Each season, Area III recognizes our top riders for all area leaderboard categories. For the past several years, we've mailed ribbons at the season's end, but we're wondering if that's what our members prefer. We need your feedback on how you'd like to receive your awards moving forward! Please respond to this poll below to let us know. - Leaderboard Award Options
Your 2023 USEA Area III Champions!
As the sun set at Chattahoochee Hills, here were your prevailing pairs! Congratulations and thank you to these winners, and each and every competitor who managed through very challenging weather conditions out there this weekend. Our hats are off to you.
Listed below are the top 10 of 26 teams competing at the Area III Championships this year. Each team will receive gift certificates sponsored by the Area III Adult Riders, Area III Young Riders, and I Love My Horse Equestrian Boutique. Thank you, sponsors!
Adult Rider/Young Rider Team Challenge:
1st – Hoof Hearted ($100 ea) - Lauren New; Greg Ragusa; Carole Schaff; Marisa Shulman
2nd – Three Bays and a Grey ($75 ea) - Avery Grantham; Rosemary Milek; Devon Tresan; Merrell Waggoner
3rd – The Galloping Gevens ($50 ea) - Tessa Geven; Ella Kay Lane; Carolyn May; Melanie Smith
4th – Neigh Slayers ($50 ea) - Catherine Frank; Ann Parer Meyers; Brenda Myers; Abby Taylor
5th – Team Foxberry ($50 ea) - Tessa Simmons; Brian Keil; Olivia Martinez; Anna Kate Stooksbury
6th – 3 Horses and A Pony ($25 ea) - Julitta Bryant; Livy Chambers; Katelyn Smith; Celia White
7th – Big Time Badasses ($25 ea) - Elisabeth Chizek; Carla Jimmerson; Hannah O’Brien; Nicole Smith
8th – Yankee Doodle Dandy ($25 ea) - Ella Hubert; Lisa Lorenzo; Sandra McDonald; Karl Slezak
9th – Hot Shots ($25 ea) - Catherine Frank; Jordan Knight; Sarah Smith; Kai Walker
10th – Silver Lining ($25 ea) - Stephanie Counts; Emily Kuras; Hanna Peck; Devon Tresan
A final look at the 2023 Area III Young Riders Summer Camp
These wonderful photos were provided by Madren Photography. Find these and more at her website.
Area III Championships T-shirts available for pre-order
The Area III Young Riders (YR) program is selling Championship t-shirts as a fundraiser toward fall YR team events. Please pre-order as only a very limited number of shirts/sizes will be available at the event.
Youth and Adult sizes are available - see the sizing chart here.
Pre-order cost is $25 per shirt; $30 if purchased onsite.
Use this link to pre-order - credit card payment is required. Note: when ordering, click on the link to make the credit card payment and 'submit' the payment form. THEN, go back to the order form and 'submit'. Your order is not complete until both forms are submitted.
Your order will be available for pickup at the event starting Friday afternoon.
Email questions to area3youngriders@gmail.com.
Online ordering closes Thursday, June 15, at 10AM. PLEASE Pre-Order!
In Memory -
With sadness we share the passing of JJ Johnson, of Lynnville, Tennessee. For many years, J.J. was an active supporter of Eventing throughout Area III and many other venues acoss the United States, usually in the role of Technical Delegate or Cross-Country Control. JJ was also the Organizer for the Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials for several years. In the early 2000s, J.J. served as the Area III Chair for six years. Her knowledge and energy will be missed by all who were fortunate to have known her.
Service for J.J. will be Tuesday, June 27th at 11:00 followed by a reception. Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville TN.
The reception for J.J. following her service will be held at the Percy Warner Equestrian Center, 2:00 on June 27th. This will be a “TAILGATE,” so roll out your best recipes to share. MTPC hosting with tables, chairs & flowers. J.J.’s daughter attending, so bring stories!
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Middle Tennessee Pony Club; c/o Peppy Butler, Treasurer; 5892 Natchez Trace Road, Franklin, TN 37064-9212. A jump will be built and dedicated to J.J. with the funds received. Also, the MTPC will host a reception, in J.J.’s honor, the evening of October 7th during the horse trials.
Entries and Teams are open for Area III Championships!
Summer is almost here, and that means Area III Championships are coming soon! Chattahoochee Hills will be hosting champs this year alongside their Summer I Horse Trials on July 1-2. Entries opened on May 16 and will close on June 13. Not sure if you’re qualified? Read all of the qualifying info here.
Team info from your Adult Riders and Young Riders Coordinators:
UPDATE: Here’s a list of the AR/YR teams - Team Challenge List . Contact the Adult Riders or Young Riders Coordinators for updates/corrections. Waitlisted and Pending riders will be added to a team if their status changes.
Area III Young Riders and Adult Riders are again “Teaming up” to make the Area III Championships special. ALL, we mean ALL, current Area III Adult Riders and Young Riders who enter for champs will be placed on a team. Teams can consist of any level, any division, young rider or adult rider.
You can create your own team: Join up with friends or folks you want to get to know, come up with a name, create some buzz, and cheer each other on. Please send your team info to: area3adultriders@gmail.com or area3youngriders@gmail.com
If you don’t create your own team, we will create teams with those left over.
This is for FUN! There will be prizes…but the idea is to have FUN.
Cindy and Lee Ann
Upcoming Young Rider Events in Area III
There are two events around the corner to benefit the Area III Young Riders!
First, please join us for the Spring Clinic April 15th - 16th at Sandy Hills Farm in Aiken, SC. Our clinicians are Allison Springer and Sarah Dunkerton Sizemore, and all three phases of eventing will be covered during this clinic. This clinic is open to ALL riders - not just Young Riders. Instead of doing taxes on tax day come ride with two wonderful clinicians and enjoy a beautiful facility. We will have much more fun than people doing their taxes!
Second, summer camp is going to be a fun one! ALL USEA riders are welcome - this is not just for Young Riders, but they will be given priority for space. Our instructors are Ashley Johnson and Lauren Eckardt, and (if numbers warrant) Jonathan Holling will join as our third. What a great line up! Four days of instruction, five bags of shaving included in your entry, and lunch and snacks provided - all for the bargain price of $850. Come play with us at Majestic Oaks in FL June 8 -11th.
Go to the Young Riders Program page for registration info.
Young Riders Clinic - February 20, 2023
Happy New Year, Area III! The Young Riders program is ready to kick off the season on February 20 with a clinic at Sweet Dixie South in Reddick, FL. Area III Coach Ashley Johnson will be teaching cross country lessons, while Area III Selector Hilda Donahue will be teaching dressage and cavaletti work. Don't miss this opportunity to work with these fantastic instructors at a beautiful facility. To reserve your spot, follow this link to the Young Riders webpage to find all of the details. The deadline to register is February 10. $250 for Young Rider program members, $300 for non-members.
Top 25 Volunteers for 2022
Congratulations and thousand thank yous to Dick Owen, who is our top Area III volunteer for 2022! In total, 484 of our amazing Area III volunteers logged 10,107 hours at 47 recognized events into the Eventing Volunteers app this year. Our gratitude cannot be overstated. When you see these folks around during the 2023 season, please let them know how much you appreciate them. Our top 25 super-volunteers are:
Owen, Dick (FL)
Buell, Jerry (FL)
Smith, Cynthia (GA)
Slagle, David (TN)
Bird, Diane (SC)
Buell, Lynne (FL)
Farrow, Karin (MA)
Bird, Art (SC)
p. muramatsu, masae (FL)
Fraley, Barb (FL)
Frosch, Catherine Hale (FL)
Allison, Gail (FL)
Courtney, Debby (FL)
Holmes, Janice (SC)
Steele, Cheryl (FL)
Bandrofchak, John (GA)
Quarles, Mary (SC)
Mumme, Karen (FL)
Joens, Beth (FL)
Dillon, Janet (SC)
Marsh, Karla (FL)
Dillon, Bub (SC)
Shumpert, Jeana (SC)
Glaccum, Bambi (PA)
Ryan, Shelley (KY)
Final 2022 Area III Leaderboard Standings
The 2022 season has officially come to a close! As we head into a little bit of down time, please join us to congratulate the year’s top 10 riders and horses across the levels.
