May 15, 2024

Recipients Announced for MARS Bromont Rising U25 Grant Program 2024

By Michelle Dunn - Edited Press Release
2023 MARS Bromont Rising Grant Recipient Maya Clarkson with Maks Mojo C on the cross-country course at Bromont June, 2023. Michelle Dunn photo

BROMONT, QC - May 15, 2024 - 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 5-9. 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 Ocala, 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 for 2024. 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 “centerline sessions” on how to make the most of your warm-up and exactly what the judges are looking for movement by movement.

On release of the names Gray commented: “We were overwhelmed with the quality of this year’s applicants and are very excited for an amazing week of training and lecture presentations at the beautiful facility at Bromont. For many of the successful recipients this will be their first FEI competition and first time competing outside of the U.S.; it should be a memorable week! 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 recipients for 2024 are:

  • Ivie Cullen-Dean, Newnan, Georgia, with Fernhill Cardevega
  • Olivia Dutton, West Grove, Pennsylvania, with Sea of Clouds
  • Julia Fanello, Ocala, Florida, with FE Quickly
  • Erin Farrell, Tallahassee, Florida, with Ataviuos
  • Colin Gaffney, Lexington, Kentucky, with Baymax
  • Jenna Levesque, Cochranville, Pennsylvania, with Born Ready
  • Megan Loughnane, Unionville, Pennsylvania, with Lynton
  • Rylie Nelson, Unionville, Pennsylvania, with Galloway Sunrise
  • Nicole Reynolds, Coldwater, Ontario, Canada, with Don’t Ask
  • Annabelle Sprague, South Royalton, Vermont, with DaVinci Code
  • Claire Strehlow, Lexington, Kentucky, with Seabanks Theygo

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

Jan 02, 2025 Emerging Athletes U21

System Locked and Loaded on Day 3 of the 2024-2025 EA21 National Camp

A change in the original schedule of the Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) National Camp brought cross-country day forward to the third day instead of the original final day. Alongside his work with the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the FEI, EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor advises the Caisson Detachment of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment on horsemanship and will be traveling to Arlington, Virginia, to attend the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. But no one was disappointed by the change.

Jan 01, 2025

Rideability and Responsibility on Day 2 of the 2024-2025 EA21 National Camp

Having established clear lines of communication yesterday on the flat, it was time to take those tools to the jumping arena during day two of the 2024-2025 Emerging Athlete Under 21 (EA21) National Camp held at Sweet Dixie South in Ocala, Florida. The curriculum for the second day focused on the rider’s responsibilities and maintaining rideability.

Dec 31, 2024

Communication Reigns Supreme on First Day of 2024-2025 EA21 National Camp

“There’s got to be things that you believe to your core,” EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor began on the first day of the 2024-2025 Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) National Camp held at Sweet Dixie South in Ocala, Florida. “For me, that’s communication.”

Dec 30, 2024 Emerging Athletes U21

Fast Facts: 2024-2025 EA21 National Camp

This week 12 talented Young Rider athletes from all over the country have gathered together in Ocala, Florida, for the 2024-2025 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 National Camp (EA21), led by EA21 Director of Coaching David O'Connor! These riders were hand-selected following the five USEA EA21 Regional Clinics that took place in the summer of 2024 and will spend the week immersed in an educational experience like no other with classroom sessions, hands-on learning led by industry experts, and in-the-saddle instruction facilitated by O'Connor. The National Camp kicks off tomorrow on Dec. 31, 2024 and will run through Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

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