The USEF and USEA have announced a new Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program beginning this year. The goal of this program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United States. This is an important step in the Athlete Pipeline. Selection into the program will be based on talent, competitiveness, commitment, potential, willingness to learn, quality of application, and recommendations.
Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor will oversee the program and teach the first training session in 2013. There will be one intensive training session later in the year and will include immersion in all facets of horsemanship. Additional sessions may be added in 2014.
This program is yet another example of the new regime’s all-encompassing master plan: finding and developing talent at a younger age, funneling them into proper instruction, and building a broader base of US upper level eventing. The Young Riders system was originally intended for this process, but it has morphed into an overall end-goal for many riders (not a bad thing!) and focuses more on the annual competition rather than long-term development. It also allows riders to participate who have just moved up to preliminary, and perhaps not ready for a CCI*.
Application Requirements:
All interested riders will have to fill out an application to be considered, which can be found on the USEF website. Applicants need to provide a letter of recommendation from a USEA ICP certified instructor with their application. A national qualifying result (NQR) at the Preliminary level on the horse with which a rider is applying is a minimum requirement. Riders are eligible through the year in which they turn 18.
All riders must be U.S. citizens and active members of their USEA Area Young Rider Program, the USEA, and the USEF.
Applications should be submitted to your USEA Area Young Rider Coordinator.
Selection:
The USEA Area Young Riders’ Selectors will review applications and nominate two riders per Area to be considered by the USEF Talent Spotters.
Riders, who do not apply or for reasons do not meet the criteria, may be ‘talent spotted’ into the program by the USEF Talent Spotters. The Talent Spotters will serve as the Selection Committee and will review the applicants and select the riders for the Eventing 18/Advancing Athlete program. A maximum of 12 riders will be selected in 2013, it is anticipated that this list will be announced in late summer.
Applications will need to be re-submitted annually to ensure continued commitment and interest and progress.
Training Sessions:
