Athletes Announced for 2026 MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program Regional Training Sessions

Lexington, Ky.—May 26, 2026—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the more than 160 athletes accepted to participate in the 2026 MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program Regional Training Sessions to be held between June and July. Over five days, these athletes will participate in mounted flatwork, gymnastics exercises, and coursework with top clinicians led by Linda Allen, Cara Anthony, Jeff Cook, Karen Healey, Cynthia Hankins, Vinton Karrasch, Candice King, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, Callan Solem, and Julie Winkel. Chris Eadline, Jennifer Fessler, Tracy Forman, Emma Lane, Nikki Orna, Colleen Reed, Nanci Snyder, and Sheryl Sutherby will lead the stable management sessions.

USHJA Colorado EAP Clinic - June 2023 - Credit Cady Voyer Creative-60

Congratulations to this year's athletes:

Albion College

  • Stella Bergmann of Columbus, Ohio

  • Clara Burnham of Wellington, Fla.

  • Kylie Cohen of Bloomfld Twp, Mich.

  • Sarah Cook of South Lyon, Mich.

  • Madelyn Davie of South Lyon, Mich.

  • Jameson Degayner of Fenton, Mich.

  • Doris Farmer of Murillo, On

  • Patricia Farmer of Murillo, On

  • Lela Hickey of Libertyville, Ill.

  • Anna Huard of Howell, Mich.

  • Breanna Moore of Huntington, Ind.

  • Taylor Stump of Vicksburg, Mich.

  • Emma Williams of Northville, Mich.

Centenary University

  • Luna Auchincloss of Lebanon, N.J.

  • Eliza Beamesderfer of Enola, Pa.

  • Drue Fellona of Mantua, N.J.

  • Madison Grejdus of Reading, Pa.

  • Lydia Harrison of York, Pa.

  • Lily Howard of Ashburn, Va.

  • Cadence Iurka of East Northport, N.Y.

  • Jocelynn Johnson of Falls Church, Va.

  • Joana Koehler of Kerhonkson, N.Y.

  • Emily Lloyd of Ashburn, Va.

  • Mackenzie Peffley of Reading, Pa.

  • Sophia Reder of Long Branch, N.J.

  • Ruthie Siltman of Williston, Fla.

  • Kaitlynn Washington of Marysville, Pa.

Colorado Horse Park

  • Avalon Anslyn of Basalt, Colo.

  • Ava Blackstock of Littleton, Colo.

  • Marin Cumberland of Brighton, Colo.

  • Caroline Floyd of Colorado Springs, Colo.

  • Stevie Gacek of Temecula, Calif.

  • Bradie Gilmore of Pinedale, Wyo.

  • Brayden Graber of Thornton, Colo.

  • Lily Groff of Littleton, Colo.

  • Kayleigh Howard of Idaho Falls, Idaho

  • *Gwendolyn Isaacs of Castle Rock, Colo.

  • Cali Johnson of Parker, Colo.

  • Avery Julander of Arvada, Colo.

  • Lola Mccurdy of Bozeman, Mont.

  • Rose Nottoli of Boulder, Colo.

  • Hannah Nus of Littleton, Colo.

  • Emma Pulley of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

  • Campbell Sager of Longmont, Colo.

  • Emily Schumacher of Aurora, Colo.

  • Hamden Schweid of Centennial, Colo.

  • Jackie Sculco of Basalt, Colo.

  • Talulla Snyder of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

  • Ebba Stankus of Boulder, Colo.

  • Cassidy Tenhundfeld of Clive, Iowa

  • Henry Verseput of Louisville, Colo.

  • Mia Zolman of Denver, Colo.

Maplewood Stables

  • Ellie Aitchison of Woodinville, Wash.

  • Peyton Cosentino of Lincoln, Calif.

  • Ruth Emmons of Fremont, Calif.

  • Shelby Kremer of Idaho Falls, Idaho

  • Molly Mckeon of Laguna Niguel, Calif.

  • Camille Panuwat of Walnut Creek, Calif.

  • Brooklynn Voigt of Idaho Falls, Idaho

  • Liberty Welter of Ida, Idaho

Midway University

  • Caroline Barclay of Roswell, Ga.

  • Nina Campos of Lexington, Ky.

  • Addison Carter of Acworth, Ga.

  • Cora Clary of Slaughters, Ky.

  • Clara D'Amico of Newtown, Conn.

  • Reese M. Dorsey of Parkton, Md.

  • Maegan Fitzgerald of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

  • Caitlyn Hofmann of Loveland, Ohio

  • Jennifer Lu of Durham, N.C.

  • Brooke Morfit of Fredericksburg, Va.

  • Leah Schwartz of Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Annika Streeter of Wildwood, Mo.

  • James Swinger of Indianapolis, Ind.

  • Samantha Wells of Paris, Ky.

Mount Holyoke College

  • Sidonie Abren of Byfield, Mass.

  • Alison Clarke of Milton, Mass.

  • Allie Edwards of Rochester, Mass.

  • Ellie Hein of Amherst, Mass.

  • Olivia Mckinstry of Vernon, Conn.

  • Emma Ostrander of Schenectady, N.Y.

  • Caitlin Pirri of Cumberland, R.I.

  • Finley Yaekel of Pittsford, N.Y.

Paso Robles Horse Park

  • Jane Aker of Orinda, Calif.

  • Ella Berberian of Laguna Beach, Calif.

  • Hailey Bergstrom of Camas, Wash.

  • Avery Bird of Peoria, Ariz.

  • Josephine Bumgardner of Hailey, Idaho

  • Charlie Clarke of Cardiff By The Sea, Calif.

  • Samantha Espartero of Hayward, Calif.

  • Katie Gieser of San Clemente, Calif.

  • Nola Harding of Dana Point, Calif.

  • Molly Harper of Huntsville, Utah

  • Journey Heffernan of Castaic, Calif.

  • Mars Kibbar of Livermore, Calif.

  • Lexi Kim of Manhattan Beach, Calif.

  • Ava Macdonald of Los Altos, Calif.

  • Hailey Styerwalt of San Jose, Calif.

  • Chloe Warren of Santa Ana, Calif.

Texas Rose Horse Park

  • Kameron Berry of Lakeway, Texas

  • Caroline Brown of Tyler, Texas

  • Hannah Goetz of Montgomery, Texas

  • *Emily Gryder of Kyle, Texas

  • Kylie Guarnera of Mckinney, Texas

  • Sheree Hawkins of Austin, Texas

  • Kaylee Lucas of Hempstead, Texas

  • Kennedi Matlock of Magnolia, Texas

  • Danielle Roberts of Dallas, Texas

  • Summer Schlanger of Martindale, Texas

  • Sadie Seidler of Austin, Texas

  • Audrey Skillern of Huntsville, Texas

  • Reagan Stanley of Richmond, Texas

  • Anjali Varma of Austin, Texas

Tryon International Equestrian Center

  • Margot Allen of Durham, N.C.

  • Megan Ashley of Durham, N.C.

  • Avery Auensen of Cumming, Ga.

  • Caroline Cox of Spartanburg, S.C.

  • *Emily Cueto-Augustyn of Chatham, Va.

  • Brooke Fanning of St Augustine, Fla.

  • Reagan Fisher of Elgin, S.C.

  • Shelby Floyd of Chesapeake, Va.

  • Leigh Goolsby of Marietta, Ga.

  • Eva Hammer of Raleigh, N.C.

  • Alice Haney of Hillsborough, N.C.

  • Brooklyn Hawley of Chesapeake, Va.

  • Paige Kephart of Frederick, Md.

  • Chase Malone of Alexandria, Va.

  • Hayden Mcdowell of Clemmons, N.C.

  • Berlynn Morehead of Aken, S.C.

  • Rachel Myers of Durham, N.C.

  • Georganna Parker of Greer, S.C.

  • Shea Pearson of Davie, Fla.

  • Emma Ann Ranson of Wingina, Va.

  • Lily Schmitt of Chapel Hill, N.C.

  • Carson Smith of Chesapeake, Va.

  • Kira Thornton of Aldie, Va.

  • Luaren Trembath of Chapel Hill, N.C.

  • Kolbie Watson of Henderson, N.C.

  • *Ashton Zullo of Mooresville, N.C.

Wills Park Equestrian Center

  • Kinsley Atkins of Pensacola, Fla.

  • Adriana Castro of Cumming, Ga.

  • Ella Clark of Valdosta, Ga.

  • Colby Clifton of Sugar Hill, Ga.

  • Nadia Eisenbrei of Alpharetta, Ga.

  • Harper Blythe Gordon of Roswell, Ga.

  • Meera Iyer of Cumming, Ga.

  • Alyson Jones of Groveland, Fla.

  • Samantha Kench of Alpharetta, Ga.

  • Annie Kimball of Milton, Ga.

  • Nieve Leyne of Macon, Ga.

  • Addison Lindsey of Canton, Ga.

  • Serene Moumnine of Christmas, Fla.

  • Baylis Myers of Cumming, Ga.

  • Greer Nickerson of Johns Creek, Ga.

  • Cardyn Pace of Cumming, Ga.

  • Haven Parker of Pensacola, Fla.

  • Sophie Ray of Hillsborough, N.C.

  • Sophia Annabelle Sperring of Brentwood, Tenn.

  • *Tori Stimson of Powder Springs, Ga.

  • Allie Thaxton of Watkinsville, Ga.

  • Althea Towler of Marietta, Ga.

  • Cayden Ward of Alpharetta, Ga.

  • Clara Westerfield of Cumming, Ga.

  • Lillian Wile of Cumming, Ga.

* Indicates a non-riding participant. 

The USHJA extends its gratitude to the 2026 Regional Training Session hosts Albion College, Centenary University, Colorado Horse Park, Maplewood Stables, Midway University, Mount Holyoke College, Paso Robles Horse Park, Texas Rose Horse Park, Tryon International Equestrian Center, and Wills Park Equestrian Center.  A complete list of Regional Training Session dates, locations, and clinicians can be found here.

One athlete from each of the Regional Training Sessions will be selected by their peers to receive the EAP Sportsmanship Award sponsored by YETI. The award recipient will receive a custom EAP YETI tumbler. Also at each Regional Training Session, one participant will be selected by the clinicians to earn the Dedication, Determination, and Discipline Award sponsored by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, which includes a $500 cash prize and a certificate of recognition. All regional participants will also receive a saddle pad and accessory tote from supporting Sponsor Schneiders.

Following the Regional Training Sessions, 16 Regional Training Session participants and a select number of non-riding participants will be invited to attend the National Training Session held this November at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky, on November 5-8. At the conclusion of the session, one rider is named the overall USHJA EAP National Champion based on their performance in the riding and stable management sessions throughout the week, earning a $3,000 grant to be applied toward the cost of advanced training with an approved trainer. The Champion and Reserve Champion are also offered the opportunity to participate in a USHJA Gold Star Clinic within the next two years.

The USHJA thanks title sponsor MZ Farms for supporting the Emerging Athletes Program and National Training Session; Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Parlanti, and Nutrena; Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics, Schneiders, SmartEquine, Taylor Harris Insurance Services, and YETI. 

Learn more about the MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program at ushja.org/EAP.

Photos: Cady Voyer Creative, Ibach Media