The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program, administered by the USEA Foundation, is pleased to announce the first recipients of this year’s grant funding for riders aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, Canada) taking place June 7-11, 2023. Each will receive $2,500 toward their travel and competition costs and participate in an extensive educational program 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 Ocala, and was expanded to include Galway Downs in 2022.
Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy as a guest coach for 2023. Hoy will be coaching athletes on dressage days as well as providing course walks for cross-country and show jumping.
The recipients are:
Lea Adams-Blackmore (Summit Point, West Virginia) with Frostbite
Elle Choate (Clemson, South Carolina) with Paddrick
Maya Clarkson (Santa Cruz, California) with Maks Mojo C
Jack Curtis (Chester County, Pennsylvania) with Luska Candy Clover
Sam Curtis (Chester County, Pennsylvania) with Blyths Centurion FE
Samantha Homeyer (Markham, Virginia) with Final Notice
Cassandra Leblanc (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) with Riffel
Caitlin O’Roark (Centerville, Virginia) with What The Devil
Nadia Sabot (Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada) with Neverquitdreaming
Sara Schulman (Purcellville, Virginia) with Cooley Chromatic
Program director, Olympian and FEI 5* 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.
Upon releasing the names Gray commented: “I was thrilled to receive so many top tier applications from athletes around North America; this emerging group of talent is the future of our sport! There is such a fantastic international atmosphere at Bromont and with world class coaching from Bettina Hoy, it should be a memorable weekend! Thank you to Dr. Mark Hart and Carol Kozlowski for joining me on the review committee to select funding recipients.”
A second round of funding continues for those looking to compete at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) in November. Applications are open through Sept. 1, 2023.
Canadian and U.S. U25 riders competing at any level of FEI competition offered are eligible to apply.
For more information on the MARS Bromont Rising program visit www.bromontcci.com
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.