Area III Council Kicks Off 2026 with Strategic Planning, Goals, and Year-End Awards Updates

Dear Area III Members,

Area III kicked off the year with its Strategic Planning Meeting for 2026, where the Council reviewed the past season and began setting priorities for the year ahead. These discussions focused on strengthening our sport, better serving our members, and supporting the people and programs.

As the largest USEA Area in the country, with over 11,000+ starters annually, Area III has a responsibility to lead with transparency, inclusivity, and thoughtful planning. With that in mind, the Council unanimously approved four guiding goals for 2026:

  1. Improving communication and transparency across the area

  2. Supporting organizers and volunteers whose dedication makes our events possible

  3. Expanding growth and development opportunities for riders at all levels, from Starter through Advanced

  4. Creating scholarship opportunities to improve access to training and competition, particularly for youth, rural riders, and developing trainers

2026 Year-End Awards Program Updates
In alignment with these goals, the Council has approved updates to the Area III Year End Awards Program for the 2026 competition year (December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026):

  • The program is a standalone Area III program administered solely by the Area III Council

  • Opt-in is required for all horse-and-rider combinations via: Opt-In Form (Please fill out form for participation by October 16th. 

  • A minimum of four (4) volunteer hours at USEA-recognized Area III events is required for awards eligibility

  • Riders unable to meet the volunteer requirement may choose a $35 opt-out option, with funds reinvested into Area III events and initiatives needed to continue running recognized shows. We strongly encourage everyone to volunteer. Those that have not met their 4 hour volunteer hour requirement by November 30th will receive notice with opt-out option invoice.

This update is designed to ensure clarity, fairness, and sustainability while recognizing the volunteers who make our competitions and awards possible. Members are encouraged to review the full 2026 Area III Year End Awards Rules on Area3.org for complete eligibility, scoring, and opt-in details.

Congratulations on 2024 and 2025 Leaderboard Achievements
On behalf of the USEA Area III Council, we want to congratulate all riders who earned Area III Leaderboard recognition during the 2024 and/or 2025 seasons. Your dedication, consistency, and competitive spirit truly represent the best of eventing, and we are proud to recognize your accomplishments.

We also want to sincerely thank you for your patience. Riders who did not receive their 2024 ribbons will be sent those ribbons, along with all ribbons for the 2025 season. This message serves as our official congratulations for both years, ensuring that all achievements are valued and recognized.

Looking Ahead

The Area III Council is excited for what lies ahead in 2026. With your continued participation, support, and feedback, we will continue to grow our sport, strengthen our community, and provide meaningful opportunities for riders, trainers, organizers, and volunteers alike.

Together, we are building a strong future for Area III and for the sport of eventing.

— The USEA Area III Council


Meet Your Area III Council Here

Congratulations to our Champions!

It was truly a fun-filled 2025 Area III Championships weekend at Ocala Summer I Horse Trials! Area III sends our congratulations to everyone who competed, our winning riders and horses, and all supporters that helped these pairs succeed. Thanks for the memories - we can’t wait until next time! And the winners are (drum roll please)…

Intermediate - Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis and Splash Dance

Preliminary - Kyle Carter and Reddy For Raine

Modified - Cindy Rawson and Fourfields Classek

Junior Training Rider - Kaitlyn Cobey and Redfield Need For Speed

Senior Training Rider - Emily Dender and Starspangled

Training Horse - Candace Elizabeth Bell and Shmick

Junior Novice Rider- Penelope Young and Cedric

Novice Horse - Elliott Timmons and Pertinacious Tiz

Senior Novice Rider- Margaret Schneck and Islandwood Border Patrol

Beginner Novice Horse- Merrell Waggoner and Big Bear's Coeur D'un Aigle

Junior Beginner Novice Rider- Raegan Hornfeck and Legendary Spots

Senior Beginner Novice Rider - Becky Harris and Cassouleto

Starter Rider - Cathy Rotola and BKP Nick Of Time

Enjoy the photos below from Victoria DeMore Photography.

Happy 2025 from the Area III Council

While 2024 saw difficult losses in the Area III Council, we begin 2025 with renewed energy and pride in the new team. Please welcome Area III’s newly elected Max Corcoran as Area Chair, Tracy Olesh as Area Treasurer, Debbie MacConnel as the Adult Riders Coordinator, and Lauren Nicholson as our USEA BoG Area Representative. Also joining the Advisory Council for Area III are Grace Pignatelli as our Interscholastic Eventing League Coordinator and Amber Lee Clark as our Aiken representative. The council also has numerous dedicated continuing members, and we thank each, old and new, for their service! Find the full council roster here. Happy New Year!

Hooray for our 2024 top volunteers!

In 2024, 503 volunteers logged 10,892 volunteer hours at 49 events in Area III. Thanks to every single one of you for your dedication and love for the sport! And now, your 2024 top volunteer…(drumroll please)…Catherine Hale! <3

Make a point to show kindness to all volunteers at all events in the new season, and especially these standouts! Our top 25 volunteer heroes for 2024 are:

1               Hale, Catherine

2               Buell, Jerry       

3               Buell, Lynne    

4               Bird, Diane                         

5               Farrow, Karin

6               Bird, Art

7               P. Muramatsu, Masae

8               Fraley, Barb

9               Eakle, Darlene

10            Steele, Cheryl

11            Lee, Carol

12            Mumme, Karen

13            Schall, Scarlett

14            Eakle, Jeffrey

15            Lee, Virginia

16            Paulk, Pam

17            Glaccum, Bambi

18            Smith, Cynthia

19            Diamond, Beth

20            Bandrofchak, John

21            Murray-Hogrefe, Nancy

22            Frable, Dawn

23            Kaplan, Suzanne

24            Hogan, Laurie

25            Marsh, Karla   

Good luck to everyone at the 2024 AEC!

AEC 2024 is underway! Among the many Area III riders competing this year, we have quite a few Adult Rider teams to root for! Follow along with the livestream here, and keep up with the latest results here on Startbox.

One Preliminary team: The Chardoneighs - Erin Wages (Cooley One Too Many), Brooke Kahl (Nata Montada SCF), Ashley Green (HSH Phoenix), and Lily Barlow (Jaguar My)

One Modified team: Sunshine in the Bluegrass - Cameron Dean (Hidden Storm), Kyla Tovar (Warren (Kilcoltrim Jacko), Jennifer Helgren (Del Rio), and Kristin Osley (King of Beer)

Three Training teams:

High Speed Hive - Dayna Freeman (Divine Reason), Marisa Shulman (Samurai Sam), Jesse Kirchhoff (Wings of a Dove), and April Hays (Anteros HSH)

May the Horse be With You - Debbie MacConnel (Quarantine Factor), Brie Murray (Fernhill Ranga Tanga), Suzanne Hillhouse (Severance Pay), and Anna Rose Hutcheson (F for Fortune)

Whiskies and Whinnies - Molly Peavy (Clearly It's Dublin), Samantha Parker (Give Romance a Chance, Tonya Cummins Amato (Get Smart), and Javier Gamboa (Legend Has It)

Lily Barlow (Spiderman) is riding on the mixed-area team, Trot-tastic

Three Novice teams:

Kick On – Carla Jimmerson (BDF Tag You're It), Alexis Shrum (Anchorman), and Erica Addison (Full Battle Rattle), plus Hannah O'Brien (Crazed) from Area II.

Southern Spurs - Margaret Schneck (Islandwood Border Patrol), Tiffany Stewart (Excel Star Briarhill Native), Samantha Erwin (Tonalistic), and Barbara Brogan (Red Dirt Racer)

Life in the Fast Lane - Becky Crockett Stengel (Northern Sky), Susan Faulkner (HelloHello), Stephanie Watko (Brinley Gold), and Ashley Allison (Sophie's Story)

One Beginner Novice team: The Neigh Slayers - William Barclay (FE Violet Crumble), Ali Martinez (Codename Toby), Eden Miller (Cupido T), and Beverly Britton (Chesterfield Dauntless)

Cynthia (Cindi) Cauffman has passed away

With sadness, we share the passing of Cynthia (Cindi) Cauffman, of Reddick, Florida.  Originally from the northeast, Cindi moved to the Ocala area in 2019, where she competed through training level and volunteered extensively at Majestic Oaks, Rocking Horse and Ocala. Always willing to share her love of horses and equestrian sports, along with her energy and leadership skills, Cindi had been elected to serve as the chair of the Area III council. Unfortunately, she was never able to step into this role. Cindi will be missed by her family and those in the Ocala equestrian community. Updates on memorial arrangements will be posted when received.