Get to know each United States Eventing Association (USEA) Area a little better in this new series, Meet the Areas! This month’s feature is USEA Area IV which is made up of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Four Area IV riders dominated their divisions at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships and several five-star riders such as Jim Wofford, Meghan O’Donoghue, Leah Lang-Gluscic, Allison Springer, Emily Hamel, Lauren Kieffer, and Jennie Brannigan all got their start in Area IV. Learn more about Area IV below.
Area IV Fun Facts
Area IV spans across almost 1,000 miles from the border of Area IV at Guleph, Kansas to its northern point at International Falls, Minnesota. That requires almost 15 hours of continuous driving to go from one point to another!
Boyd Martin’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic mount Tsetserleg TSF was also bred and born in Area IV in Columbia, Missouri at Tim and Cheryl Holekamp’s New Spring Farm.
The Wayne DuPage Horse Trials in Wayne, Illinois (eventually renamed the Maui Jim Horse Trials) was a destination event that ran up to the three-star level. One year it even served as an Olympic selection trial for the Canadian team in addition to hosting the USEA American Eventing Championships from 2006 to 2008.
Area IV Championships
OTTER CREEK FALL H.T., September 16-18, 2022
Levels available: Preliminary, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice
Placing to Qualify: 1st through 5th at one event.
Qualifying Period: 9/21/2021 – 9/21/2022
Any Area with Caveat: Must compete in at least one Area IV horse trial during the qualifying period.
Only open to residents or declared residents of Area IV.
Area IV ICP Certified Eventing Instructors
Dierks, Eric (Level III) Certified in 2003
Address:935 172nd Avenue | Union Grove, Wisconsin 53182
Phone: (703)297-2329 (Day)
Hall, Brad (Level III) Certified in 2008
Address:2693 S River Rd | Galena, Illinois 61036
Phone: (815)541-5524 (Day) | (815)541-5524 (Cell)
Howlett Rousseau, Jennifer (Level III) Certified in 2010
Address:127 N Buckley Rd | Barrington, Illinois 60010
Phone: (847)501-0190 (Day) | (847)501-0190 (Cell)
Online: www.lespritequestrian.com
Staples, John (Level III) Certified in 2005
Address:7400 East 53rd St North | Kechi, Kansas 67067
Phone: (316)371-3903 (Day) | (316)371-3903 (Cell)
Berkowitz, Sarah (Level II) Certified in 2009
Address:4116 Mercier St | Kansas City, Missouri 64111
Phone: (208)316-1212 (Day)
Jennings, Anne (Level II) Certified in 2005
Address:P.O. Box 80271 | Saukville, Wisconsin 53080
Phone: (262)375-2964 (Day)
Lund, Liz (Level II) Certified in 2018
Address:810 Copeland Road | Independence, Minnesota 55359
Phone: (952)210-9448 (Day)
Morauw, Bernard (Level II) Certified in 2004
Address:5N770 Pearson Dr. | Wayne, Illinois 60184
Phone: (630)802-5518 (Day) | (630)802-5518 (Cell)
Pavilanis, Ingrid (Level II) Certified in 2013
Address:1749 W Wellington Ave | Chicago, Illinois 60657
Phone: (312)218-7884 (Day)
Fernandez, Scot (Level II - Provisional) Certified in 2011
Address:13026 NE 187th St | Holt, Missouri 64048
Phone: (816)686-7800 (Day)
VanderWoude, Clare (Level II - Provisional) Certified in 2010
Address:3119 Limekiln Street | Madison, Wisconsin 53719
Phone: (608)220-9451 (Day) | (608)220-9451 (Cell)
Online: TeamVeventing.com
Kalsem, Michele (Level I - Training) Certified in 2008
Address:30320 535th Avenue | Huxley, Iowa 50124
Phone: (515)450-0764 (Day) | (515)450-0764 (Cell)
Kettell, Brigitte (Level I - Training) Certified in 2010
Address:808 Sunset Rd | Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Phone: (630)732-3525 (Day)
Stockhausen, Camie (Level I - Training) Certified in 2008
Address:57560 Highway 210 | Cambridge, Iowa 50046
Phone: (515)231-9875 (Day) | (515)231-9875 (Cell)
Walker, Clare (Level I - Training) Certified in 2017
Address:21629 Fairmount Rd. Walnut Farm | Leavenworth, Kansas 66048
Phone: (913)727-2322 (Day) | (913)775-2310 (Cell)
Wiseman, Cynthia (Level I - Novice) Certified in 2008
Address:330 East Battlefield Suite B | Springfield, Missouri 65807
Phone: (417)880-4567 (Day) | (417)880-4567 (Cell)
Upcoming Competitions
May 7 | Catalpa Corner May Madness Horse Trials | Starter, BN, N, T, M | Iowa
May 20-22 | Otter Creek Spring H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT, P, IP | Wisconsin
May 28-29 | Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trial | CT-Starter, Starter, CT-BN, BN, N, T, P | Missouri
June 5 | Carriage House Farm Combined Test | Starter, CT-BN, CT-N, CT-T, CT-P, CT-I | Minnesota
June 11-12 | Queeny Park H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, M | Missouri
June 18 | Silverwood Farm Spring H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT | Wisconsin
June 23-26 | Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, P | Illinois
July 9 | Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier | FEH-2, FEH-3, FEH-4, FEH- YEAR, NEH, YEH-4, YEH-5 | Minnesota
July 23 | Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT | Wisconsin
August 6 | Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials | Starter, BN, N, T, P | Iowa
August 12-14 | Otter Creek Summer H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT, P, IP, I | Wisconsin
September 3 | Silverwood Farm Fall H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT | Wisconsin
September 16-18 | Otter Creek Fall H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, PT, P, TP, I | Wisconsin
September 30-October 2 | Sundance Farm H.T. | Starter, BN, N, T, P | Wisconsin
October 7-9 | Heritage Park H.T. - Pending USEF Approval | Starter, BN, N, T, PT, P, IP | Kansas
October 21-23 | Windermere Run H.T. - Pending USEF Approval | Starter, BN, N, T, M, P | Missouri
Area Representatives
Area Chair
Jill Wagenknecht
(314) 608-4244
Board of Governors Area Representatives
Cynthia Wiseman
(417) 880-4567
John Staples
(316) 371-3903
Area Treasurer
Beth Stoker
(785) 766-4563
Adult Rider Coordinator
Julie Simmons
(804) 754-5263
Young Rider Coordinators
Cynthia Wiseman
(417) 880-4567
Meaghan Marinovich
(612) 382-0094
Organizer Representative
Kelly Mahloch
(920) 893-0134
Affiliate Eventing Association Representative
Erica Hoffman
(630) 587-9434
Communications Director
Clare VanderWoude
(608) 220-9451
United States Eventing Association (USEA) members at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention were in for a treat on Friday as the U.S. Eventing Team was on hand to discuss their accomplishments this year at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
“Test the best without hurting the rest,” said show jumping course designer Chris Barnard as he and fellow designer Marc Donovan led a lively discussion for nearly 50 participants at the Show Jumping Seminar on the first day of the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.
This afternoon, USEA President Louise “Lou” Leslie welcomed U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors members, USEA staff, and USEA Annual Meeting & Convention attendees to the first of two Board meetings which will take place during this year’s Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, with the teaser that 2024 is going to be full of initiatives for more opportunities to access the eventing experience, some of which attendees might get first wind of during this year’s gathering. The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.
Welcome to the Show Me state and to Area IV USEA members! The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention kicks of tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all with one aim—to bring the eventing community together to continue to improve upon and celebrate the sport that we all love. This year’s Convention takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis from Dec. 7-10, and we have rounded up everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the heartland.