USEA Emerging Athlete Program

The purpose of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 program (EA21) is to identify and provide consistent quality instruction to the next generation of elite event riders. The aim is to create a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and developing young talent. The intention is to provide young athletes with access to an added level of horsemanship and riding skills to further their training and skill development with greater consistency.

“We have many talented up-and-coming riders in this country and we need to bridge the gap in their development from Young Riders to Professionals. The EA21 program is a huge and essential step in accomplishing that,” said EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor. “This program has a vision of finding talented riders that are not just dependent on competition results, and starting them in a pipeline to gain access to the best coaching and opportunities that will develop them into not only excellent riders but excellent horsemen/horsewomen.”

Applications are now open and can be found here,

Athletes who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply to a regional clinic and list a second choice as a backup in the case that they are not selected for their primary choice. Athletes may also be talent spotted; however, there is no guarantee that an athlete will be talent spotted. The requirements to apply are as follows:

Applicants should be 21 years or younger per FEI standards;
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and a member in good standing of the USEA;
Applicants must be current and active members of their USEA Area Young Riders Program, and;
Applicants must be established at the Training level or higher (minimum of 4 MERs at the Training level or higher)

The same eastern and western venues that hosted the regional clinics in 2024 have been selected to host the EA21 Regional Clinics again in 2025, but a new Central location has been selected and will now move to Chaps Equestrian Center in Bucyrus, Kansas. The five clinic locations are as follows:

Central Clinic | Chaps Equestrian Center (Bucyrus, Kansas), coached by Shannon Lilley
East I Clinic | Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, Virginia), coached by Bec Braitling
West I Clinic | Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, California), coached by Emily Mastervich
East II Clinic | Stable View Farm (Aiken, South Carolina), coached by Rebecca Brown
West II Clinic | Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), coached by Jan Byyny

The USEA will cover the regional clinic cost and stabling fees for all accepted applicants. Applicants will be responsible for travel and lodging costs. Athletes will be selected by the designated selectors within their Area of membership and invited to attend one clinic.

Each regional EA21 clinic will have a maximum capacity of 12 riders, and a wait list will be put together for each clinic. After the regional clinics have concluded, a select group of talented riders will be chosen from the regional clinics to participate in the national camp with EA21 Director of Coaching, David O’Connor in Ocala, Florida, Dec. 30, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026.

Selection Criteria:

Competitiveness and desire to continue in the sport;
Ability and effectiveness in dressage, cross-country, show jumping;
Demonstration of horse welfare, stable management, general veterinary knowledge;
Willingness to learn from coaches, trainers, and peers;
Good sportsmanship and an ability to be a team player;
Ability to progress through the Performance Pathway;
Evidence of an effective work ethic;
Personal: loves horses and dedicated to the sport for the future;
Physical: athletic and coordinated;
Mental: positive attitude, willingness to learn/improve, inquisitive, competitive, educated to a level, and ability to concentrate

Selection Process:

Each Regional Clinic will host 12 invited participants;
Athletes will be chosen by the designated selectors in their Area of membership;
An applicant residing out of their Area can apply for any clinic and will be chosen by selectors from their Area of membership;
In the event of an overflow for a clinic, qualified candidates may be invited to attend one of the other regional clinics;
Applications are due no later than March 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (8:59 p.m. Pacific Time). Late applications will not be accepted;
Notification of invitation will be announced around mid-April, 2025.

Click here for a guide on how to best fill out an application to campaign for yourself.

Questions? Contact Melanie Loschiavo at melanie.loschiavo@gmail.com