United States Eventing Association

The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program, administered by the USEA Foundation, is pleased to announce the first recipients of this year’s grant funding for riders aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, Canada) taking place June 7-11, 2023. Each will receive $2,500 toward their travel and competition costs and participate in an extensive educational program during the event.

The brainchild of Bromont organizer Sue Ockendon and the late Steve Blauner, the scholarship program was first offered in 2019 for riders competing at Bromont and at the time Ocala, and was expanded to include Galway Downs in 2022.

Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy as a guest coach for 2023. Hoy will be coaching athletes on dressage days as well as providing course walks for cross-country and show jumping.

The recipients are:

Lea Adams-Blackmore (Summit Point, West Virginia) with Frostbite

Elle Choate (Clemson, South Carolina) with Paddrick

Maya Clarkson (Santa Cruz, California) with Maks Mojo C

Jack Curtis (Chester County, Pennsylvania) with Luska Candy Clover

Sam Curtis (Chester County, Pennsylvania) with Blyths Centurion FE

Samantha Homeyer (Markham, Virginia) with Final Notice

Cassandra Leblanc (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) with Riffel

Caitlin O’Roark (Centerville, Virginia) with What The Devil

Nadia Sabot (Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada) with Neverquitdreaming

Sara Schulman (Purcellville, Virginia) with Cooley Chromatic

Program director, Olympian and FEI 5* eventing judge Peter Gray also acts as a clinician at each event, including his “centreline sessions” on how to make the most of your warm-up and exactly what the judges are looking for movement by movement.

Upon releasing the names Gray commented: “I was thrilled to receive so many top tier applications from athletes around North America; this emerging group of talent is the future of our sport! There is such a fantastic international atmosphere at Bromont and with world class coaching from Bettina Hoy, it should be a memorable weekend! Thank you to Dr. Mark Hart and Carol Kozlowski for joining me on the review committee to select funding recipients.”

A second round of funding continues for those looking to compete at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) in November. Applications are open through Sept. 1, 2023.

Canadian and U.S. U25 riders competing at any level of FEI competition offered are eligible to apply.

For more information on the MARS Bromont Rising program visit www.bromontcci.com