United States Eventing Association

Meet the 12 EA21 Young Riders Selected for the 2024-2025 USEA EA21 National Camp

The 2024 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) National Camp is just a little over a month away and all over the country, young riders are preparing for their trip to Ocala, Florida, to participate in this year's prestigious week-long academy led by U.S. eventing legend David O'Connor. This year's camp takes place Dec. 31, 2024, through Jan. 4, 2025, and will feature classroom sessions, guest lecturers, and in the saddle work as a group to help strengthen the foundation of each rider selected to participate.

This year's crop of 12 riders were selected by the EA21 Task Force after the completion of the five EA21 Regional Camps took place this summer. Riders were assessed on their skill, their determination, their work ethic, and their desire to make a career in the sport of eventing. This year's attendees are:

• Kayley Batt (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
• Shruti Bona (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Emeline Gilbert (Morven Park East I Clinic
• Megan Hopkins (Longview Central Clinic)
• Tate Northrop (Stable View East II Clinic)
• Caitlin O’Roark (Morven Park East I Clinic)
• Harper Padgett (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Eliza Quigley (Morven Park East I Clinic)
• Caterina Ritson (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Willow Schwartz (Longview Central Clinic)
• Devon Tresan (Stable View East II Clinic)
• Elsa Warble(Twin Rivers West I Clinic)

Five of these riders, Emeline Gilbert, Tate Northrop, Caitlin O'Roark, Harper Padgett, and Elsa Warble are returning National Camp riders while the remaining eight will be attending National Camp for the first time.

We chatted a bit with each of this year's participants to get to know them better. Check out their rider cards below in preparation for this year's EA21 National Camp. As always, the USEA will be onsite providing daily coverage of the event, so be sure to stay tuned!

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) coaches, 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, Bates Saddles, Kerrits, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.