Young Rider Program
The Young Riders Co-coordinators are Jessica Robinette and Joanne Morse. Please contact them at area3youngriders@gmail.com.
The current Area III Young Riders Coach is Ashley Johnson (alequestrian@gmail.com). Selectors are Hilda Donahue, Lauren Eckardt, Michael Pollard, and Sarah Dunkerton Sizemore.
What Is Young Riders?
It is a program offered through USEA for riders 25 and under to encourage younger members of all levels to become involved in the sport of Eventing. Through Young Riders, you will have the opportunity to train with Advanced level and International level riders, compete as a representative of the Area, and develop life-long friends and commitment to the sport. The Young Riders promotes good sportsmanship and the facilitation of working as a team member. The program encourages respect for the horse, without whom none of this is possible.
When you join the Area III Young Riders program you may participate in:
The annual summer camp (see below for 2024 info!)
Young Rider Clinics
Course walks at selected events with upper level riders
Low Score Awards at participating events
Team Challenges at participating events
And you are given the opportunity to:
Represent Area III at the 2023 USEF Young Rider Eventing Championship
Groom at the Young Rider Eventing Championship
Participate in the Mentorship Program
Travel Grants for Area III Young Riders
The purpose of the travel grant is to reimburse Adult Rider/Young Rider members for a portion of travel expenses for educational programs sponsored by USEA. For Adult Riders, programs include the Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Workshops or Symposium, and for Young Riders, the grants are intended for regional or national clinics or participation in the Mentorship Program at YR Championships.
CRITERIA. To be eligible for a grant the individual must:
Be a member of the Area III Adult Riders or Area III Young Riders program prior to activity registration/selection.
Submit a request to the appropriate AR/YR Coordinator requesting a travel grant.
Provide proof of volunteering at least 8 hours at a recognized horse trials during the current
competition year (Dec-Nov).
A member is restricted to one travel grant per competition year (Dec-Nov).
Members receiving other grants through any USEF/USEA program are excluded from travel grant
eligibility.
AVAILABILITY. A maximum of 10 grants of up to $150 each will be awarded to reimburse travel expenses associated with the approved activity. Approved recipients are required to submit receipts to the area treasurer for reimbursement of up to $150. Members will be approved based on date of request and date of activity. After 10 grant award approvals, no further awards will be made during the current competition year.
Area III Meet the Coach Clinic
Join Coach Ashley Johnson and selector Hilda Donahue at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, FL on Friday April 26 and Saturday April 27!
Cost for Area III Young Riders:
$185 for both days
$100 for one day (show jumping on Friday with Hilda, cross-country on Saturday with Ashley)
Cost for non members:
$200 for both days
$115 for one day
Email Joanne and Jessica at area3youngriders@gmail.com to enter.
Summer Camp 2024 - June 10-13 at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, GA
Area III Young Riders will team up with the Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association (GDCTA) this year to offer a fun and educational summer camp with five wonderful clinicians Hannah Sue Burnett, Area III YR Coach Ashley Johnson, Sara Kozumplik, Michael Pollard, Waylon Roberts, and Lynn Symansky. The camp fee of $815 (YR/GDCTA members) or $865 (non-members) includes stabling (shavings not included), facility fees, breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Thursday, a camp shirt, and a water bottle. Please contact your YR Co-coordinator Joanne Morse (area3youngriders@gmail.com or joannemorse1@yahoo.com) with questions.
To secure your spot:
1) Fill out this registration form and send to area3youngriders@gmail.com.
2) Please pay your $350 deposit using this link: https://gdcta.wildapricot.org/event-5322912. Your registration is not complete until the deposit is paid.
3) Pay the remainder of fees due by June 1, 2024.
2024 Season Calendar for the Area III Young Riders Program
February
Feb 3 - 4 - Sporting Days - Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Team Challenge
Feb 5 - Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) Application Process opens on useventing.com
March
Mar 1 - 3 - Area III Silent Auction Opens
March 3 - Sporting Days - IEL Team Challenge
March 15 at midnight ET - EA21 application closes
Mar 22 - 24 - March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks - Young Riders (YR) Team Challenge and YR Social Event
April
Apr 5 - 7 - Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. - YR Team Challenge, YR Social Event and IEL Team Challenge
April 13 - 14 - Fence - IEL Team Challenge
April 13 - 14 - Poplar Place - IEL Team Challenge
April 20 - Sporting Days - IEL Team Challenge
April 26 - 27 - Meet the Coach Clinic - Florida Horse Park
May
May 1 at noon ET - Declaration closes for USEF Eventing Young Riders Championship
May 4 - 5 - Stable View Local Charities H.T.- Selection Trial for Declared Riders, IEL Championships
May 5 - Area III YR Jumping Show Fundraiser - Chatt Hills Eventing
May 18 - 19 - Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. - YR Team Challenge, YR Social Event, and Selection Trial for Declared Riders
June
June 1 -2 - Ocala Summer H.T. I - Selection Trial for Declared Riders
June 1 - 2 - Poplar Place - IEL Team Challenge
June 10 - 13 - GDCTA and Area III Combined YR Camp - Bouckaert Farms
June 21 - 23 - Stable View - IEL Team Challenge
June 28 - 30 - Area III Championships at Bouckaert Farm - YR Team Challenge and YR Social Event
July
July 5-7 - USEF Eventing Young Riders Championship - Maryland International and Horse Trials
End of July - U25 Applications open (date pending)
August
Aug 27 - Sep 1 - American Eventing Championship - YR Team Challenge
September
Sep 27 - 29 - Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. - YR Team Challenge, YR Social Event, and IEL Team Challenge
October
Oct 12 - 13 - Poplar Place Farm October H.T. - YR Team Challenge, YR Social, and IEL Team Challenge
November
Nov 15 - 17 - The Event at TerraNova - YR Team Challenge and YR Social Event
USEF Eventing Young Riders Championship 2024
This year’s championship will be held at The Maryland International and Horse Trials in Adamstown, Maryland July 5-7, 2024. Athletes interested in participating in the Championships must complete a USEF Area Declaration by May 1, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The Area Declaration is located in an Athlete's USEF Athlete Dasboard under Online Applications. The qualifying period is January 1, 2023, through May 26, 2024. In addition to the USEF and FEI requirements to participate at each level, for the CCI3*, athletes will have to have an MER at a prior CCI3*-S within the qualifying period. For the CCI2*, athletes will have to have an MER at a prior CCI2*-S within the qualifying period. Athletes particpating in the CCI1* do not have any additional qualifications. Offical Selection Procedures will be posted at the end of February. Please contact Christina Vaughn (cvaughn@usef.org), Director of Emerging and Development Programs, with any questions.
Young Riders Mentorship Program 2024
Details to come! For information about a previous Mentorship Program, please see this document.
New Committees for the Area III Young Riders Program
Your new Area III Young Riders Coordinators are planning ahead for the 2024 season, and need members to contribute. The goal is to include representatives from every state in Area III, and social events to accompany the Team Challenges are also in discussion. Please contact Jessica and Joanne at area3youngriders@gmail.com if you're interested in joining any of these three committees:
Fundraising Committee - volunteers can be Young Riders, parents, and supporters
Youth Council Committee - volunteers can be Young Riders from every state in Area III
Team Challenge Committee - volunteers can be Young Riders, parents, and supporters Area III Young Riders Newsletters
Young Riders Newsletters (2023)
Check out the most recent newsletter to catch up on recent and upcoming events and highlights of the Young Riders Program.
Recent newsletter editions: