United States Eventing Association

Meet the Nominees for the USEA Board of Governors

Each year every member of the USEA receives a nomination ballot to submit nominees to the Board of Governors and during the Annual Meeting of Members, all members are invited to vote for those individuals nominated to serve. All members receive a proxy to vote for their chosen representatives for those unable to attend the Annual Meeting of Members. The only restriction for Board membership is that they must be USEA members. There are 10 positions representing each Area of the country and 11 at-large positions with no other restrictions.

This year, there are three new nominees for the USEA Board of Governors and three nominees which have been re-nominated for a further term. Get to know each of these nominees a little better before you cast your vote in-person at the USEA Board of Governors or online via the proxy form listed in your USEA Member Dashboard. To access the proxy form, simply log in online, locate the Member Proxy form under the Membership section of your dashboard, and fill and sign the electronic form accordingly.

Electronic proxy submissions must be submitted no later than Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. to be eligible. You must be a 2024 USEA member to cast your vote.

To learn more about your current USEA Board of Governors, click here.

Nominees for the USEA Board of Governors

Jacob Fletcher | At-Large (2024-2026)

Born and raised in Arkansas, Fletcher was introduced to the sport of eventing under the guidance of Mike Huber. His training advanced in Texas from 2009-2013, and later in England with Australian event rider Kevin McNab during 2013 and 2014.

Fletcher completed his undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business at the University of Arkansas.

He is a part-owner of 5o1 Sport Horses LLC, with operations in Cabot, Arkansas, and Ocala, Florida. In 2021, Fletcher co-founded Fletcher Sparrow Capital Management LLC, a concentrated and long-only hedge fund. Alongside his spouse Cornelia, Jacob manages a select roster of competitive horses and manages the portfolio for Fletcher Sparrow.

His track record in eventing includes notable wins and placings at several four-star events on several different horses.

Melanie Loschiavo | Area I (2024-2026)

From the time Melanie Loschiavo decided to major in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Vermont she has had a passion for human nutrition. Loschiavo loves studying the science of what really makes our bodies go. Loschiavo has also been involved in many aspects of nutrition and dietetics from hospital in- patient nutrition care to community wellness programs, and management of an elementary school nutrition program.

After raising three incredibly active and amazing children, running a small horse farm, and serving as a leader in countless community organizations Loschiavo returned to college and updated her education. Now as a Registered Dietitian and owner of Upper Valley Nutrition Services, Loschiavo provides nutrition counseling in office, and serves as a consultant for local health promotion programs and for a residential long-term care facility.

Shelley Howerton Page | Area III (2024-2026)

Shelley Page has been involved with the sport of eventing for over 40 years. She has been a competitor to the highest level, an owner, and an organizer. She has over 35 years of experience organizing and producing top-level equestrian competitions throughout the world. Page has organized events such as the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games (eventing), the USEA American Eventing Championships, Ocala Jockey Club, Wellington Showcase, and Lift Master Grand Prix Eventing at the Aiken Horse Park to name a few. Page is the founder of Equestrian Events LLC & travels the world working on different Events in different capacities. Page has international competition management experience from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2023 Santiago Pam American Games.

Page has sat on various USEF committees over the last 20 years. She is passionate about eventing from the starter level through to the elite level. Her expertise and strengths come out particularly in the cross-country phase where safety is paramount. Her mission is to keep everyone safe while providing an educational but challenging and fair course.

Page and her husband Travis (who is an FEI Eventing and FEI Jumping Steward) live in Aiken, South Carolina, and Ocala, Florida.

Current Board of Governors Members Re-Nominated for a Further Term

Lauren Nicholson | At Large (2024-2026)

Lauren Nicholson has been riding since she was six and moved to Middleburg, Virginia, out of high school to live with and work for Karen and David O’Connor. Since then, Nicholson has been part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2015 Pan American Games (Canada), represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games (Mill Spring, North Carolina), and many Nations Cups teams, and most recently an historic team silver at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championship (Italy).

Nicholson has also had many top placings around the world at four- and five-stars in the last decade including, second at Land Rover Kentucky twice, Best First Timer at Badminton (England) and Burghley (England), and multiple top 10 finishes at Kentucky, Badminton, Maryland, Burghley, Pau (France), Boekelo (the Netherlands), Blenheim (England), and Bramham (England).

Nicholson has become very involved on several boards and committees in the USEA and feels strongly about riders giving back to the sport.

Siobhan O’Brien | Area V (2024-2026)

Siobhan O'Brien has ridden and competed in Eventing for over 25 years. O'Brien competed throughout the United States, attending several AEC and FEI competitions and was 2011 Area V Preliminary Champion. She has ridden multiple horses from Beginner Novice through Intermediate and produced her horse, Hoodwink to Intermediate before selling him to a young rider for NAYC. O'Brien was the USEA Area V Chairperson for two terms, managing the calendar, communicating with organizers and competitors, and representing the Area to the National organization. O'Brien is a USEA ECP certified coach with over 12 years of experience training beginner through Preliminary riders.

Prior to horses, O'Brien worked in Canada and the U.S. with several companies including Microsoft. After leaving Microsoft she started OnTrack Imaging to bring innovative imaging technologies to the equine market. Siobhan is truly able to identify with the adult amateur competitor. She has had a lifetime love of horses but wasn’t able to seriously immerse herself into riding until she was an adult. As Malcom Gladwell writes in "Outliers," it takes 10,000 hours to become expert at something. In an obsessive fashion, O'Brien put in her 10,000 hours and now derives pleasure from bringing horses into the lives of others.

She has owned and managed boarding and training facilities in Flower Mound, Texas, since 2002. O'Brien recently opened a new facility for Horselife Farm in Bartonville, Texas. O'Brien and Shelley Peters run the 22-stall facility on 17 acres, creating a barn atmosphere “where everybody knows your name.”

O'Brien also has three children and a supportive husband, all of whom are involved on the farm.

Wayne Quarles | Area VIII (2024-2026)

Wayne Quarles had a passion for horses from a very young age, but being from a non-horsey family he had to be content with occasional rides at a hack stable until he saved enough money to buy his first horse when he was 15. After that his primary education was from riding for a local sales barn and started riding problem horses for people. While his initial education was in the hunter/jumper realm, dressage became a passion after going to see the Spanish Riding School when they performed in Washington D.C. when he was 16. Eventing happened later in his career when coaching dressage and jumping for the local Pony Club. They needed a cross-country coach to prepare for their regional rally, and since he knew how to ride on terrain from hunting, he stepped in and has been involved ever since.

Quarles holds the following licenses: FEI “I” Eventing Judge and Technical Delegate, FEI Level 2 Steward, USEF Registered (“R”) judge for Dressage and Senior (”S”) Judge and Technical Delegate for Eventing, plus USEF Recorded “r” Connemara judge.

He is the Current Chair of the USEF Eventing Sport Committee Officials Working group, Board of Governors co-chair of the USEA Eventing Licensed Officials Committee, co-author and panelist for the Training Program for Eventing Officials, a member of the USEF Connemara Committee and the American Connemara Association Board of Governors. In addition, Quarles is a founding member of the Masterson Park Equestrian Trust Foundation, currently he is competing in dressage and eventing with his fifth generation of homebreds.

About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in St. Louis, Missouri on Dec. 7-10, 2023. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, Bates Saddles, Capital Square, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Kerrits, Horse & Country, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Parker Equine Insurance, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, SmartPak, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.