The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the athletes selected for the 2023 USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21). This year's program received nearly 200 applications, proving to be a very competitive program in 2023.USEA Young Rider program members aged 21 and under are eligible for the program. The purpose of the EA21 program 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. The intention is to provide young athletes with access to an added level of horsemanship and riding skills to further their training and skill development with greater consistency.
Participants in the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program will have the opportunity to work with USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coaches that have been selected for each regional clinic by the EA21 Task Force, and the EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor. O’Connor will coach the national camp in the winter, which will be comprised of Young Riders selected from the regional clinic athletes.
Once again, O’Connor will mentor the ECP coaches selected for the regional clinics, and will develop a curriculum that leads to the national camp in January of 2024. The 2023 EA21 regional clinic venues, dates, and coaches are listed below, along with the athletes selected for each clinic:
*Athletes are listed in alphabetical order per clinic, and the wait lists appear in the order the athletes will be accepted should openings occur at each clinic.
Central Clinic | Holly Hill Farm (Benton, LA) | Saturday-Sunday, June 10-11, 2023:
Coached by Bec Braitling
WAITLIST 1. Sylvia Byars
WAITLIST 2. AnniePearl Stroud
WAITLIST 3: Addison Craig
East Coast I Clinic | Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, VA) | Tuesday-Wednesday, June 27-28, 2023:
Coached by Shannon Lilley
WAITLIST 1. Jordan Crabo
WAITLIST 2. Noah Stanlaske
WAITLIST 3. Carlin Keefe
East Coast II Clinic | Stable View Farm (Aiken, S.C.) | Tuesday-Wednesday, July 25-26, 2023:
Coached by Emily Beshear
WAITLIST 1. Carly Stiller
WAITLIST 2. Annabelle Friend
WAITLIST 3. Crockett Miller
West Coast I Clinic | Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, CA) | Tuesday-Wednesday, June 27-28, 2023:
Coached by Rebecca Brown
WAITLIST 1. Mackenzie Davison
WAITLIST 2. Lizzie Lynch
WAITLIST 3. Adelaide Rudkin
West Coast || Clinic | Aspen Farms (Yelm, WA) | Tuesday-Wednesday, July 11-12, 2023:
Coached by Rebecca Brown
WAITLIST 1. Caterina Ritson
WAITLIST 2. Olivia Keye
WAITLIST 3: Simone Clark
The USEA will cover the regional clinic cost and stabling fees for all accepted applicants. Applicants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Athletes will be contacted by the USEA and on-site Young Rider Coordinators with more information and scheduling.
The USEA would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the USEA EA21 program: Kerrits, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, WeRideTogether
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
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There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.