The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the selected Young Rider athletes for the Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) national camp, now that the EA21 regional clinics have concluded. Twelve riders were accepted into each of the five regional EA21 clinics, taught by USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructors, and now riders have been selected from the regional clinics to participate in the EA21 national camp this winter.
The five EA21 regional clinics that took place were: East Coast I at Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, Virginia), coached by Shannon Lilley; East Coast II at Stable View Farm (Aiken, South Carolina), coached by Emily Beshear; Central at Holly Hill Farm (Benton, Louisiana), coached by Rebecca Braitling; West Coast I at Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), coached by Rebecca Brown; and West Coast II at Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, California), also coached by Rebecca Brown.
The USEA’s EA21 Task Force has approved 18 USEA EA21 Young Riders for the program’s second year of the EA21 national camp. Each of these Young Rider athletes were selected to participate in one of the five regional EA21 clinics, and have now been selected to attend the national camp with EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor. The athletes invited to attend the national camp are listed below, in alphabetical order:
The EA21 Task Force put together a wait list for this year’s national camp in the case an athlete must withdraw. The Selection Task Force felt that the below athletes were prepared for the national camp level, and if an athlete from the national camp withdraws, then their spot will be filled with the first ranked athlete from the waitlist from the same respective clinic, as noted:
Twin Rivers Clinic Alternates:
Aspen Farms Clinic Alternate:
Morven Park Clinic Alternates:
Stable View Clinic Alternates:
Central Clinic Alternates:
The EA21 national camp will take place at KingsWay Farm in Temecula, California, across Tuesday-Saturday, Jan. 2-6, 2024, and will be taught by David O’Connor. Special guest speakers will also be on-site for this educational camp. Stabling will be available across the street at Galway Downs, and catch ride horses may be available to riders traveling from significant distances.
The USEA would like to thank the five venues for hosting the inaugural EA21 regional clinics (Morven Park, Stable View, Holly Hill Farm, Twin Rivers Ranch, Aspen Farms), and for their wonderful hospitality. The USEA would also like to thank KingsWay Farm, founded by Linda and Terry Paine, and Tamra Smith who operates out of KingsWay Farm, for hosting this year's national camp. Special thanks to Robert Kellerhouse and Galway Downs for hosting the stabling for the national camp, as well as offering their facilities in the event of rain or poor weather conditions.
For questions regarding the Emerging Athlete 21 Program, please email Kate Lokey at [email protected]. For questions regarding the selection procedures, please contact the EA21 Task Force Chairs.
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 selected USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructors, 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 Kerrits, Sidelines Magazine and WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.
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