what the judges are looking for movement by movement.

“This year we received the most applications on record, and the committee was especially impressed with the quality," said Gray. "For many it will be their first international FEI competition outside of the U.S., and it’s such a privilege to be able to compete at the beautiful, world-class site at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. Guest coach Bettina Hoy is very enthusiastic about the MARS Equestrian Bromont Rising program and with her coaching, as well as the additional lectures, presentations and course walks, I am sure it will be a memorable week for all! Thank you to Dr. Mark Hart, Carol Kozlowski, and Diane Pitts for joining me on the review committee to select this year’s recipients.”

The 2025 recipients are:

Mary Cotton, 25, of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, with Hudson T

Kelsey Estes, 19, of Mount Airy, Maryland, with Trionfo

Audrey Littlefield, 20, of Amherst, New Hampshire with Mr. Pumpkin

Emma McHugh, 21, of Beaconsfield, Quebec, with Ricochet

Lyman Ordoway, 18, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, with Exces De Folie

Kelsey Seidl, 21, of Berryville, Virginia, with Chico’s Man and Water Mill Smooth

Gabrielle Shank, 23, of Edmonton, Alberta, with Billy

Nicholas Shank, 21, of Edmonton, Alberta, with Dunrath Archibald

Ella Spiers, 19, of Metamora, Michigan, with Mission Complete

Mandolin Whitten, 22, of Gordonsville, Virginia, with Cooley Easy Trip

For more information on the MARS Bromont Rising program visit www.bromontcci.com.