The United States Hunter Jumper Association Emerging Athletes Program, presented by Dover Saddlery, will hold regional training session in Texas next week for riders from Zone 7. While the majority of riders are new to the program, three are returning to the program to continue improving their horsemanship in and out of the saddle. 

Clinician Candice King and Stable Manager Colleen Reed will lead the session at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, June 19-23. Each session will consist of five days of intensive stable management and mounted instruction. Athletes ride a horse they bring, and after all the sessions are complete, 16 regional training session riders will be selected to participate in the 2016 EAP National Training Session with Olympian Peter Wylde. 

In addition to the EAP, the USHJA is offering a 3′ section at the Texas session, which will run concurrently with the EAP. While riders participating in the 3′ section are not eligible for EAP Nationals, they will experience all other aspects of the Emerging Athletes Program at a lower fence height. 

The USHJA congratulates all the riders selected to attend the regional training sessions in Texas:

June 19-23, Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, TX

• Rebecca Bargainer, 16 (The Woodlands, TX)
• Caydee Dickensheets, 17 (Austin, TX)
• Makayla Harp, 19 (Tyler, TX)
• Johanna Jessen, 17 (Lake Charles, LA)
• Megan Majewski, 16 (Katy, TX)
• Caroline O’Brian, 16 (Houston, TX)
• Lara Shelokov, 17 (Dallas, TX)
• Jonah Sutton, 18 (Yukon, OK)
• Kyra Zerwick, 17 (The Woodlands, TX)

3′ Section at Great Southwest Equestrian Center

• Ali Calcaterra, 20 (Eureka, MO)
• Celeste Fazioli, 14 (Seabrook, TX)
• Madison Finster, 14 (The Woodlands, TX)
• Dravin Kennedy, 15 (Saint Louis, MO)
• Catherine Moorhead, 15 (Austin, TX)
• Emma Thomas, 14 (Spring, TX)
• Macy White, 11 (Aubrey, TX)

Theriders returning to the program include: Makayla Harp, Johanna Jessen, and Lara Shelokov.

Nine riders were selected by their zones to receive travel grants to support their educational pursuits at these regional training sessions. Through a partnership with the USHJA Foundation, Zone 7 selected the following riders for travel grants: Rebecca Bargainer, Caydee Dickensheets, Megan Majewski, Jonah Sutton and Kyra Zerwick. 

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn from such great equestrians as Candice King and Colleen Reed,” said Jonah Sutton, Zone 7 EAP grant recipient. “I’m especially excited because unlike most clinics, EAP teaches us both riding skills and stable management. I’m also excited to meet other riders my own age with like-minded goals.”

Auditing in Katy, TX, is free and requires no reservation.

The Emerging Athletes Program is supported in part by a generous grant from the United States Equestrian Federation, as well as individual donors through the USHJA Foundation. For more information, please visit www.ushja.org/EAP.