Virginia Region Pony Clubs Make Debut at the USEA IEL Championships

From Edited Press Release from United States Eventing Association (USEA)

Aiken, S.C.—May 15— The Virginia Region Pony Clubs made a memorable first appearance at the 2026 Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Eventing Championship this week at Stable View, arriving with three full teams, 12 riders, and enough spirit to rival even the most seasoned programs. For a region experiencing its inaugural IEL outing, the group quickly established itself as one of the most enthusiastic and unified contingents on the grounds.

Coach Hannah Schofield (C-2 Horse Management, C-2 Eventing alum of Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club), whose home club is Loudoun Hunt Pony Club in Leesburg, Virginia, was a longtime Pony Club member herself and is now a professional based in Northern Virginia.

“I’ve been coaching for the Virginia region at Pony Club Championships for the past three years, so I get to meet kids from all over Virginia, which is super cool,” Schofield said. “This is our first time doing IEL with a big group, and we decided to come down here and get as many kids involved as we could. We have three full teams—12 riders—which is awesome for our first year to come in strong like that.”

Most of the riders hail from Pony Clubs in Northern Virginia, and for many, the trip south was their first exposure to a championship-style eventing show. Schofield acknowledged that some combinations were new, but the decision to attend was an easy one. “The kids in Pony Club love rallies and love eventing. Riding on teams is something we don’t get to do much in an individual sport, and this championship is a great opportunity for them to build teamwork. It definitely adds a little more pressure—they don’t want to let their friends down—but it’s good for them to learn to manage that.”

The team dynamic was matched by the electric atmosphere Stable View has become known for. Schofield, a dressage rider with a self-professed love of sparkles, was delighted by the event’s signature flair. “It’s like the happiest horse trial in the world. I’ve never seen so much glitter,” she said with a laugh. “Next year we’re bringing a professional tail bedazzler. We’ve noticed we’re a little lacking in the tail tinsel department.”

A Pony Club mom with a cheerleading background led the region’s spirit efforts, transforming the barn into a glitter-filled hub of decorations and team pride. “The kids had a great time decorating, and there was lots of glitter on horses’ butts,” Schofield added.

Beyond the competition, IEL’s college fair offered riders a chance to explore future opportunities in collegiate eventing. Schofield noted how meaningful that exposure can be. “We don’t have any high school seniors yet, but this is a really cool way to inspire kids for college. My 14‑year‑old daughter is already saying she wants to go to Kentucky. She’s been looking forward to meeting coaches and asking questions about their programs.”

Among the riders, the excitement of the weekend was palpable. Hilah Daman (C-2 Horse Management, C-1 Eventing member from River Bend Pony Club), 14, from Vienna, Virginia, said the experience exceeded expectations. “It was a big group effort to all come down here, but it’s been really fun. I didn’t expect them to have as much spirit between all the different schools. Dressage is always a work in progress, but cross‑country was good with a double-clear, and we have show jumping tomorrow.”

For Jocelyn Myers (C-1 Horse Management, C-1 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club), 13, from Middleburg, Virginia, the event marked an important milestone with a new partner. “It’s such a fun event because it’s very uplifting and riders are really supporting each other. This is my first real show with my new horse and he’s doing awesome.”

The Virginia Region fielded three teams—Blue, White, and Red—spanning Starter through Training level. Riders included:

Blue Team: Ryleigh Schofield (C-2 Horse Management, C-2 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & MSH Super Coach Fred (Beginner Novice); Jocelyn Myers & SimplySimon (Starter); Natalie Cosenza (C-2 Horse Management, C-2 Eventing member from River Bend Pony Club) & Lisdara Top Quality (Training); Quinn Wilee (D-3 Horse Management, D-3 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Che Bella (Starter).

White Team: Alexis Souder (C-2 Horse Management, C-2 Eventing, and C-2 Dressage member from Middleburg-Orange County Pony Club) & Stiletto (Novice); Hilah Daman & El Patojo (Starter); Mary Merritt (member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Street Traffic (Beginner Novice); Madison Muldoon (D-3 Horse Management, D-3 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Quinn (Starter).

Red Team: Logan Myers (C-1 Horse Management, D-3 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Heart of Roman (Starter); Brendi Carley (C-1 Horse Management, C-1 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Unforgettable (Beginner Novice); Frankie Schofield (D-3 Horse Management, D-3 Eventing member from Loudoun Hunt Pony Club) & Gimme A Chance (Beginner Novice); Matilda Rossbach (C-1 Horse Management, C-1 Eventing, and D-2 Hunter Seat Equitation member from River Bend Pony Club) & MSH Al’s Frosted (Starter).

With an IEL Championship now under their belts, the riders are already looking ahead to their next major goal: the USPC Festival Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park this July. “That’s very much on their minds,” Schofield said. “They’re working toward it.”

For a first‑year IEL champs effort, the Virginia Region Pony Clubs delivered a debut defined by teamwork, growth, and unmistakable sparkle, setting the stage for even bigger things to come.

About the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program: The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was established in 2014 to provide a framework within which eventing teams and individual competitors could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. Many events across the country offer Intercollegiate Team Challenges where collegiate eventers can compete individually or in teams with their fellow students. In Intercollegiate Team Challenges, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level to account for differences in level difficulty, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship is a capstone event for the program, which is held annually in the spring. The 2026 USEA Intercollegiate & IEL Championships will be held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 15-17. Click here to learn more about the Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

About the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL): In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to unite junior riders who are in the 5th—12th grade and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 5th—12th grade who share a common bond, such as the same barn, school, Pony Club, or other connection, can register with the USEA as an IEL Club. The 2026 USEA Intercollegiate & IEL Championships will be held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 15-17. Click here to learn more about the Interscholastic Eventing League.