United States Eventing Association

The USEA Youth Board announced the winners of the 2009 USEA Youth Board Advancement Grants, sponsored by SmartPak and Equilite. The grants will provide the opportunity for two Junior or Young Riders to spend two weeks working and training at a high performance barn.

Colleen McBride, 16, of Bay Village, Ohio, was selected to spend two weeks with international rider and trainer Boyd Martin. Zachary Brandt, 16, of Calabasas, California, will spend two weeks with Olympic silver medalist, Gina Miles.

Both applicants were selected from a very competitive pool of 106 applications. While the decision wasn't easy, Youth Board representative Nate Chambers said he hopes the two young riders selected will gain invaluable experience in their aspirations to reach the top of the sport and learn firsthand what it takes to compete successfully at the upper levels.

"We received many suitable applications and it was difficult to choose just two," Chambers said. "But we feel that we've selected the two applicants who best embody the spirit of the grant."

Both McBride and Brandt will be asked to keep a diary of their experiences at their respective training facilities, which will be published in an upcoming issue of Eventing USA.