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

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

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: