November 24, 2014 — The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) hosted 12 up-and-coming riders in the inaugural Eventing 18 Program in 2014. All Participants put the lessons learned in January’s Training Sessions with U.S. Team Coach David O’Connor and respected eventing professionals to the test throughout the year to reach new heights of excellence in competition and all around horsemanship.
Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, Fla.) enjoyed a banner year, earning coveted titles throughout the season. With her own and her mother Sherrie Martin’s Quantum Solace, she earned the Markham Trophy as the highest placed young rider in the CCI3*at both Jersey Fresh and the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International finishing fifth and sixth overall, respectively. Martin collected a slew of additional awards at Fair Hill, including the Reserve USEF National Developing Rider Championship title with Quantum of Solace. She was also named USEF National Young Riders Champion with two-star partner Pebbly Maximus at Fair Hill and closed out her 2014 campaign jumping to third in the CCI2* at Galway Downs on Spring Easy.
“Being chosen to be in the Eventing 18 Program has helped me with much more than my riding. It has built a comradery between us participants and given us connections to the larger eventing community that will help us develop our riding careers,” said Martin. “I am very appreciative to David O’Connor for helping me to develop and improve my horsemanship and foundations in this sport.”
Patience O’Neal and Madison Temkin also put the lessons learned in January’s Eventing 18 Training Session to good use, producing top results at CCI1* competitions. O’Neal (Spokane, Wash.) and Karen O’Neal’s Markus began the year with a fourth-place finish at the Twin Rivers CCI1* before traveling to Lexington, Ky., where they earned an Individual Silver medal at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. Temkin (Sonoma, Calif.) and Geriann Henderson’s Kingslee made their CCI1* debut at Galway Downs a successful one as they collected a 12th place finish in a field of 50 combinations.
The 2015 Eventing 18 Athletes have already been selected; please click here to read more about this program: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/11631/2014/8/26/2015_eventing_18_program_participan.aspx
