Although a bit late this month, there was much to highlight for April, including the beginning of the 2024 eventing season has made it to Area 1! As of the end of April, Young Riders had a total of 40 new members joining us this year bringing the total up to 133. A total of 48 Young Riders competed in April and the same number of horses left the startbox of 10 different events. A total of 8 riders qualified for the 2024 United States Eventing Association American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY later this year in August.
Our young riders competed at two horse trials that ran the first weekend of April both in Area III. Bridget O’Rourke and Something To Talk About competed at Rocking Horse Spring Horse Trial in the Preliminary Rider division to come home 6th. A little further north in South Carolina at Stable View, Kiera Delahanty and BGS Silving Lining competed in Modified Rider while Eliza Quigley and Kwibus came in 2nd in the Open Preliminary, finishing on their dressage score. In the Training Rider division, Natasha Quirk and First Class came in 9th. Stable View was also the host of a team challenge for USEA’s Intercollegiate Eventing program. As members of this program in addition to Area 1 Young Riders, Natasha and First Class were a part of the University of Kentucky and University of Tennesse, Knoxville’s scramble team which came in 2nd, and Kiera and BGS were a part of the University of Kentucky’s 4th place team.
The following weekend riders competed at three horse trials both in Area II and Area VIII. At Longfield Pine Horse Trials in North Carolina, Young Rider Committee chair, Myles McLaughlin and Up The Ante came in 2nd in the Novice Rider division while two riders competed in neighboring area, Area II at Plantation Field Horse Trials. Madison Haney and Chesterland’s Sweet Charlotte competed in the Open Preliminary and Fiona Ellis and Redfield Leonardo finished 7th in the Open Beginner Novice. At Spring Bay Horse Trials held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Eleanor Winter and Figlio came in 4th in the Training Rider division while Natasha Quirk and First Class completed their Modified debut.
To begin the week of the 15th, the United States Eventing Association announced the Young Riders from across the nation who have been selected to participate in the 2024 Emerging Athlete U21 Program (EA21). More information about this program and what it entails can be found by clicking here. This year five riders from Area 1 were named to the list. Emma Armstrong, Madison Haney, Eliza Quigley, and Annabelle Sprague will be attending the East I Clinic held at Morven Park with coach Shannon Lilley in June. Audrey Littlefield will be heading to the East II Clinic held at Stable View Farm with coach Emily Beshear in July. A few days after EA21 being published, the applications opened for this years Area 1 Young Rider Camp held at GMHA in July. More information and how to submit your application can be found by clicking here.
Over the weekend of the 18th and 19th, 10 Young Riders headed to Ocala International Festival of Eventing while 3 went down centerline at Fair Hill International April H.T. & CCI-S. At Ocala, Young Rider Committee member, Lea Adams-Blackmore and Commonwealthchrome competed in the Open Modified as well as Lyman Ordway and EXCES DE FOLIE who came in 7th. Also competing at the Modified level was Ava Applebaum and FE City Boy who came in 3rd in the Modified Rider division. In the CCI4*-S were Lea and Frostbite while Sarah Newman and Hang Time completed their first CCI2-L. At the Preliminary level were Kate Servais and LIFE STORY, Audrey Littlefield and Mr. Pumpkin who came in 5th in the Open Preliminary, and Emma Armstrong and Newman who came in 6th. Bridget O’Rouke and Something To Talk About competed in the CCI1-S. With the lowest dressage penalty score of the month and lowest final penalty score was Young Rider Committee Secretary, AJ Korka and Scare Factory who won the Junior Novice Rider division. Further up north at Fair Hill International, Madison Haney and Chesterland’s Sweet Charlotte competed in the CCI2-S and Elizabeth Gill and Opportunity Knoxx in the Open Intermediate. In the open Training were Myles McLaughlin and Up The Ante.
During the week following Ocala and Fair Hill, the sixth episode of the Area 1 Young RIder’s Podcast hosted by Rory Cashman premiered. In April, Rory sat down with Area 1 Young Rider, Kiera Delahanty to discuss all things Intercollegiate Eventing. In case you missed it, the most recent episode along with all others can be found here.
Now for the weekend all Area 1 winter warriors were waiting for: The University of New Hampshire Spring Horse Trials! This was by far the most popular event of April with our program. The UNH Horse Trials saw 26 Young Riders travel up the centerline across all levels. The two Young Riders in the Open Training division were Siri Carr and Foxtrot Treacle and Sophia Lichti with Whomping Willow. Lucy Hill and Journey to Ernie along with Jenna Bunce and Remember When DDD, and Genevieve Clark, and Ardeo Red Rover all competed in the Open Novice C division. Coming in 7th in the ONC was Jocelyn Carielli and Let it Brie and 5th was Olivia Mitchell and Rocky Top City. The Open Novice B division winner was Sophia Miller and Big Platinum followed by Sophia Jean and Hallelujah who placed 2nd. In 4th were Kayleigh Hollis and DSL Sinatra with new Young Rider Committee member, Grace Melanson, and Doubletall CNC in 6th. Wrapping up the ONB division was Elizabeth Meyes and Starr Kaz who came in 7th. For Open Novice A, Dorothy Greensheilds and Glensmill Kroon Girl came in 4th. In Open Beginner Novice C was division winner, Gabriella Johnson and Velvet Rose followed by Brook Brown and Cady O’Daly Kira in 2nd. In 3rd was Kiki Yolen and Alt Decorum and Amelia Avery and Matilda Avery in 6th. Wrapping up the division was Morgan Gannet and Dudley Do Right in 8th and Sophia Ford and Sunday Money. Samantha Marcoux and Seeing Is Believing were the winners of Open Beginner Novice B followed by Payton Neumyer and Parker in 8th. Mikaela Ackeman and Muscle Man came in 5th in Open Beginner Novice -A. The winner of the newly minted USEA recognized level, Stater, was Faith Langley and Folk Lure followed by Chloe Iosua and Mr. Big Shot coming in 6th and Guinevere Monsees and Fritz in 9th.
Closing out the competitions for April were two Young Riders who traveled to the Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T. Ruth Dunahoo and Doran’s Charmed Zip came in 4th in the Beginner Novice Rider Division while Young Rider Committee member Tori McCallum and Maurice finished 8th in Training Rider.
Things are getting busy here in Area 1 and we’re looking forward to the rest of the spring season! Make sure to check out the Area 1 website to keep up to date with all things Young Riders this year as well as giving us a follow @area1youngriders on Instagram. See you all in May!
April Winner’s Circle
NOVICE
AJ Korka & Scare Factory – Ocala International Festival of Eventing
Sophia Miller & Big Platinum – University of New Hampshire Spring H.T.
Beginner novice
Samantha Marcoux & Seeing Is Believing – University of New Hampshire Spring H.T.
Gabriella Johnson & Velvet Rose – University of New Hampshire Spring H.T.
Starter
Faith Langley & Folk Lure – University of New Hampshire Spring H.T.
