United States Eventing Association

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) coaches, and now riders have been selected from the regional clinics to participate in the EA21 national camp this winter. The national camp will take place Dec. 31, 2024–Jan. 4, 2025 in Ocala, Florida.

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 Longview Horse Park (Kansas City, Missouri), 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 12 USEA EA21 Young Riders for the program’s third 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. O’Connor believes that 12 athletes is the ideal number to offer specialized attention to all athletes at the national camp. The athletes invited to attend the national camp are listed below, in alphabetical order:

• Kayley Batt (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
• Shruti Bona (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Emeline Gilbert (Morven Park East I Clinic
• Megan Hopkins (Longview Central Clinic)
• Tate Northrop (Stable View East II Clinic)
• Caitlin O’Roark (Morven Park East I Clinic)
• Harper Padgett (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Eliza Quigley (Morven Park East I Clinic)
• Caterina Ritson (Aspen West II Clinic)
• Willow Schwartz (Longview Central Clinic)
• Devon Tresan (Stable View East II Clinic)
• Elsa Warble (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)

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 or coast, as noted:

If any athlete who attended the Morven Park East I Clinic scratches, the alternate will be:

• Lizzie Hoff (Morven Park East I Clinic)

If any athlete who attended the Stable View East II Clinic scratches, the alternate will be:

• Audrey Littlefield (Stable View East II Clinic)

If any athlete who attended the Longview Horse Park Central Clinic scratches, the alternate will be:

• Sierra Thomas (Longview Central Clinic)

If any athlete who attended the Twin Rivers or Aspen Farms West I or II Clinics scratches, the alternates will be pulled in the following order:

1. Julia Beauchamp Crandon (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
2. Kendal Smith (Aspen West II Clinic)

The USEA would like to thank the five venues for hosting the inaugural EA21 regional clinics (Morven Park, Stable View, Longview Horse Park, Twin Rivers Ranch, Aspen Farms) and for their wonderful hospitality.

For questions regarding the Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21), 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) 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, Kerrits, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.