GADYS, Va.--Rowan Love was named the top athlete from 16 top participants after four intensive days of riding and stable management at the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session, held at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Va., from Nov. 7-10.

Rowan Love on Star Jewel Photo from USHJA)The competition was judged by Olympic team and individual gold medalist Joe Fargis, the Lead Riding Clinician, Stable Manager Colleen Reed and the Emerging Athletes Program Committee.

Love attended the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio and graduated in 2021 with a bachelor of science degree in equestrian management and an associate's degree in English riding and training.

While at the University of Findlay, she was a member of the equestrian team and competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association.

"It feels very surreal to have won," said Love, 25, of Sweet Briar, Va. "It was cool to return to the National Training Session after doing it last year because I knew a little bit of what to expect and how the week operates."

In preparation for this year's National Training Session after riding in the Regional Training Session this past summer held at Sweet Briar College, Love dedicated herself to building on techniques learned during her time at the 2023 National Training Session.

 

"I WAS A part of the University of Findlay's IHSA Hunter Seat team," she said. "I started off showing in Limit Equitation on the Flat and Over Fences and worked my way to Intermediate Equitation Over Fences and Open Equitation on the Flat. IHSA helped make me more comfortable riding whatever horse I was given, which helped prep me for the Nationals format since we generally use the host facilities' horses."

"I struggle sometimes with nerves in the jump ring when finding the jumps and distances," she said. "Before going into the ring, I like to hype myself up by taking a deep breath and telling myself a confidence mantra to get focused."

"I had experience horse showing prior to being on an IHSA team, but I think doing IHSA helped make me more comfortable in a show format," Love said. "With IHSA, I just had to show up and ride. IHSA also gave me a feel for how horse showing can be a team sport and I am still friends with some of my fellow IHSA teammates from Findlay!"

Currently a Stable Fellow at Sweet Briar College, Love has her sights set on a professional career in the equestrian industry and views this week's win as a valuable step forward.

"I would like to go professional eventually," she said. "I currently do not have my professional card, but making connections with the Emerging Athletes Program committee members, fellow participants and staff will help guide me in developing my future career."

"This is my second time being the lead clinician at EAP Nationals," said Fargis. "The quality of riders at this event was very good. They were all polite, well-turned-out, and grateful. Overall, it was just wonderful to be here at Sweet Briar with quality donated horses and event organizers."

The National Training Session winner is chosen for their riding skills on an unfamiliar horse and for their horsemanship, stable management practices, attention to detail and team camaraderie.

"It was a difficult decision to pick the winner because there were quite a few top riders," said Fargis. "What really separated the top two against the group was their attention to detail in stable management practices."

"This year was an unbelievable year full of lots of talent," Reed, the Lead Stable Management clinician, said. "We probably had one of the strongest groups ever, and it was tough to decide on the winner."

"Rowan was a standout from the earlier part of the week as she was very thorough and diligent about her horse care, her space, her equipment and her demeanor around all of the horses," she said. "She was quite spectacular in stable management and that easily stood out to me against the other competitors.

"She was a natural leader in her group, and other competitors were seeking her out for help and advice on what to do," said Reed. "She's soft and quiet with the horses, which made them very relaxed around her, and I felt confident in her follow through with anything that I asked her to do."

The judges had Love and Amaya Bellfield, 17, of Longmont, Colo., compete in a ride-off after the team Nations Cup-style competition on new horses to finalize their rankings.

Love won the championship with Belifield being named the reserve championship.