2019 YR International Dream Program Participants
Congratulations to this year's participants:
Young Riders Bridgid Browne (GA), Sophia Chavonelle (ME), Raissa Chunko (CO), Emma Sevriens (GA)
Chaperones Reese Koffler Stanfield (KY) and Bill McMullin (MA)
Bridgid Browne is a 22-year-old former young rider. She recently graduated from the University of Kentucky and is now working for Shannon Stevens and Marcus Orlob of Elite Expression Dressage in Annandale, NJ. Bridgid is a motivated individual who is dedicated to the sport of dressage with goals of competing at the top international level. Bridgid hopes to have the opportunity to compete in the U25 Grand Prix in the next couple years. She is currently training her own 4-year-old filly, Karina Sandra TF, with aspirations to go to the young horse championships this summer. Bridgid is honored to have this opportunity to further her education in the dressage community.
(Photo by Kristin Posner)
Sophia Chavonelle is an 18-year-old rider from Windham, Maine, who has been actively involved in dressage since she was 13. Competing in local and regional shows throughout her high school career, Sophia earned her USDF Bronze Medal as well as several Regional Championship and New England Dressage Association Year-End placings aboard coach Tanya Rennie’s DeJure. Her favorite accomplishment, however, was being rewarded the USDF’s 2016 Youth Volunteer of the Year, an annual award recognizing the volunteerism of young riders around the country. Sophia worked to graduate high school early in order to become a full-time working student and focus on training her new horse, W Spotlight, a 2008 Westphalian gelding (Sir Donnerhall). It was with Spotlight that Sophia secured a spot on the Region 8 Junior team for the 2018 North American Youth Championships. Competing at the NAYC allowed Sophia to experience the camaraderie of working with a team and enhanced her desire to one day be a U.S. team rider. Now, as a new member of the Yellow Wood Dressage team with trainer Ashley Madison, Sophia is continuing to pursue this goal.
(Photo by Taylor Pence, US Equestrian)
Raissa Chunko is 19 years old and lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Colorado State University. Raissa has been actively competing in dressage since 2008 and has earned numerous USDF Region 5 and Rocky Mountain Dressage Society Champion and Reserve Champion titles at Training through Third Level. She is also a five-time competitor at the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals from 2011-2017. Her current mount, Rebelde RSDP, was given to her as a training project in 2016, and she has successfully competed with him at FEI Junior, Third and Fourth Levels. In addition, Raissa operates her own professional grooming service, providing braiding and body clipping to area riders and she also professionally handles horses at Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Shows. When Raissa is not at the barn, she enjoys many other activities such as backpacking, shooting, swimming, running, swing dancing, and playing her trombone. Raissa is especially appreciative of the support she has received from her family and friends and she is grateful for the opportunities she has received throughout her dressage career.
(Photo by Donelda Cox)
Emma Sevriens is a 20-year-old from Georgia, who has been riding since she was 5 years old. Both of her parents are in the horse business and they manage the Stables at Blalock Lakes. She is currently competing in the Young Riders division with her horse, Nido King, a Holsteiner bred by her parents. Along with Nido, she rides many other horses at her parents’ farm. Emma is a student at the University of West Georgia and in their nursing program. She shared, “I look forward to the opportunity to go to Aachen for the first time because it is one of the most impressive horse events in the world. There is so much to learn by watching!”
Chaperone Reese Koffler Stanfield, a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, is a lifelong professional horseman born and raised in Kentucky who has successfully competed in the sport of dressage since early childhood. She participated in USDF youth programs throughout her life including the Advanced Young Rider Program, culminating in numerous international medals while representing the United States and Region II (Kentucky and surrounding states). She earned both a BS in Agricultural Economics from the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky and an MA in International Commerce from the prestigious Patterson School of International Diplomacy and Commerce at the University of Kentucky. Reese is now a USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer through the FEI B Level and plans to continue her riding career in international high performance competitive dressage, as well as riding, training, and coaching students and horses of all levels.
(Photo by Cassandra Hummert)
Chaperone Bill McMullin is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, a USEF ‘R’ dressage judge, and USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer through 4th Level and faculty member. As half of the team comprising Warren-McMullin Dressage, Bill trains and teaches along with Bill Warren in Mansfield, MA, and in Wellington, FL. In addition to maintaining a busy teaching and training schedule at home, Bill travels frequently to judge, teach clinics and lead USDF Instructor Certification Workshops. He is also currently in the USEF ‘S’ Dressage Judge’s training program. ‘The Bills’ host Conrad Schumacher for clinics in both Massachusetts and Florida. They have been working closely with Mr. Schumacher for many years, and they share a similar philosophy in the training of horses, which is based on Classical methods and are always concerned for the welfare of the horse.
Learn more about the Young Rider International Dream Program here.
