Green Mountain Horse Association (S. Woodstock, VT)
July 13-16, 2026
The Area 1 Young Rider Camp is held annually mid-July at GMHA in South Woodstock, Vermont. This is a three-day, three-night camp where attendees participate in two (2) mounted lessons a day and one (1) unmounted horsemanship session. Mounted lessons consist of dressage/flatwork lessons, show jumping, gymnastics, and cross country. Unmounted horsemanship sessions may include grooming, braiding, competition preparation, and equine nutrition. Housing is provided off-site for all campers.Applications are now open and can be accessed here. Area 1 Young Rider Scholarship applications have closed
Available Funding:
As part of our mission, Area 1 Young Riders is committed to helping make educational opportunities accessible for all members of the program. Six (6) scholarships in the amount of $250 each are available to current members of the USEA Area 1 Young Rider program who have financial need and demonstrate commitment to giving back to their eventing community through volunteer work. Scholarship applications are now open, and close May 30th, 2026. Please wait to fill out your application to GMHA Young Rider Camp until after you have heard back about your scholarship application. If you receive a scholarship, you will receive a code to apply to your camp application, which will reduce the price of camp on the application. Whether you receive a code or not (we expect the process to be competitive) your spot will be held for applying to camp until the Camp application closing date of May 30th.
In addition to the Area 1 Young Rider Scholarship, GMHA offers multiple scholarships that campers are eligible to apply for. A list of these scholarships can be found here. If you have questions regarding these scholarships, please reach out to GMHA directly.
Applicant Qualifications & Camp Requirements:
- Applicants must be a current member of BOTH the USEA Area 1 Young Rider Program and the USEA. If you are not a member of the Area 1 Young Rider Program, you may join by logging in to your USEA online member dashboard, then scroll to Membership.
- Applicants must have successfully completed all three phases of at least ONE affiliated Starter Level or higher Horse Trial. Applicants not having completed an affiliated USEA Horse Trials may be eligible and considered if trainer has recommended it.
- Applicants will be considered based on: Horsemanship skills, motivation, goals, maturity, positive attitude, and work ethic.
- Horse or pony must be fit and capable of a 1 1/2 hour lesson per day for 3 days at the applicable recognized level.
- Only one horse per camper.
- Horses must be recently and properly shod and fully immunized, including rabies and current coggins.
- Campers may use their own transportation with a valid driver’s license and proof of valid and current vehicle insurance if they are over 18. All campers under 18 must ride the bus. Campers who are 18 may transport other campers who are 18.
- All applicants must attach a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with their riding and horsemanship skills.
- GMHA has three (3) available scholarships that can be pursued. You can find out more information, including how to apply, here.
- Area 1 Young Riders has six (6) available scholarships specifically for this camp for those who demonstrate financial need, work ethic, and dedication to volunteering.
IMPORTANT! – Complete the application with all the uploaded documents and payment no later than May 30, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications without payment will not be accepted. Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until the camp is full. Camp registration will close when full, and a waitlist will be taken.
Camp Instructors: Stephie Baer, John Bourgoin, Suzi Gornall, Bevin Dugan, Jan Byyny. Horse Management: Lauren Mair
Questions? Call or email camp coordinator, Chelsea Sprague (chelseasprague32@gmail.com) or (802) 279-8961.
IMPORTANT DATES:
APR 11 – Camp Applications Open
MAY 15 – Scholarship Applications Close
JUN 15 – Camp Applications Close CLOSING DATE EXTENDED
JUL 13 – Camper Arrival
JUL 16 – Camper Departure
RESOURCES & FORMS:
Camp Application
Young Rider Scholarship Application
GMHA Scholarships
USEA Release
GMHA Release Form
Meet the Instructors
Stephie Baer (Clinician) has been teaching riding, training horses, andcompeting in three-day events and combined training events forover 35 years. She has trained numerous green horses, includingseveral from green to 3 and 4-star levels. She is based out ofCourse Brook Farm located in Sherborn, MA. Stephie hascompeted through the advanced level, including 4-star events atBurghley CIC**** (England) and Rolex Kentucky CCI****. She alsohas competed at Fair Hill CCI***, Thirelston Castle CIC***(Scotland), Essex CCI**, Radnor CCI**, Bromont CCI** (Canada),and Quetero CCI** (Mexico). She has won Advanced divisions at Fair Hill, Morven Park, and Southern Pines. She was short-listed for the 1998 World Championships and trained with the American Team in England. She has also participated in several USET training sessions. Along with being a working student and employee of Bruce Davidson for over four years, Stephie has also trained with Capt. Mark Phillips, Jack LeGoff, Rick Sullivan, Lauren Stevens, Kathy Connolly, Sandy Osborne, and Arlene Full. She has attended clinics with Lucinda Green, Joey Darby, Ann Kursinsky, Jane Savoy, Sandy Pflueger, Eric Horgan, and Jimmy Wofford.
Growing up in New Brunswick, Canada, and northern Maine along the U.S./Canadian border, John Bourgoin‘s (Clinician) riding life began with trail riding and competing in local Western horse shows. While attending college in Vermont, Bourgoin was introduced to the local hunter/jumper scene where he spent time learning how to ride in an English saddle and proceeded to enter the world of jumping horses. While boarding a horse at a local stable, Bourgoin also began volunteering and helping out with the Charlotte Pony Club. After nearly 40 years, he continues to be one of their main instructors and volunteers yearly for their annual Horse Trials. Bourgoin is still an active competitor and has developed and competed his own horses through every national level of the sport. He has also trained and coached riders from Beginner Novice to Advanced. For the last 25 years, he has been very involved in the Area I Young Rider program and several of his students have represented Area I as team members, earning team and individual medals at the North American Youth Championships. He continues to serve as a team selector and clinician for the program. In 2022, Bourgoin was the recipient of the Mike Huber Award from the USEA Foundation. Having retired from public school teaching after 38 years, Bourgoin now has the opportunity to work full-time with clients and their horses. Bourgoin and his wife, Alice, own and operate Arbrook Farm in North Ferrisburgh, Vermont.
Jane Hamlin (Clinician) is an active event and dressage rider, trainer, and coach based at Pirouette Farm in Norwich, Vermont. Her positive attitude, with an emphasis on teaching good basics, has produced successful riders at the beginner level to the Olympic level. She enjoys teaching both adult amateurs as well as young riders and is a popular clinician teaching at such clinics as the Area 1 Young Rider camp and the Junior Horsemanship Clinic at GMHA. In addition to her teaching, she brings along nice young horses with careful preparation and education. Jane holds both a USEF Event and Dressage judge’s license as well as an FEI International Eventing Judge license.
Suzi Gornall (Clinician) has been involved with the Area 1 Young Rider Program for many years and we are so lucky to have her returning for 2026. Suzi is an “A” Pony Club graduate and has competed through the Advanced level. Currently she specializes in bringing horses up through Preliminary to Intermediate/ 2* and 3* levels. She is fortunate to be able to continue her education by consistently taking regular lessons and attending clinics with many of the top horsemen. Her continued education, combined with her years of experience teaching all levels of riders and their horses, gives her an impressive skill set to guide riders. Suzi is also involved with the Area 1 Young Rider Program, teaching at the Area 1 Young Rider Camp along with having been a team selector for the North American Youth Championships
Lauren Mair (Barn Management) Lauren Mair grew up just miles from GMHA and was an active member of the Area 1 Young Rider program from 2006-2010. As a young rider, she trained with and worked for both Sue Berrill and Jane Hamlin. After graduating from the University of Vermont, Lauren began a working student position with Lauren Kieffer (now Nicholson) in Ocala, Florida. What started as a six month commitment gradually became a 5 year career. In that time, Lauren acted as an assistant rider, traveling FEI groom, and barn manager. After working for Lauren Kieffer, she moved on to work as an assistant rider and groom for Lynn Symansky. In 2021, Lauren set off on her own to pursue her certification in equine sportsmassage in the Wilson-Meagher Method. She now owns and operates Ascutney Equine Services LLC, in which she offers equine sportsmassage, lessons, training, and freelance grooming. Lauren is passionate about helping young riders from across Area 1, gain access to learning opportunities (both in the saddle and out!).
Jackie Bachor (Special Guest) received her Classical Pilates certification in 2007 from Romana’s PilatesTM, the authentic, precise and highly personalized form of Pilates that follows the original system taught by Joseph Pilates himself. As a life-long equestrian who competed in junior western as a youngster and then eventing and field hunter trials as an adult, Jackie is uniquely qualified to help riders build the inner stability, alignment and muscular control needed to ride with confidence and connection. Jackie has been helping athletes attain their sports goals for many years. She began her career in Manhattan at the famed Equinox Fitness Clubs and became a Level 4 Teacher Trainer for the Romana’s Pilates Organization. In 2011 she opened her first True Pilates studio in Florida where she catered to NFL players throughout the league, eventually being hired to work exclusively for the Miami Dolphins. Today, Jackie works with both equestrians and every-day movers out of her studio located at Merryfield Farm in Millbrook, NY. Her in-depth understanding of the body’s neuromuscular system and joint mechanics, combined with her passion for classical Pilates and horses, has helped hundreds of her clients achieve a stronger, more centered body, and a deeper partnership with their horses. “Jackie is one of the finest Pilates coaches I have ever worked with – if not the very best. Her invaluable experience as an equestrian and dressage trainer has given her a uniquely refined eye for identifying and correcting movement patterns.” – Wayne Diesel, Physiotherapist and former Director of Player Performance for the Miami Dolphins and San Antonio Spurs
