The USHJA Emerging Athletes Program started with a vision. Melanie Smith Taylor and her husband, Lee Taylor, envisioned establishing a foundation to help fund young riders that wanted to become better horseman.

“We just loved horses and both had the passion for horses,” said Melanie. “He passed away before we had the chance to do that. I had been sort of out of the loop for a while, and George Morris asked me to come back and help coach some of the Developing Rider tours. The Developing Rider [program] was about to change, and I just was thinking that there’s so much more they need before they get to that level. They needed a staircase, a pipeline to get to that level of riding.”

Melanie approached Ronnie Beard with her idea, and they decided it could have a place in the hunter/jumper world. They approached Bill Moroney, president of the USHJA, and hit the ground running.

“I always knew this was something I wanted to do, but I knew I couldn’t do it by myself once I lost my husband,” said Melanie. “When Ronnie helped clarify the vision and Bill helped put it together, I knew it was the right place for me to direct my energy and passion.”

The EAP began accepting applications in February of 2009, and 500 applications flooded the offices of the USHJA. They accepted 264 riders into the initial Level I clinics (24 riders at 11 different locations across the country) and narrowed the field to 60 for the Level II clinics. The Level III clinic, held Jan. 8-10 at Maplewood Stables in Reno, Nev., invited 12 riders to participate.

“It was really fun watching the progression of the riders and the progression of their talent,” said Melanie. “I always was looking for the thinking rider. Riders who were smart and smart in their preparation. I wanted the riders that not only had the talent and were good natural horseman on the back of a horse, but also had the curiosity to know about the management and have the smarts to be able to put all that together and answer questions. I was looking for thinking, smart riders with drive, ambition and work ethic.”

The riders who traveled to Reno benefited from the experienced clinicians, who openly offered their wealth of knowledge, and took away skills that would help them become overall horseman.

“I hope to gain a better understanding on what it is to be a true horseman,” said Carly Anthony, Redmond, Wash. “There are a lot of definitions, but I feel the people who have started this have a true, deep understanding of the horse. I hope to get at least some of that understanding to continue my horse career.”

While the riders had a variety of experience—some have already started riding in grand prixs—each of them displayed the same natural talent and desire to continue improving their riding and horsemanship.

“For me, this year has been an incredible experience,” said Melanie. “It has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my career in horses, mainly because of the young people that have been involved. It’s so refreshing to see the enthusiasm, desire and commitment that these young folks have. If these are the people who are the future of our sport, then we are in really good hands.”