The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association has announced the 16 athletes and five stable managers chosen to participate in the 15th annual MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session. This year’s session will take place Nov. 6-9 at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky, and will be led by Olympic show jumper Joe Fargis alongside stable management expert Colleen Reed.

Throughout the summer, more than 160 athletes participated in 10 regional training sessions held nationwide, receiving invaluable education over the course of five days with mounted and unmounted instruction. Based on the recommendations of the riding and stable management clinicians, 16 athletes and five stable managers are selected to attend the National Training Session each year.

Riders at the National Training Session will vie for the title of champion and a $3,000 grant to be applied toward the cost of advanced training based on their performance in the riding and stable management sessions throughout the week. Congratulations to the following athletes and stable managers on being selected to participate in this year’s National Training Session:

Athletes

• Elliette Baker of Versailles, Kentucky
• Caroline Barclay of Roswell, Georgia
• Reese Dorsey of Parkton, Maryland
• Simi Gibson of Denver
• Anna Huard of Howell, Michigan
• Jocelynn Johnson of Falls Church, Virginia
• Alyson Jones of Groveland, Florida
• Hunter Lewis of Denver
• Molly McKeon of Laguna Niguel, California
• Olivia McKinstry of Vernon, Connecticut
• Brooke O’Malley of Los Angeles
• Cristina Pinnow of Winston Salem, North Carolina
• Jillian Puthoff of Reno, Nevada
• Abigail Ringuette of Unionville, Connecticut
• Lauren Satola of Fulton, Maryland
• Finley Scheffel of Georgetown, Kentucky

Stable Managers

• Emmie Esplin of Diana, New York
• Avery Houser of Raleigh, North Carolina
• Abigail Karl of Mundelein, Illinois
• Lucy Mackowiak of Westerville, Ohio
• Carly Williams of Efland, North Carolina

EAP athletes will be closely observed and evaluated during all phases of the four-day national training session, including flatwork, gymnastics, related distances and coursework, an intensive stable-management curriculum, and through a written test that gauges the horsemanship knowledge each finalist has gained throughout the year. In addition to the competition, finalists will participate in joint educational seminars with USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, which is held concurrently.

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, the top two EAP finalists will receive a coveted riding spot at a USHJA Gold Star Clinic within the next two years of their choice. Part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, these clinics offer horsemanship, stable management, mounted instruction and additional education from top clinicians and athletes.

For more information on the MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session, visit ushja.org/EAP.