United States Eventing Association

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the athletes selected for the 2026 USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21). Open to USEA Young Rider program members aged 21 and under, EA21 is designed to build a strong pipeline of future team riders by identifying and developing promising talent. The program focuses on advancing horsemanship, strengthening riding skills, and promoting consistency and growth among the next generation of elite event athletes.

EA21 participants will train with top coaches from the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP), selected by the EA21 Task Force for each regional clinic. These coaches will work under the leadership of EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor, who will provide mentorship and oversee the program curriculum. The season will culminate in a national training camp led by O’Connor in Paso Robles, California, from Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2026, through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027. Athletes invited to the National Camp will be selected from the summer regional clinics, with final selections announced in the fall.

The USEA will cover coaching and stabling costs for all accepted participants at the regional clinics. Athletes are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Additional details regarding clinic logistics and scheduling will be shared by the USEA in coordination with the on-site Young Rider Coordinators.

The 2026 EA21 regional clinic locations, dates, and coaches are listed below, along with the selected athletes for each clinic:

*Athletes are listed in alphabetical order per clinic, and the alternate athlete wait lists appear in the order the athletes will be accepted should openings occur at the clinics that have waitlists.

Central Clinic - Chaps Equestrian Center (Bucyrus, Kansas), coached by Ashley Johnson - Tues-Wed, June 16-17, 2026:

• Ava Davis
• Olivia Fry
• Sierra Fishell
• Addison Hagan
• Ella Munsat
• Olivia Pratt
• Adelyn Rinehart
• Charlotte Schaef
• Willow Schwartz
• Sierra Thomas
• Elle White
• Rayna Williams
  
  Central Waitlist:
• Alternate Athlete #1: Carter Jackson
• Alternate Athlete #2: Eva Taylor

East I Clinic – Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, Virginia), coached by Bec Braitling – Tues-Wed, June 16-17, 2026:

• Jaelyn Comer
• Isabella Craft
• Laurel Curry
• Reese Dellangelo
• Megan Hopkins
• Carlin Keefe
• Lyman Ordway
• Emerson Padgett
• James Power
• Annabelle Sprague
• Elle Stephenson
• Riley Zgrebnak
  
  Morven Park Waitlist:
• Alternate Athlete #1: Merritt Sheffield
• Alternate Athlete #2: Margaret Hoover

West I Clinic- Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, California), coached by Emily Mastervich - Tues-Wed, June 16-17, 2026:

• Lauren Bebb
• Megan Bebb
• Paige Beauchamp Crandon
• Olivia Keye
• Salma Kuhlmann
• Fiona Lempres
• Jillian Mader
• Soobin Oh
• Anya Ostrovsky
• Kylie Scott
• Nadia Vogt
• Maya Zechman

East II Clinic- Stable View (Aiken, South Carolina), coached by Rebecca Brown – July 28-29, 2026:

• Addison Borton
• Kaitlyn Cobey
• Catherine Frank
• Audri Hoos
• Kennedy Langmo
• Victoria McCallum
• Nicole Nair
• Julia Pinell
• Trinity Sachau-Sherman
• Katelyn Smith
• Piper Van Tassel
• Jake Tessler
  
  Stable View Waitlist:
• Alternate Athlete #1: Keira McKeon
• Alternate Athlete #2: Molly McLaughlin

West II Clinic – Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), coached by Jan Byyny – Tues-Wed, August 11-12, 2026:

• Camille Batoy
• Simone Clark
• Annabelle Davis
• Lindsay Essex
• Alexis Johnson
• Izzy Lenk
• Flynn Patinkin
• Brianna Rasmussen
• Caterina Ritson
• EmmaLee Tanner
• Carson Vogt
• Zoe Weide

Auditing will be encouraged for all applicants and those on the waitlist. More information will become available for auditing as schedules are finalized.

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, GGT Footing, Horse Illustrated, Kerrits, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, WeRideTogether, YETI, and 100xEquine for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.