Classic Eventing Nation

Area II Crowns Champions at Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm

By on Oct 6, 2025 12:58 pm -

Tim Bourke and Sing To Me Cooley. Photo by Kira Topeka for Erin Gilmore Photography.

Fall kicked off in grand fashion at Loch Moy Farm this weekend as the USEA Area II Championships were hosted alongside the Land Rover West Columbia Maryland Horse Trials. Competitors had the benefit of lovely weather and top-quality jumping courses from the Netherlands’ Andrew Heffernan as well as jumping designer Kathy White.

Area II Championships were hosted from Starter level and up. Kicking things off on Saturday morning was a catch-ride crowning for Tim Bourke of Ireland. Bourke piloted Hedgerow Farm’s Sing To Me Cooley to the Preliminary Championships on a score of 33.2 after steadily climbing the standings. They earned the sole double clear round of the division to seal the win. He’s been riding the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare since 2024 and has finished in the top five or better more times than not, capping off a competitive season at the Preliminary and CCI2* level on a high note with this victory.

Avery Cascarino and Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier. Photo by Kira Topeka for Erin Gilmore Photography.

Area II Young Rider Avery Cascarino was victorious in the Modified Championship, teaming up with Gloria Cascarino’s Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier on a final score of 30.5. This is Cascarino and the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding’s fourth Modified win this year and will be feeling confident for their next steps as the season winds to a close.

Rachael Livermore and Accuraat Z. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Rachael Livermore won the Open Training Championship with Abigail Akre’s Accuraat Z, an enthusiastic 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, on a score of 28.6. Livermore shares the ride with Abigail, who competes Accuraat Z herself at the Novice level while balancing her work and family life. This weekend marks the gelding’s third win at Training level.

Emma Whitaker and HSH Golden Boy. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Emma Whitaker and Hedgerow Farm’s HSH Golden Boy were the winners of the Junior Training Championship, moving up in show jumping to take the win on a score of 30.0. Originally campaigned by CCI5* rider Allison Springer, HSH Golden Boy has been partnered with Whitaker since 2023, starting out at Beginner Novice and eventually stepping up to Training level after a string of competitive finishes at Area II Championships at the Novice level. Since then, they’ve finished on the podium nine times at the level.

Martin Douzant and Frame Nantucket. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Professional rider Martin Douzant of France took home the top honors in the Open Novice Championship aboard his own Frame Nantucket S, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. This is Frame Nantucket S’s first season of eventing here in the U.S, and he’s had a successful spring and summer of Novice-level competition, finishing in the top three five times including this weekend’s result. Douzant is a well-known producer of young horses, emphasizing correct production and confidence-building with the horses that come into his program.

Quinn Miller and Jules Verne. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

One of the horses that’s come through Douzant’s program is Jules Verne, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding who won the Junior Novice Championship with Quinn Miller. This pair led the division wire-to-wire and finished on their dressage score of 29.2. This marks Miller’s first win with Jules Verne, as well as a personal best finishing score, besting their previous top score by over 6 penalty points.

Liana Theroux and Our Golden Chance. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Area II Adult Rider Liana Theroux and Elizabeth Bales’ Our Golden Chance were crowned Open Beginner Novice champions, also leading start to finish and ending on their dressage score of 23.8. Impressively, Theroux and Our Golden Chance, who is a 14-year-old off-track Thoroughbred, now add on to a string of victories in 2025 – they’ve not lost out on a win this year in six starts at the Beginner Novice level. Our Golden Chance was a royally-bred racehorse, with his sire, Golden Missile, a multiple Graded Stakes winner who made over $2 million on the track. He’s now an experienced eventer, helping riders such as Young Rider Championship competitor Reese Dellangelo get their starts in the sport.

Claire McMillan and RVR Coldstone. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Claire McMillan and Catherine Schroeder’s RVR Coldstone, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, picked up the start-to-finish win in the Junior Beginner Novice Championship on a final score of 29.1. This is a newer partnership that just began in the spring of this year, and this weekend marks their first win together.

Stella Uiterwaal and Crossfire. Photo by Lindsay Berreth for Erin Gilmore Photography.

To close out the day of Championship show jumping, Stella Uiterwaal and Lauren Sumner’s Crossfire came from behind to win the Open Starter Championship on a score of 26.7. This was the second recognized start for Uiterwaal and Crossfire, a 16-year-old former racehorse who is the namesake of Sumner’s Crossfire Farm in Damascus, MD.

Rounding out our Area II Champions are Carmen Defelice and Anne Hendey’s Bazinga, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop. This pair were also wire-to-wire winners, ending the weekend of a score of 28.3.

Competition for the remaining non-Championship divisions wrapped up on Sunday, and full scores and results can be found on EventEntries here.

Loch Moy Farm and The Maryland Horse Trials extends its gratitude to title sponsor Land Rover West Columbia, which was on-site all weekend with display vehicles and representatives, with a rider Hospitality Tent in service throughout the competition. Many thanks are in order for our additional event and facility sponsors, our officials and volunteers, media team and all of the individuals – and horses – who make these weekends possible.

Loch Moy Farm will next welcome riders October 11-12 for the penultimate Dover Saddlery MDHT Highland Series competition of the 2025 season, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The MDHT Highland Series features unrecognized competition for Intro through Preliminary levels, and this weekend represents the final competition ahead of Championships in November. More information can be found here.

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Scores]

Monday News & Notes from Morven Park Fall International

By on Oct 6, 2025 12:01 am -


Major International Events

Happy travels and best of luck to EN’s own Ema Klugman, who frequently works as a columnist for us, as she and the Chriaz Syndicate’s Chiraz head overseas to Military Boekelo’s CCIO4*-L this weekend. They’ve been tapped as part of team Australia, and this first international trip is a big accomplishment. Stay tuned for more from Boekelo all week long on EN as Tilly Berendt provides us with a look at the action, thanks to the support of Horsepal.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Scores]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Scores]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Scores]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Scores]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Scores]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Scores]

News & Reading

Entries close TONIGHT! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Vittoria Panizzon of Italy is keeping things in the family as she competes not one, not two, but three offspring from her London Olympics mare, Borough Pennyz. This makes a total of five offspring that Vittoria has bred via embryo transfer and subsequently competed. You can take a dive into these promising young horses here.

How should you handle wounds when they (inevitably, because one of the best skills horses possess is the ability to hurt themselves in increasingly creative ways) happen to your horse? Of course there are varying degrees of severity at play here, you can find some advice on treating, sterilizing and protecting wounds here.

Sponsor Corner: Morven Park Fall International

It all comes down to this week! We’ll see you soon in Leesburg, VA, where nearly 40 competitors are poised for competition in the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park’s Fall International. General admission for this event is free (and you can check out available VIP/upgraded experiences here), just register here for your free ticket. We’ll have the schedule and Ultimate Guide on how to follow coming your way soon, but in the meantime check out all the need-to-know on attending here.

Video Break

Meet Alex Conrad and off-track Thoroughbred Malibu Preacher, who are one of the pairs we’ll see this week in the US Open Final:

Eventers Represent in Nominations for 2025 FEI Awards

By on Oct 5, 2025 9:00 am -

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Three eventers are recognized on the nomination list for this year’s FEI Awards, given annually at the end of season to deserving individuals and organizations.

Among the nominees are 2025 European champion Laura Collett (GBR) for Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, which celebrates the best athletes across each FEI discipline. Laura is joined on the list by dressage athlete Justin Verboomen (BEL), endurance rider Marijke Visser (NED) and show jumper Richard Vogel (GER).

Thijs Boon (BEL) is nominated for the FEI Rising Star Award, given to young athletes who are emerging on the international scene. Thijs, 17, was fourth in the FEI Eventing European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders this year with his father and Dutch Olympic rider Maarten Boon’s (really a “family horse” as Maarten describes it; he himself competed the KWPN mare through the 4* and World Championships levels) Gravin van Cantos. This pair to watch hasn’t finished outside of the top five in FEI competition since they teamed up in 2024!

Last but definitively not least is Adam Short, who’s been Tom McEwen’s top groom (and, let’s face it, life manager/coach/therapist, probably) for five years, nominated for Cavalor FEI Best Groom.

You can view the full list of nominations, which include those for the FEI Inspire Award that recognizes initiatives and individuals who make an impact on equestrian sport, as well as learn how to cast your votes here.

Sunday Links

By on Oct 5, 2025 12:01 am -

Enjoy some ideal #goeventing scenes from Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. in Nashville to kick off your Sunday!

Did you know this event is the longest continuously running horse trials in the U.S.? The very first event took place in 1953, with equestrian journalist Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden helming the project. She then went on to found the Middle Tennessee Pony Club the following year and set another milestone here: this was the first chartered chapter of the Pony Club.

Following Miss Warden’s death in 2007 (at the age of 103!), the event has carried on in her tribute thanks to the dedicated efforts of organizing crew comprised of former Pony Club members, volunteers and community members.

Take a dive into the history books on Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. here.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

Links & Reading

Entries close tomorrow night! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Nicole Nair: Young Eventer, Wise Horsewoman

Cross Country Proves Influential at Osberton International

Different types of clips for horses explained, including diagrams

Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Track Tight

Video Break

More eventing feels, this time courtesy of the Maryland H.T. and Area II Championships at Loch Moy Farm:

Goresbridge To Offer Prize Money for 2025 USEA Young Event Horse Championships

By on Oct 4, 2025 9:00 am -

Diego Farje and Schmick show off the after-burners. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

For the first time since the program’s inception, the United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce that prize money will be awarded at the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships on both the East and West Coasts this year. This milestone achievement is made possible through a new partnership with Goresbridge, one of the world’s premier sport horse auction houses.

As part of their commitment to supporting the future of eventing, Goresbridge will provide $1,000 in prize money to both the 4-year-old and 5-year-old YEH Champions at each coast’s championship. In addition, each winner will receive a certificate redeemable as a credit toward the purchase of a horse at the prestigious Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale, taking place in November of this year.

The 2025 USEA YEH East Coast Championships will be held Oct. 16–17 at the Maryland 5 Star in Elkton, Maryland, followed by the West Coast Championships on Oct. 24–25 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering such an important occasion in the world of eventing,” said Ed Donohoe of Goresbridge. “It’s great for us to have this opportunity to promote both Goresbridge and the Go For Gold sale to one of our most important markets. Customers in the USA have been great supporters of the sale, and our presence here allows us to showcase this year’s Go For Gold sale, which offers the best young Irish event horses in the country.”

“We’re incredibly grateful and excited to welcome Goresbridge as our first prize money sponsor for the YEH Championships—a milestone that reflects growing support for the future of the sport and the talent of young horses,” said Molly Pellegrini, YEH Committee Chair. “This partnership not only rewards excellence but also inspires the next generation of champions.”

The USEA Young Event Horse Championships are designed to identify and encourage the development of exceptional young event horses at the 4- and 5-year-old age group, showcasing their talent and potential for the upper levels of the sport. The addition of prize money and incentives from Goresbridge marks an exciting new chapter in the program’s continued growth and impact.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Oct 4, 2025 12:01 am -

Entries are now live for the final CCI5* of the year in France at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau October 23-26! We’ve got a full field of 68 horses entered for 51 riders representing 11 countries. We’ll have a much more robust entry preview coming your way soon, but we wanted to at least give you a peek while we work on it! Quickly though, or the U.S., we’ll have nine horses entered:

  • Jenny Caras and Sommersby
  • Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl
  • Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan
  • Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious
  • Cosby Green and Jos UFO de Quidam
  • Emily Hamel and Corvett
  • Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker
  • Boyd Martin and Fedarman B
  • Grace Taylor and Game Changer

But that’s not all! We’ll have a pretty impossible field to handicap, with Tom McEwen (GBR) entering JL Dublin as well as Brookfield Quality, Laura Collett (GBR) with Dacapo and Hester, Tim and Jonelle Price (NZL) with eight horses between them (this will be whittled down closer to the event), and oh – who’s that? One Ballaghmor Class on the list for Oliver Townend (GBR)?

We could go on and on, but you’ll have to wait (im)patiently just a bit longer for the full deep dive. You can, however, see the full list for yourself here.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

Links & Reading

Only a few days left to enter! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Spokane Sport Horse Hosts USEA Classic Series Event

What would happen if I did a Trust Fall exercise with USEF?

Remembering Jane Goodall and the Lessons She Left for All Animal Lovers

Stretch Tall With Your Upper Body and Down In Your Seat—At the Same Time

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Comfort and function can coexist, and the proof is in forward-thinking products like Vespucci leather goods, available at World Equestrian Brands. With details such as single padded crownpieces and protective leather layers on the underside of buckles, Vespucci bridles lend a touch of elegance to their horse-friendly fit with ease. You can shop for your own Vespucci here.

Video Break

Have you heard about our latest challenge? We’ll see you at Maryland…

Equestrian Canada’s Eventing High Performance Advisory Group Announces Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants for U25 athletes

By on Oct 3, 2025 9:00 am -

Saffron Klotz and Ballingowan Clarity. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Equestrian Canada’s Eventing High Performance Advisory Group is pleased to announce the Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants for U25 athletes, designed to assist young Canadian eventing riders in furthering their competition experience either across North America or overseas.

These grants have been established and named in honour of Country Yucca, a pony with a huge heart and personality ridden by Nick Holmes-Smith, who later represented the Canadian Eventing Team at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympics.

“In the 1970’s to early 1990’s as an eventing competitor I struggled to afford the costs of traveling and competing. I am now very happy to be able to help today’s riders with their financial challenges,” says Holmes-Smith.

Emily Gilbert, chair of the Eventing High Performance Committee remarked: “We are deeply grateful to Nick Holmes-Smith for his generous support of the Eventing HPAG’s vision and strategy. His commitment helps us expand programming and opportunities for U25 athletes and exemplifies the spirit of giving back to the sport of Eventing.”

Awarded once per calendar year, grants will be distributed to up to four recipients at the discretion of the selection committee. $20,000 CAD total will be awarded once per year with grants of $5,000 for travel within North America or $10,000 for overseas travel.

The grant must be used toward:

  • Travel expenses (flights, fuel, horse transport)
  • Entry fees and stabling
  • Accommodation during the event
  • Veterinary and health certificates for travel
  • Other approved competition-related costs

Eligibility: To be considered for the grant, applicants must:

  • Be aged 16–25 as of January 1 of the competition year
  • Be actively competing at the Training level or above
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Demonstrate financial need and clear competitive goals
  • Have a plan to compete outside of their home region, either across North America or internationally
  • Be in good standing with Equestrian Canada

The selection committee will take into account the competition performance record of the athlete/horse combination, giving specific consideration to Athlete/horse combinations who have achieved a Target Performance Result as outlined in the full criteria. Preference will be given to Athlete/Horse combinations having completed a CCI2*-L or higher.

For the 2026 competition season the application timeline is as follows:

  • Applications Open: October 1, 2025
  • Deadline to Apply: November 1, 2025
  • Recipients Notified: December 1, 2025

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following information to the Eventing HPAG at [email protected]

1. A personal statement (max. 750 words) including:

  • Your competition goals
    Why this grant is important to your development
    How you plan to use the funds

2. An outline of travel plans

3. A detailed budget breakdown of estimated travel expenses

4. One reference letter from a coach, mentor, or federation official

5. A competition resume from the last 2 years

The Inspiration: Country Yucca represents the resilience of a true cross-country athlete. Yucca loved cross country and was well-known with his signature bald face and four white socks – he was hard to miss. At first, some might have thought Yucca was too small to jump the more advanced fences, but he quickly proved otherwise. Nick and Yucca were kindred spirits, small and carefree, enjoying galloping over the countryside in the southern Okanagan, British Columbia and all-over North America. Nick has influenced many Canadian eventers over the years, including several riders who have gone on to wear the maple leaf. Bruce Mandeville, Rebecca Howard and Michael Winter have all been fortunate to have worked with Nick on their road to representing Team Canada

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Oct 3, 2025 12:01 am -

Boyd Martin has taken home a nice bonus to lead him into a busy (and potentially lucrative) October: he’s been confirmed as the winner of the $25,000 US Equestrian Open of Eventing series leaderboard prize! His season total of 260 points, earned from his best six finishes at 4*-S qualifiers in 2025, bests Phillip Dutton, who earns $15,000 for his runner-up tally of 235. Caroline Pamukcu gets one step closer to her mom car with a $10,000 bonus with a third-best total count of 215, helped along by a big surge at Stable View Oktoberfest last weekend. All three riders will face off once more in the Final, where the season tallies are erased and the winner will take the big share of the $200,000 prize money.

Ahead of next week’s final, US Equestrian will be releasing eventing-related episodes of their series The Open Road. Earlier this year, several episodes following the show jumping Open were published, and you can view them on the US Equestrian YouTube channel here.

Here’s a peek at the upcoming episode of The Open Road:

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

News & Reading

We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

“European Championships course-designer Mark Phillips should be very pleased with what he did,” writes Andrew Nicholson, who penned an opinion column for Horse & Hound looking back on the European Championships at Blenheim last month. Andrew breaks down the German performance, debriefs on the surprising result for the Brits and looked ahead to the future of some up and coming teams here.

Show jumping is a technical sport, and when you apply it through the lens of eventing and adapting to a horse that has done at least one other phase before your round, the importance of having a flexible plan is underscored. We can learn a lot from those who spend their time exclusively in the show jumping ring. While our courses may not be as technical as some you’d see in jumperland, there are many subtle ways to get caught out if you don’t plan — and factor your horse in accordingly. Germany show jumper Ronny Reiner checks in with Practical Horseman to offer some advice on smart course walking here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Registration closes today for the October Eventing Academy at Stable View, October 10-12! Get in some casual practice (or gear up for your next big event and get some tune-ups in!) with two schooling days followed by an unrecognized competition. You can take part in some or all of the weekend, and you can enjoy some of the jumps and course portions from Oktoberfest one more time. More information here!

Video Break

Mia Farley and Phelps are heading back to Maryland!

USEA Names Athletes For Winter 2025-2026 EA21 National Camp

By on Oct 2, 2025 12:00 pm -

Paige Beauchamp Crandon, one of this winter’s EA21 Athletes. USEA/Atalya Boytner photo.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the talented Young Rider athletes selected for the Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) national camp. Over the summer, 12 athletes were accepted into each of the five regional EA21 clinics, which were led by instructors from the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP). From this pool, a select group has now been invited to advance to the prestigious national camp.

The EA21 National Camp will be held Dec. 30, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026, at Sweet Dixie South in Ocala, Florida. This immersive, high-performance training experience offers emerging eventing athletes an unparalleled opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge under the guidance of EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor.

This year’s five EA21 regional clinics were: East Coast I at Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, Virginia), coached by Bec Braitling; East Coast II at Stable View Farm (Aiken, South Carolina), coached by Rebecca Brown; Central at Chaps Equestrian Center (Bucyrus, Kansas), coached by Shannon Lilley; West Coast I at Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), coached by Jan Byyny; and West Coast II at Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, California), also coached by Emily Mastervich.

The USEA’s EA21 Task Force has approved 12 USEA EA21 Young Riders for the program’s fourth year of the EA21 national camp. EA21 Director of Coaching, David 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:

  • Shruti Bona (Aspen Farms West II Clinic)
  • Greylin Booth (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
  • Paige Beauchamp Crandon (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
  • Sierra Fishell (Chaps Equestrian Center Central Clinic)
  • Ella Hubert (Stable View East II Clinic)
  • Caitlin O’Roark (Morven Park East I Clinic)
  • Riley Zgrebnak (Morven Park East I Clinic)
  • Adelyn Rinehart (Stable View East II Clinic)
  • Gabriella Ringer (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
  • Willow Schwartz (Chaps Equestrian Center Central Clinic)
  • Hanni Sreenan (Aspen Farms West II Clinic)
  • Hannah Willford (Stable View East II 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, as noted:

If any athlete who attended the Morven Park East I Clinic scratches, the alternates in the following order will be:

  1. Carlin Keefe (Morven Park East I Clinic)
  2. Eliza Quigley (Morven Park East I Clinic)

If any athlete who attended the Stable View East II Clinic scratches, the alternates in the following order will be:

  1. Devon Tresan (Stable View East II Clinic)
  2. Rebecca Roth (Stable View East II Clinic)

If any athlete who attended the Chaps Equestrian Center Central Clinic scratches, the alternates in the following order will be:

  1. Mia Volpentesta (Central Clinic)
  2. Shaena Putnam (Central Clinic)

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

  1. Julia Beauchamp Crandon (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)
  2. AnniePearl Stroud (Twin Rivers West I Clinic)

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

  1. Madyson Hsue (Aspen Farms West II Clinic)
  2. Kendal Smith (Aspen Farms West II Clinic)

The USEA would like to thank the five venues for hosting the EA21 regional clinics (Morven Park, Stable View, Chaps Equestrian Center, 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 or to receive any feedback, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your regional coach or 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 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, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, WeRideTogether, and YETI for sponsoring the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program.

Preview the 2025 MARS Maryland 5 Star Entries

By on Oct 2, 2025 9:00 am -

Two-time top-10 finishers Buck Davidson and Sorocaima return for a fourth run at the 5 Star. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We have an entry list for this year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, presented by Brown Advisory! This year, the newest CCI5* event celebrates its five-year anniversary and a strong international field is ready to tackle the challenge.

Remember, it’s a new-look cross country course this year, too. Pierre le Goupil of Paris 2024 fame has stepped into the shoes of Ian Stark, who has stayed on to advise this year as he eyes up retirement and the ski slopes. While we’ll still see the track used in similar ways this year as the team works on a long-term vision for the course, we can expect a new look and feel that will bear a different stamp. What, exactly, that stamp is remains to be seen, so let’s talk about what we do know: the entries!

The 25-combination roster is, in alphabetical order:

  • Alex Bragg (GBR) – Quindiva
  • Jennie Brannigan (USA) – FE Lifestyle
  • Jennie Brannigan (USA) – FE Connery
  • Brooke Burchianti (USA) – Cooley Space Grey
  • Bruce Davidson Jr. (USA) – Sorocaima
  • Mary Bess Davis (USA) – Imperio Magic
  • Mia Farley (USA) – Phelps
  • Will Faudree (USA) – Mama’s Magic Way
  • Sophia Hill (AUS) – Humble Glory
  • Shannon Lilley (USA) – Eindhoven Garette
  • Tayla Mason (NZL) – Centennial
  • Boyd Martin (USA) – Luke 140
  • Boyd Martin (USA) – Commando 3
  • Caroline Pamukcu (USA) – HSH Double Sixteen
  • Caroline Pamukcu (USA) – HSH Tolan King
  • Caroline Pamukcu (USA) – She’s The One
  • Caroline Pamukcu (USA) – HSH Blake
  • Jessica Phoenix (CAN) – Fluorescent Adolescent
  • Jessica Phoenix (CAN) – Wabbit
  • Jonelle Price (NZL) – Chilli’s Midnight Star
  • Allison Springer (USA) – Vandyke
  • Monica Spencer (NZL) – Artist
  • Lindsay Traisnel (CAN) – Bacyrouge
  • Felix Vogg (SUI) – Cartania
  • Arden Wildasin (USA) – Sunday Times

We’ll once more have another shot at the title for inaugural winner Boyd Martin, who will ride Luke 140 (the Luke 140 Syndicate) and Commando 3 (Yankee Creek Ranch LLC), both of whom come into the weekend off of banner years which include a comeback for Luke 140 to the 5* levels after a season on the sidelines.

It will also be a hotly-anticipated first CCI5* for HSH Blake (Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu), who has conquered just about every other step along the way with Caroline Pamukcu in the irons. Caroline also has three other horses entered, including a return to the 5* level for HSH Double Sixteen (Double Sixteen Partnership) and She’s the One (Mollie and Annie Hoff, Sherrie Martin) as well as a debut for HSH Tolan King (Tolan King Partnership). She will, however, narrow down to three rides at some point.

Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Canada is also represented well with the on-fire Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge (Patricia Pearce) as well as Jessie Phoenix with both Fluorescent Adolescent and Wabbit on the card.

The weekend will be a welcome back for Jennie Brannigan and Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle, who suffered an injury during transport just before Badminton this spring, truncating the sizzling hot form they had been on. He’s accompanied on the entry list by FE Connery, who finished on the 4*-L podium at Rebecca Farm this summer and now steps up to the 5* level. Allison Springer also has a debut horse in the Rico Syndicate’s Vandyke, top 10 in the 4*-L at Rebecca.

Alex Bragg and Quindiva. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

This year, we’ll welcome several new-to-Maryland faces from the international contingent, thanks in large part to the generous travel grants made available by the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation and Loch Moy Farm. Among those are Quindiva (the Roe family), who with Britain’s Alex Bragg has two CCI5* top-10 finishes under her belt at both Burghley and Badminton. Sophia Hill (AUS) and Humble Glory (Sophia and Andy Hill, Michelle and Ted Landy) are heading stateside after very nearly coming away with the Adelaide 5* win this spring; they’ve also run around Burghley and finished 22nd there last year. Switzerland’s Felix Vogg has also entered his World and Europeans championship horse, Cartania (Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l. and Felix), who’s also got a strong record at the 5* level with three top-15 finishes at Badminton/Burghley. New Zealand is represented several times over, with both Tayla Mason and Centennial (the Mason family and Sue Rutter) as well as Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star (a 5* debutant horse owned by Nikki Axon and Merrill Halstead coming off a top result at Scone Palace earlier this summer). Monica Spencer will also fly the flags for the Kiwis, basing here in the U.S. for the next few years with Artist (Spencer Eventing) who has three top-1o 5* finishes (and one just barely outside of the top 10).

Speaking of Thoroughbreds, in addition to Artist, we’ll have Phelps (David O’Connor) with Mia Farley (you’ll recall they finished fifth in their debut at the level in 2023, then went on to complete Burghley last year), as well as Sorocaima (Carl Segal) with Buck Davidson. “Cam” returns for the fourth time to Maryland, having finished fourth in 2024.

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Also lending their depth of experience to the field are Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, who’ve finished top-20 at Burghley and top-15 at Kentucky and return to Maryland for the second time (they were also 10th at the former Fair Hill International at the 4*-L level in 2019).

Four pairs who made their first 5* start at Kentucky are ready to do it all over again: Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey, Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic, Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette, and Arden Wildasin with Sunday Times.

The CCI3*-L has 54 entries and provides an excellent sneak peek into some potential future stars of the sport. You can take a look at the full entries for both the 5* and 3* as well as the East Coast Young Event Horse Championships here.

We’ll have much more Maryland content coming your way soon. As a reminder, we’re (well, I am, technically) teaming up with the event to host a new Maryland Masterclass event with Pierre le Goupil and Ian Stark on Friday, October 17. It’ll be your chance to get a first look at the course and hear from Pierre and Ian up close and personal. You do need to purchase tickets in advance, and you can do that here. If you have an interesting question you’d like me to work into the chat, let me know by emailing [email protected] (or better yet, come and ask them yourself!).

We’re pleased to welcome Deirdre Vaillancourt Real Estate as the sponsor of our coverage of the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, presented by Brown Advisory! Deirdre is your go-to resource if you’re considering a move — temporary or permanent — to Aiken. You can browse her current listings or set up an inquiry by visiting AikenSCProperties.com. 

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