United States Eventing Association

This year the USEA Area V Championships took place during the Texas Rose Park H.T. in Tyler, Texas, November 1-2. Six champions were crowned from the Starter level all the way up to the Preliminary level. Get to know each of this year's champions a bit more below!

Preliminary Champions | Shelby Bradley & Commando D’ Osthuy

Shelby Bradley (Sherwood, Arkansas) and her own 13-year-old Commando D’ Osthuy (Ogano Sitte x Up Star D’ Osthuy) won the Preliminary Championship at Texas Rose Horse Park on a total score of 40. She just acquired the Selle Francais gelding earlier this season and after a successful outing at the Training and Modified level, they have spent the rest of the year campaigning at the Preliminary level together.

Modified Champions | Elle White & Biscotti

Elle White’s (Flower Mound, Texas) relationship with the 13-year-old Rheinland Pfalz-Saar gelding Biscotti (Benidetto x Hey Nurse) may only be just a bit over a year in the making, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a strong one.

“We have already formed a great partnership,” she said. “After just one ride on ‘Scotti,’ I knew that we would make a good team. We just clicked.”

They had their first run together in January of 2024 at the Training level at the Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Ocala, Florida) and they won. They would win their next two Training level outings as well. They moved up to Modified in March of this year in a similar fashion, placing second at the Texas Rose Horse Park in their debut. The pair have never placed outside of the top three together at the national level and even had their first FEI outing together this summer where they finished in the top 10 in the CCI1*-L at The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana).

“I’m so grateful for the relationship we’ve built in this short amount of time. We've been able to accomplish so much, and he has consistently exceeded all of my expectations this year. He truly is the best partner I could ask for,” said White.

They returned to the Texas Rose Horse Park this past weekend for the Area V Modified Championships where they won their division from start to finish, adding just one rail in show jumping to their dressage score of 28.1 to finish on a 31.1.

“My favorite part of the weekend was cross-country,” noted White. “We had one of our best rounds at this level. The course was so fun, and I think it confirmed that we are ready for a step up.”

With a Preliminary move up on the horizon, winning the Area V Modified Championship felt like a great way to close out this exciting chapter of their partnership together.

“This win was a great way to conclude an amazing year. I am excited to work on some things in the next couple of months before we start again next season.”

Training Champions | Hannah Corlett & Ernest Fuerst Dance

In the Training Championship, it was Hannah Corlett (Fort Worth, Texas) and her own 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding Ernest Fuerst Dance (Wild Dance x Sandance) who stole the show, leaving their dressage score of 28.6 untouched through all of the phases. Corlett has had “Ernest” since he was a 4-year-old.

“I’ve learned so much from trying to be a better rider for him,” she reflected. “I want him to understand what’s going on, and take on the fences himself, so it’s great to see how he’s grown so much in that, especially on cross-country this weekend. He was fast, bold, and very comfortable with all the questions.”

They spent the season cross training in other arenas, a move that she felt has helped both of their confidence when venting.

“My favorite part of this weekend was going into the stadium ring with so much confidence,” said Corlett. “We’ve been show jumping in between events, and that’s helped me figure out what I need to do and practice showing up for him under pressure.”

Winning the Area V Training Championship felt like all of their hard work was finally showing.

“It’s reassuring to be finishing the year on a good show. I love growth and I love learning as much as the next person, but it’s really nice when all the pieces come together, and we get to have a good weekend.”

Novice Champions | Olivia Pratt & Fernhill Beautiful Boy

Olivia Pratt (Fort Worth, Texas) and her own 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Fernhill Beautiful Boy (Arkan x LCC Yoko) moved up to the Novice level in March of this year and concluded a successful season by winning the Area V Novice Championship. They started the weekend tied for fifth on their dressage score of 30.3, but two double-clear rounds in the jumping phases and having the closest time on cross-country to the optimum time moved them up to first place.

Beginner Novice Champions | Katie Carney & Talk of Texas

Katie Carney of Burleson, Texas, found her OTTB Talk of Texas (Saturday Launch x Make Change Indy), whom she lovingly calls Tater Tot, on a Craigslist ad in the summer of 2022.

“ At the time, I thought he would be a cute resale project, but fate had other plans,” said Carney. “The first fall I owned him, he suffered a terrible pasture accident that was almost life ending. There were many touch and go moments during his recovery, but every day his cute face would look over the stall door at me and there was a spark in his eye that said to have faith. I never would have imagined where we would be today.”

Once Tate rehabbed, Carney’s goal was to get one or two shows under his belt and then list him for sale. But fate interjected again.

“After our first outing together, my gut instinct told me not to let him go yet. I made the decision to keep Tate for myself and have not been disappointed in the outcome. To everyone out there trying to make your way in this sport, Tate is proof that heart matters, size doesn’t count, and fancy bloodlines are not always necessary. As a good friend of mine says to me, quite often, just love and ride the horse that you have.”

Throughout their 2025 season, Carney and Tate have only placed first and second in all six of their outings. While she has been proud of him all season, she was especially proud of at the Area V Championships.

“My favorite memory from the Area V Championships would have to be our dressage score finally reflecting the horse that I know Tate can be. We have been hovering in the low 30s almost all season. My biggest goal was to be in the 20s after dressage. My placing after that phase wouldn’t be the measure of success. Thanks to some great insights from the ever-amazing Mary D’Arcy, the score was such a proud moment for me. I knew we had put in a solid test but wondered if it had enough sparkle to get the mark I was hoping for. When the score came up online, I was over the moon! It was 26.3—our personal best! Back in the barn, there were lots of cookies, carrots and kisses for the Tater Tot! This accomplishment shows me that we are capable of great things.”

Carney is hopeful that this success is setting them up positively for a move up to the Novice level next season, but her big picture mentality isn’t focused on competition.

“While I don’t know what will lie ahead as we continue on this journey together, I can say that my focus will be to train with love and confidence so that this little horse of mine knows he is special. And I will enjoy the ride.”

Starter Champions | Nancy Rinn & Remington Steel

Adding just 1.6 time penalties to their dressage score of 25.3 to bring home the win in the Area V Starter Championship was Nancy Rinn (Utopia, Texas) aboard the 21-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Reminton Steel, whom Rinn co-owns with Mark Hall. Rinn and Remingon Steel have been competing together since 2022, and have been crushing it at the Starter level in Area V since 2024.