The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association has announced the 16 athletes and eight stable managers selected to participate in the 10th annual Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session.

Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Fargis and stable management expert Anne Thornbury will lead the session on Nov. 8-11 at The University of Findlay (Ohio).

National Training Session Riders:

Sam Berry, Argyle, Texas

Bella Canzano, Birmingham, Michigan

Maura Cherny, Cazenovia, New York

Kit Cunningham, Thermal, California

Cathleen Driscoll, Elk Mills, Maryland

Bridget Finnerty, Baltimore

Cary Hundley, Ellicott City, Maryland

Hope King, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Genevieve Munson, Rogers, Arkansas

Leacy Paul, Milton, Florida

Katie Pelzel, Fort Lupton, Colorado

Ada Rohan, Montpelier, Vermont

Elise Vandamme, Bountiful, Utah

Madeline Vorhies, Canton, Georgia

Alicia H. Weismann, Southampton, New Jersey

Kiersti Wylie, Fallbrook, California

Ranked Alternate Riders

Emily Williams, Newhall, California

Rose Kauffman-Skloff, Los Angeles

Ethan Maye, Fairfield, Virginia

National Training Session Stable Managers

Lauren Alsborg, Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Elle Brady, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Annie Drew, Austin, Texas

Michael Golinowski, Burke, Virginia

Frances McGivern, Essex, Connecticut

Christina Meeks, Lexington, Kentucky

Leah Samouhos, Pittstown, New Jersey

Devina Stone, Gardnerville, Nevada

Ranked Alternate Stable Managers

Selina Petronelli, Churchville, Maryland

Johanna Jessen, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Cory McLaughlin, Atlanta

Ali Barros, Eads, Tennessee

Since the program’s inception in 2009, the USHJA has provided more than 1,400 participants regional training session opportunities. Each year, 16 athletes vie for the title of EAP Champion.

In 2018, 187 athletes participated in 10 Regional Training Sessions nationwide, and while only a small number advance to the National Training Session, each participant received invaluable education during the five days of mounted and unmounted instruction offered.

“It has been incredibly satisfying to see the impact this program has had on participants,” said Sally Ike, chair of the Emerging Athletes Program Committee. “EAP marries competition with education, connecting young equestrians to the industry’s best teachers, leading professionals and Olympians. Not only does it offer riding instruction at the highest level, but it places an importance on horsemanship and stable management.”

EAP finalists are observed and evaluated during all phases of the National Training Session, including flat work, gymnastics, related distances and course work, an intensive stable-management curriculum, and through a written test that gauges the horsemanship knowledge each finalist has gained throughout the year.

One rider will be named the overall USHJA EAP National Champion  and will receive a $3,000 grant to be applied toward the cost of advanced training, as well as a variety of additional products and gifts from USHJA sponsors.

Additionally, two EAP finalists will receive a spot at a 1.10/1.15-meter USHJA Gold Star Clinic of their choice, and a select number of participants in the EAP National Training Session will be chosen to serve as stable managers during the Gold Star Clinics.

Three USHJA Gold Star Clinics will be held on the East Coast at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 26-30, 2018, on the West Coast at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, Jan. 16-20, 2019, and new this year, a centrally located Gold Star Clinic at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, April 16-20, 2019.

These clinics offer horsemanship, stable management, mounted instruction and additional education from top clinicians and athletes.

Sport leadership track these riders’ accomplishments as they advance through the sport and look for opportunities to support their efforts with education along the way.

The USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, presented by The Plaid Horse, will be held concurrently with the EAP National Training Session, at The University of Findlay’s James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Complex.

Qualified finalists will be tested in three phases, including a written exam, horsemanship/identification exam, as well as a hands-on practicum exam. HQC Finalists will be announced soon. In addition to the competition, both EAP and HQC finalists will participate in joint educational seminars.

Topics covered will include an equine appraisal, equine massage, equine nutrition and an equine anatomy in motion demonstration. Auditing of all mounted sessions of the EAP National Training Session is free and open to the public.’

Past winners include Carly Anthony (2009), Richard Neal (2009), Kate Haley (2010), Jacob Pope (2011), Stephen Foran (2012), Sunny Drescher (2013), Carly Williams (2014), Danielle Roskens (2015), Gracie Marlowe (2016) and Kendra Duggleby (2017).

EAP winners and alumni have gone on to compete in the USEF Talent Search, US Hunter Seat Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Finals, USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, and World Cup qualifying Grands Prix.

For more information on the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session, visit ushja.org/EAP. For more information on the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, visit ushja.org/HQC.