United States Eventing Association’s mid-Atlantic Area II has announced its Young Rider squad for the Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championship Three-Day Event presented by Gotham North. (#FEINAYC) The NAYC takes place again this year in Kalispell, Montana, in conjunction with The Event At Rebecca Farms, July 18-22, 2018, an existing CCI1*, CCI2* and CCI3* competition. (Due to the inability of Canada to field a team, the competition is now a national championship but will retain its international recognition.)

The youth athletes will attend a mandatory Young Rider Training Camp, to be held at the USET Headquarters at Gladstone, NJ, June 30-July 7, 2018. Following the camp, the team’s horses will stage at Morningside Equestrian Center in Middleburg, VA., in mid July to travel to Montana to compete at the NAYC.

Area II has among the horses ridden by its youth athletes two Olympic Games veterans (Mr. Medicott, Flintstar), a 2017 Eventing Horse of the Year (Cambalda) and veteran international/upper level horses Center Stage and Ideal Contini. The Area II program has developed a formidable program, with almost all of the young riders on the 2018 squad having had previous NAYC experience either as a rider or groom.

Following are Area II Young Rider Squad members as of 6/18/2018. The official Area II team of 4 horses and riders per division (2* and 1*) and any individuals are named following the first veterinary presentation (jog) at The Event at Rebecca Farms on July 18, 2018 in Montana.

The Area II Young Rider team is coached by Holly Payne-Caravella, with chef d’equipe as Meg Kepferle, and Area II YR coordinator is Chris Donovan.

CCIOY (CCI2*)

Olivia Dutton, 16, from West Grove, PA., attends Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA., riding Mr. Medicott, a 1999 chestnut ISH gelding, owned by the Mr. Medicott Syndicate
Ryan Keefe, 18, Sandy Spring, MD., a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney, MD and enrolled in the University of Kentucky, riding Flintstar, a 2000 New Zealand bred Thoroughbred bay gelding, owned by Rumsey Keefe
Alexa Lapp, 19, Gap, PA., a graduate of Pequea Valley High School, Kinzers, PA., riding Cambalda, a 2002 bay ISH gelding, owned by Tim and Nina Gardner
Tayler Stewart, 18, Damascus, MD., a graduate of Damascus High School, Damascus, MD., riding Ideal Contini, a 2003 grey Westphalian gelding, owned by herself and Taylor Stewart

NAYC (CCI1*)

Macy Beach, 17, from Millsboro, DE., attending Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, DE, riding Chasing Moonlight, a 2008 bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by herself and her mother, Dawn Beach
Haley Carspecken, 18, Purcellville, VA., a graduate of Tuscarora High School, Leesburg, VA., riding Center Stage, a 2006 grey Holsteiner gelding, owned by the rider
Katherine Christopher, 18, Bahama, NC, a graduate of Northern High School, Durham, NC, and enrolled at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, riding Frodo of the Shire, a 2003 bay Thoroughbred gelding, owned by the rider.
Maia Kantorowski, 17, Pinehurst, NC, attends The O’Neal School in Southern Pines, NC., riding Kiltubrid Rebel, a 2009 chestnut ISH gelding, owned by the rider.
Olivia Wall, 18, Apex, NC, a graduate of Apex Friendship School, Apex, NC and enrolled in the University of Kentucky, riding Mandolin R, a 2008 SWB bay gelding, owned by the rider.