Under 25 Rider Program
Advancing a clear pathway to excellence for Ontario’s young competitive Eventers, the OEA’s Under 25 (U25) Program is dedicated to cultivating high performance riders through focused education and training with a view to encouraging elite competition.
Registration for the 2026 U25 Program is now open!
In 2026, we will build on the past success of this Program which supports riders, aged 25 and under who compete in Ontario, on a pathway to high performance and a chance to compete at the North American USEF Eventing Young Riders Championships (NAYC).
The U25 Program focuses on rider education, training & competition support and athlete support and recognition. The OEA’s U25 program is self-financed through registration fees, fundraising by U25 riders, and the generous support of sponsors. The registration fee is $100 per rider (riders may register more than one horse for that flat fee).
Join the U25 program
As a member of the OEA U25 Program, you will benefit from all the activities it offers, including:
RIDER EDUCATION (all levels welcome)
Webinar Series
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April 9, 2026. Welcome to the OEA’s Under 25 (U25) Program: The North American U25 Championships and an Overview of CCI Eventing (Kendal Lehari, Chef d’Équipe Ontario U25 team NAYC, NCCP HP Coach, 5* Eventer, & OEA Director)
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May 2026. Optimizing your Dressage Score (Justin Ridgewell, EC Senior dressage judge, NCCP HP Coach & FEI competitor).
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May 2026. Social Media Literacy (Charlotte Hodgson, Marketing and Sales, Boogaloo Boots & OEA Director)
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June 2026. Preparing for the U25 Assessment Clinic (Kendal Lehari and Nikki Maclellan, Co-Chairs of the U25 Program and OEA Directors Xavier Traisnel and Jacquie Kelton, and NCCP HP Dressage Coach Justin Ridgewell).
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June 2026. Intro to High Performance. (Karl Slezak, Member, Canadian Eventing Team, represented Canada at the Pan Am Games 2019, 2023 & 2024 Summer Olympics, and Emily Gilbert, Chair EC High Performance Advisory Group & leader of the High Performance and Sport Science Initiatives at Mad Barn)
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TRAINING & COMPETITION SUPPORT
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U25 NAYC Assessment Clinic, May 30, 2026 (Location: Grandview Farm). A skills evaluation for athletes qualified for with an interest in qualifying for the NAYC in the future. Includes riding an FEI dressage test, stadium jumping and jog practice. Athletes will be guided by EC certified HP coaches and receive feedback from an FEI judge. Priority will be given to U25 members. Divisions: EV85 and above​​​
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To audit: U25 member: $25; non U25 member: $30.
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To ride: U25 member: $125; non-U25 member: $175.
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NAYC. USEF Eventing Young Riders Championships Support, June 25-28, 2026. The Maryland International and Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, Adamstown, Maryland. On-site support and coaching guidance for NAYC riders including mentorship and providing a team envrionment for U25 members. Divisions: CCI*, CCI2* & CCI3*.
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Year-End Finale & Team Challenge, Grandview Horse Trials, October 4, 2026. This year end Finale will include Individual Championships (ribbons and prizing), a U25 Team Challenge (ribbons and prizing) and an Awards Presentation. Divisions: EV85 and above.
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ATHLETE SUPPORT & RECOGNITION (All levels welcome)
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U25 “Red Ribbon Award”. To encourage U25 riders to ride safely and competitively at one division before moving up to the next one. Riders in the U25 Program will be recognized and celebrated with custom “Red Ribbons” to recognize 3 consecutive EC-sanctioned HT finishes at the same level. “Red Ribbon Award” recipients will be featured on OEA’s social media.
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Athlete Mentorship. Certified coaches & OEA Directors are available through WhatsApp to provide one-on-one “behind the scenes” guidance to riders on issues from competition preparation, training advice and navigating the pathway to HP.
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·Dedicated U25 Leaderboard. Levels of prize money are under review and contingent on funding.
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·Travel and Training Grants. To help develop U25 riders. Under review and contingent on funding.
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·Grant & Application Support. U25 Committee members & other Directors will be available to assist riders to identify grant opportunities, write applications & meet deadlines.
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Please consider joining us as we look forward to another amazing season!
The OEA’s U25 Committee
Kendal Lehari & Nikki Maclellan (Co-Chairs), Jacque Kelton, Xavier Traisnel, Gabrielle Turcotte & Justin Ridgewell.