Apr 15, 2025

USEA Names Athletes for 2025 EA21 Regional Programs

By Kate Lokey - USEA Staff
USEA/Atalya Boytner photo

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is delighted to announce the selection of athletes for the 2025 USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21). Members of the USEA Young Rider program who are aged 21 and under are eligible to participate. The EA21 program aims to establish a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and nurturing young talent, enhancing horsemanship and riding skills, and fostering consistency and improvement for the next generation of elite event riders.

Participants in the USEA EA21 Program will have the opportunity to learn from selected USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coaches designated for each regional clinic by the EA21 Task Force, under the guidance of David O’Connor, the EA21 Director of Coaching. O’Connor will provide mentorship to the chosen ECP coaches and design a curriculum that culminates in a national camp he will coach in Ocala, Florida, from December 30, 2025, to January 3, 2026. The specific location of the national camp will be announced in the coming months, and national athletes will be selected from the summer regional clinics, with announcements made in the fall.

The USEA will assume responsibility for the costs associated with the regional clinic, including coaching and stabling fees, for all applicants who are accepted into the program. However, it is important to note that applicants will be accountable for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Further details regarding logistics and scheduling will be communicated by the USEA in collaboration with the on-site Young Rider Coordinators for each clinic.

The 2025 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 | Chaps Equestrian Center (Bucyrus, Kansas), coached by Shannon Lilley | Tues-Wed, June 17-18, 2025:

  • Ava Davis
  • Sierra Fishell
  • Carter Jackson
  • Ella Munsat
  • Finley Powell
  • Shaena Putnam
  • Willow Schwartz
  • Sophia Street
  • Mia Volpentesta
  • Elle White
  • Abigail Williams
  • Brett Youssi
  • WAITLIST:
    • (1) Sylvia Byars
    • (2) Rayna Williams
    • (3) Olivia Pratt

East I Clinic | Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, Virginia), coached by Bec Braitling | Tues-Wed, June 17-18, 2025:

  • Olivia Cannizzaro
  • Addison Hagan
  • Madison Haney
  • Carlin Keefe
  • Audrey Littlefield
  • Katherine Maroko
  • Caitlin O’Roark
  • Chloe Paddack
  • Eliza Quigley
  • Ella Spiers
  • Annabelle Sprague
  • Riley Zgrebnak
  • WAITLIST:
    • (1) Lyman Ordway
    • (2) Elle Stephenson
    • (3) Camila Saenz

East II Clinic | Stable View (Aiken, South Carolina), coached by Rebecca Brown | Tues-Wed, July 29-30, 2025:

  • Juliana Cassar
  • Anabelle Friend
  • Ella Hubert
  • Kasidy McMartin
  • Jillian Newman
  • Harper Padgett
  • Adelyn Rinehart
  • Rebecca Roth
  • Katelyn Smith
  • Devon Tresan
  • Hannah Willford
  • Taylor Wing
  • WAITLIST:
    • (1) Luciana Hackett
    • (2) Juliana Aulbach
    • (3) Jake Tessler

West I Clinic | Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, California), coached by Emily Mastervich | Tues-Wed, July 29-30, 2025:

  • Olivia Baca
  • Julia Beauchamp Crandon
  • Paige Beauchamp Crandon
  • Greylin Booth
  • Amanda Boyce
  • Lauren Crabtree
  • Jillian Mader
  • Gabriella Ringer
  • Kylie Scott
  • Emma Slocum
  • AnniePearl Stroud
  • Elsa Warble
  • WAITLIST:
    • (1) Camille Batoy
    • (2) Anya Ostrovsky
    • (3) Victoria Smith

West II Clinic | Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), coached by Jan Byyny | Tues-Wed, August 12-13, 2025:

  • Reese Blinks
  • Shruti Bona
  • Simone Clark
  • Lindsay Essex
  • Sophia Greenwood
  • Madyson Hsue
  • Alexis Johnson
  • Olivia Keye
  • Coco Ramkowsky
  • Caterina Ritson
  • Kendal Smith
  • Hanni Sreenan
  • WAITLIST:
    • (1) Brianna Rasmussen
    • (2) Annabelle Davis
    • (3) Natalie Barlow

“This program has really grown in popularity since its inception and the vast number of applicants exemplifies this,” stated EA21 Task Force founding member and coach, Rebecca Brown. “The EA21 Task Force and coaches are blown away each year with the quality of applicants; the selections are an intense process each year. If you did not get chosen to participate this year, keep applying! Just because you did not make it this year, doesn’t mean you aren’t a great candidate for the following year. We are watching you, rooting for you, and hoping to get you involved in the program in years to come!”

“As the EA21 Task Force Chair and an Area selector, it is extremely satisfying to read and watch a repeat candidate’s application,” said John Bourgoin. “Another year of growth and determination to improve gets our attention. The old adage 'try and try again' holds true. The application asks you to share a lot about yourselves, don’t try to make all of your videos show only the perfect stuff, we’d like to see a little bit of 'grit' when things aren’t perfect. The more times you try, the more chances you have to grant yourself the gift of success. Remember, repetition is a training and educational tool, not just for yourself but for your horse as well.”

About the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21)

The purpose of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) 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, improving horsemanship and riding skills, and training and improving skills and consistency.

The USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program was launched in 2022 with a model of five summertime regional clinics taught by carefully selected USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coaches, leading to a winter national camp consisting of selected Young Riders from the regional clinics. Athletes who are 21 years or younger, are current members of their USEA Young Rider Area program, and are established at the Training Level or higher, are eligible to apply for the EA21 program. Click here to learn more about the USEA EA21 Program.

The USEA would like to thank ARMA, Bates Saddles, Horse Illustrated, Kerrits, Mythic Landing Enterprises, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, WeRideTogether, and YETI for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.

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