A Comprehensive 3-Part Educational Series
Two Virtual Sessions: May 13 & May 28
Pick one in-Person Clinic:
June 8 (Geneseo, NY)
June 14 (Greenfield, MA)
or June 15 (Groton, MA)
The Area 1 Adult Rider Progrm is excited to offer a comprehensive 3-part educational series combining virtual learning with hands-on application focused on “What Happens Between the Jumps on Cross Country.” This series is ideal for riders looking to strengthen their cross-country riding skills.
Registration can be found here
What You’ll Learn:
- Cross Country Pace & Balance Analysis: Understand how jump design (face
shape, width), terrain, and landing conditions determine appropriate pace and
balance. - Level-Appropriate Pacing: Understand the correct speeds for different levels,
obstacles, and terrain types, and how to achieve optimal pace on various horse types. - Between-the-Jumps Focus: Develop skills for effective galloping and jump
preparation, emphasizing what happens before and after the obstacle. - Safety-First: Learn how to balance competitiveness with safety, adapt to various
conditions including ground conditions, course layout, and terrain. - Technical Mastery: Understand the relationship between speed, balance, and stride
length to optimize cross country performance.
May 13 at 7:00 pm – 8:30pm EST Virtual Session #1 – Science, Art, & Safety on Cross-Country
- Marc Grandia (Course Designer) will explain what goes into a course design – what
questions are being asked of the horse/rider on course, what pace is appropriate for various levels/questions, types of terrain and fences. - Jane Hamlin (Rider, Trainer, Coach, Judge) will provide their perspective on approaching courses, pace considerations across the levels, balancing competitiveness with safety.
- Tim Murray (Technical Delegate) will discuss his experience as a rider and as an official, the safety perspective, and how the TD works with others to make the event safe.
May 28 at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST Virtual session #2 – How the Pros Ride Cross Country
- Engage and interact with Area 1 professionals (Bevin Dugan, Erin Risso, Carrie Wehle, and Booli Selmayr) about pacing and other considerations about cross country:
- Footing
- Walking the course/course-apps
- Minutes markers; using watch
- Participate in breakout sessions by levels – discuss level specific
considerations. Get your questions answered by a professional assigned to
each level (Starter/BN, Novice, Training, Modified and above) in a smaller group.
- Send a video of a cross-country ride with your registration for the chance to receive feedback during the session.
- Submit a question prior to the session when you register
In Person Riding Clinic – Three Different Locations across Area 1 – you choose!
- 3 locations have graciously agreed to host a one-day Clinic:
- GRVDC Grounds, Geneseo, NY – Sunday, June 8 with Carrie Wehle
- Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Greenfield, MA – June 14 (Rain date: June 15) with Bevin Dugan
- Scarlet Hill Farm, Groton MA – Sunday June 15 with Jerry Schurink
- Focus on pace
- Rider galloping position and balance
- Practice pace – metered distances at various speeds appropriate for each
level. - Work on how to help the horse gallop safely and efficiently, in balance
- Practice over fences
- What happens between the gallop and the approach to the jump.
- Limited XC jumping over fences appropriate for each level.
- How to determine what pace and balance is appropriate for various types of
fences.
Sign-up Qualifications & Requirements:
- To ride in the Riding Clinic, you must register for the Virtual Sessions.
- Horses must be recently and properly shod and fully immunized, including rabies and current coggins.
IMPORTANT! – Complete the sign-up with all the uploaded documents and payment no later than May 13, 2025. Incomplete sign-ups will not be accepted. Sign-ups without payment will not be accepted. Spots will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until the clinic is full. Clinic registration will close when full, and a waitlist will be taken.
In-Person Clinicians: Bevin Dugan (Stoneleigh-Burnham), Jerry Schurink (Scarlet Hill Farm), Carrie Wehle (GVRDC)
Questions? Call or email AR coordinator, Amy Winnen (adultriders@area1usea.org)
IMPORTANT DATES:
May 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST – Registration for Virtual Session #1 closes
May 13 – Virtual Session #1
May 27 – Registration for Virtual Session #2 closes
May 28 – Virtual Session #2
June 8 – Clinic Option #1: GVRDC
June 14 – Clinic Option #2: Stoneleigh-Burnham
June 15 – Clinic Option #3: Scarlet Hill
How to Register and Costs:
You can register for the entire 3-part series (2 virtual sessions and 1 Riding clinic) or you can
register for just the virtual sessions. PLEASE NOTE: To ride in the Riding Clinic, you must
register for the Virtual Sessions.
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday, May 13 th at 2:00 pm
All Proceeds will be used to benefit the Area 1 Adult Rider Program (ARP) and the USEA
Foundation Frangible Technology Fund.
Complete Three-Part Series (Any Area):
- Adult Rider Program (ARP) Members & GVRDC Members: $130.00
- Non-ARP Members: $150.00
- Extra Horse at Riding Clinic: $40.00/horse
Virtual Sessions Only (Any Area):
- ARP & GVRDC Members: $50.00
- Non-ARP Members: $65.00
Meet the Clinicians
Jane Hamlin is an active event and dressage rider, trainer and coach based in Norwich, Vermont. Her positive attitude with an emphasis on teaching good basics has produced successful riders from the beginner level through the Olympic level. In addition to riding and teaching, Jane maintains her FEI judge’s license through the 5-star level as well as USEF national event and dressage judge’s license. Her judging career has included exciting opportunities including the Adelaide 4*event in Australia, the six- and seven-year-old event horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers in France and the European YR Championships at Montelibretti, Italy. Jane has also been a member of the ground jury for Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day Event, the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC, Badminton twice and the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. In addition, Jane was honored to be a member of the ground jury for eventing at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Erin Risso is the resident trainer at Valinor Farm in Plymouth Mass, and a USEA ICP Level II certified instructor. Erin specializes in starting youngsters and restarting off-the-track Thoroughbreds and has successfully developed a number of horses through the Advanced, Intermediate and Preliminary Levels, as well as through the FEI CCI2-3*L and CCI4*S levels of competition. Her actively competing students have enjoyed success from Starter/Beginner Novice through Intermediate and FEI competitions. While developing solid and competitive horses and riders is her main focus, Erin also thoroughly enjoys teaching the younger and amateur riders who share a passion for the sport. She believes in a systematic training program and a positive approach to ensure that horses and riders of all abilities can achieve success. Erin has worked and trained extensively with her mentors Eric Horgan, Jerry Schurink, and Don Sachey. She has also trained with eventing greats Jan Byyny, Erin Sylvester, Alison Springer, and Bobby Costello.
Booli Selmayr grew up in Westchester, NY, and got her introduction to fox hunting and eventing through Golden’s Bridge Hounds Pony Club, graduating with a B rating. After high school, Booli worked in Leicestershire, England for Mark and Tanya Kyle providing her with the opportunity to work in high-performance eventing and show jumping competitions and be part of an active sales yard. When she returned to the US, Booli worked as first whipper-in for the Millbrook hounds, managing and caring for the staff horses, and producing event horses on the side. Booli is now a 5* event rider and has built a successful training business, Fox Valley Sport Horses, based in Millbrook, NY. She has a dedicated group of clients who train with her regularly and focuses on producing eventers, jumpers and fox hunters in a fun and welcoming environment. Booli works with a variety of horses ranging from lower-level adult amateur horses and her FEI “future hopefuls” from Modified to Advanced with a goal to represent the USA in the years to come.
With a cowboy father and dressage rider mother, Marc Grandia was practically born to event. He is an experienced event rider who has competed through the CCI4* and Advanced levels of the sport. Marc and his wife Erin are active upper-level riders from Washington State. They specialize in training horses and riders of all levels to be successful in Eventing while pursuing their personal goals to become top riders in the United States. Marc demands excellence from his riders while still maintaining and encouraging horse-friendly approaches to his teaching. He specializes in starting young horses under saddle and introducing them to Eventing as confident, happy partners. He is a graduate “A” pony clubber and an ICP level 3 certified instructor. He is also an “S” level licensed cross-country course designer, one of only 9 in the US today.
Tim Murray grew up fox hunting in Hamilton, Massachusetts and began eventing in 1970, competing through the Intermediate level. When his active competing time began to wane, Tim stayed involved by becoming an eventing official. He currently holds a USEF “S” TD license and an FEI Level 3 TD license. Tim also served on the Organizing Committee of the Groton House Horse Trials for over 10 years and was the show jumping coordinator for that event. He also served as the cross-country coordinator for the Carolina International Horse Trials for 8 years.Tim has also been active on the administrative side of the sport, serving six years on the USEA Board of Governors and six years as a Trustee of the USEA Endowment Trust. He has been a member of a number of USEA and USEF committees, including 10 years as co-chair of the USEA Young Rider’s Committee, and is currently the assistant chair of the USEA Licensed Officials Committee. In his non-horse time, Tim is a Trust & Estates lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts.
Carrie Wehle is one of western New York’s leading event riders and trainers and resides where she grew up at Wehle Farms with her husband, Justin Andre. Carrie has successfully competed through the 3* level in Eventing and has been nationally ranked in the top 10 several times at the Preliminary, Modified and Training levels. Carrie also competes at the FEI level in dressage and 1.40M in show jumping. She has earned her Bronze with Distinction, Silver with Distinction, and Gold USDF Medals. Carrie has trained with some of the world’s best riders including Phillip Dutton, Jane Savoie, Ian Miller, David and Karen O’Connor, Sally O’Connor, Mara Depuy, Michael Page, Wash Bishop, Abigail Lufkin, Carol Kozlowski, Buck Davidson, Doug Payne, Silva Martin, Jaquie Brooks, Wendy Murdoch, Michael Barisone, William Fox-Pitt, Bobby Costello and Scott Hassler. Carrie is all things horses. She has a passion for fox hunting and currently has her colors and rides with the Genesee Valley Hunt in Geneseo, NY. She also was a staff member and whipped-in for the Hopper Hills Hunt in Victor, NY. She has competed in combined driving, pleasure driving, timber racing and side saddle on horses that she has trained herself.
Jerry Schurink has over 30 years of higher education experience as a Lecturer, Director of Equine Studies, Director of Riding, Academic Advisor and Head Coach to NCEA, IHSA, IDA and USEA Intercollegiate Teams with many individual national champions, top 10 finishers and qualifying national teams while at UMass and Bridgewater College in Virginia. Jerry has ridden and trained horses to the Advanced level in Eventing, Grand Prix Dressage, and 1.30 m in Jumpers. He has trained and coached students through the 4* level in Eventing, Grand Prix in Dressage and 1.30 m Jumpers; producing professions in all three disciplines. He is a USEA Level 4 ECP Instructor, Faculty and Board Member, USDF Judges “L” Training Program Graduate “with distinction,” served on the USEA BOG Executive Committee, and was VP of Education 2017 – 2022. Jerry been conducting clinics in dressage, eventing and jumpers for over 45 years, and works equally well with lower level through advanced level students, adult amateurs, professionals, children on green and seasoned horses.
Based in Vermont and Aiken, South Carolina, Bevin O’Reilly Dugan is a veteran 3* eventer, USEA ECP Certified Instructor, and USDF Bronze and Silver medalist. Her process creates a strong element of trust between horse and rider. Her creative use of classical principles combined with kind and contemporary training strategies results in confident horses and riders who find success in the show ring as well as at home. Bevin is passionate about teaching and was one of the earliest professionals to be certified by the USEA’s Eventing Coaches Program. Bevin puts as much emphasis on HOW she teaches as she does WHAT she teaches. Bevin works constantly to hone her craft as a rider, trainer and instructor. Eric Horgan has been her most significant mentor, and Eric’s influence on Bevin’s riding and teaching cannot be overstated. She has also done extensive work with Gunnar Ostergaard and Jan Byyny, as well as having had the privilege to work with and learn from a number of well-respected horsemen and women.
