YR Coordinator
Melanie Loschiavo
melanie.loschiavo@gmail.com
802-279-6228
Organizers
Chelsea Sprague – chelseasprague32@gmail.com
Lauren Mair – lmair71@gmail.com
Jay Olcott – area1yrsocialmedia@gmail.com
Area 1 Young Rider Committee:
Beginning in 2023 we put together a committee of members to help organize, plan, and create activities open to the entirety of the Area I Young Rider Program as space allows. To help ensure all levels in the YR program’s voices are heard we have selected members from levels ranging from Beginner Novice through Intermediate. Each member of the committee has a two-year term time. This committee meets monthly throughout the year along with two adult advisors, Melanie Loschiavo and Jay Olcott to discuss the needs and wants of the program members along with brainstorming ideas.
Chair: Myles McLaughlin
Myles McLaughlin is a Young Rider from Concord, Massachusetts, competing at the Novice level with his 7-year-old Off the Track Thoroughbred Felix. Myles plans to take a Gap year before attending Randolph Macon College in Virginia, where he plans to be a working student for a professional rider on the East Coast.
Secretary: AJ Korka
Hi, I’m AJ Korka and I’m 18. I’ve been riding for about 9 years and I’ve been a working student at various barns for about 6 years. I’m currently working and riding at Scarlet Hill Farm and I have an OTTB named Sully who I’ve evented through Novice with. When I’m not at the barn I’m normally at track practice or spending time with my friends. I’m really excited to be part of the committee and get to know everyone and be more involved in Area I.
Ava Applebaum
My name is Ava Applebaum and I am a 14-year-old young rider. My riding career began in a hunter barn at the age of 4. It wasn’t until I was 12 years of age that I decided to explore the world of eventing. Eventing quickly lit a fire inside of me that I knew would last a lifetime. I currently spend half the year in Massachusetts and the other half of the year in Ocala, Florida. This allows me to actively compete throughout the entire year with my horses. One of my horses is currently competing at the modified level, while the other horse is learning an education about to begin in the novice division. So far, the 2023 season has been off to a fairly good start! My horse, Bailey and I took home first place at the Rocking Horse Winter HT finishing on our dressage score of 19.8. With other horse trials that followed, we continued our success, currently ranking number one in the modified junior rider division on the USEA leaderboard. My horse, FE Bail Me Out, is also ranked the number horse for the entire modified division. With big dreams ahead, I plan on continuing my journey as a horsewoman and furthering my education to be the best rider I can be.
PODCAST HOST: Rory Cashman
My name is Rory and I am a 17 year old eventer from NH! I started riding at age six and switched a few years ago from hunter jumper to eventing, which I absolutely love. I currently compete in Novice on my lease horse Prince and can’t wait for the 2024 season! I am so happy to get to work with this committee even more, volunteer, and compete this summer!
Annabelle Sprague
Hi, I am Annabelle Sprague. I am 17 and I have lived in Vermont my entire life. I have evented in Area 1 since I was 7, and I am excited to be a part of Area 1s first YR committee.
Ally Krohg
My name is Ally Krohg, I am nineteen years old and from Hamilton, Massachusetts. I owe my riding career and love for horses as a whole to my mother. Growing up she always dreamed of riding, so once she was able, she rescued two Shetland ponies for my older brothers and I to learn to ride on when I was three years old. We played in the backyard with Splash and Spirit, but I didn’t start riding more consistently until I began with Lisa Eaton when I was eight. Lisa runs an incredible pony barn where Cornelia Dorr, Katie and Maddie Litchen, Ellis Hargidon, India Doyle, and many more Area I Young Riders also grew up riding! At Lisa’s, I was able to try just about everything the English world has to offer, pony edition! We got to fox hunt, compete at hunter jumper shows, trail riding, games, and of course my obvious favorite, three day eventing! I moved across the field to Gathering Farms to ride with Babette Lenna on my thirteenth birthday actually! I am still with my B Eventing family today:) I was able to take a year off from school and am working for Babette down on her new Dara Knot Farm in Aiken, SC. While working on the farm, I am able to ride a handful of horses everyday including my horse Ardeo Rock and Roll “Rocky” and my mom’s horse Curious George “George” This has been an incredible experience and I am really excited to hit the ground rolling in Area I this summer competing, volunteering, and participating in the Young Rider Committee:)
Lea Adams-Blackmore
My name is Lea Adams-Blackmore, I am 21 years old and although I do not live there currently, I still call Norwich, Vermont my home. Growing up in Area 1, I participated in just about every camp and clinic that was offered and in 2017 I groomed for the Area 1 young rider team in Kalispell, Montana. All through middle and high school I rode under the guidance of Jane Hamlin, who helped me find my current horse Frosty (Frostbite), and connected me with my current trainer Sharon White. I have been working for Sharon for just under four years now and I am currently her head rider and working student. My horse and I compete at the CCI 3* level and my hope is that one day he and I will run around the CCI 5* in Kentucky.
Victoria McCallum
I grew up as a pony clubber and started competing at a young age. Currently, I have two OTTB’s that I am bringing along. I am eventing at training level on Maurice and started Two Red Cents at beginner novice. I teach beginner riding lessons at our farm, Oakendale Farm. We are based in Harwinton CT and winter in Ocala Fl. I also ride the sales horses for multiple disciplines for our sales program, Break Maiden Sport Horses. I am looking forward to showing my horses in eventing and show jumping this year.
Sydney Gallien
My name is Sydney Gallien, I am an 18 year old young rider. I have been riding my whole life and eventing since I was 9. I have competed up to training level and recently got a OTTB who I look forward to competing with this coming summer! I am excited to be apart of the Area 1 Young Rider Committee!
MAX van der schoot
My name is Max van der Schoot and I am 16. I have lived in Vermont my whole life and started riding around the age of 5. I began my equestrian journey at a local barn just five minutes from my house. I went to summer camps there, learned how to vault on a horse, and grew my passion for horses. I later moved on to a different barn in VT where I was able to ride countless lesson horses. I learned so much there and met so many people I am still connected with. I only began eventing when I was thirteen. I really got into the sport when I went to Hitching Post Farm for their camp. That’s when I fell in love with eventing and my current horse, Andy. I am a training-level rider but have goals for the upper levels. I am excited to get out competing once my horse is rehabbed from surgery. I ride just about any horse I can when given the opportunity, and I am very excited to be joining the Area 1 Young Rider Committee. I really value Area 1 and all the amazing opportunities they’ve given me. I can’t wait to give back to such an incredible group!
GRACE melanson
My name is Grace Melanson and I am 16 years old. I have been riding for about 8 years and competed through Novice. I am excited to become more involved in the eventing community and move up the levels. I’m currently boarding at Course Brook Farm and enjoy riding many horses at the farm and helping out by working for my trainer and the farm. I can’t wait for this upcoming year and getting to know everyone!
