Wildcard from California joins USEF Horsemastership

No stranger to the Winter Equestrian Festival, 19-year old Ansley Wright is back in Wellington this week as a wildcard participant on the 2024 USEF Horsemastership Training Series.

“It’s really exciting,” said Ansley who is currently studying at the University of California, Davis and riding on the Aggies’ NCEA Division 1 Jumping Seat Equestrian Team. “It’s a great opportunity to get feedback from these top riders.”

Ansley’s longtime successful partner, Diamonte JTZ will not join her for the clinic, which features four days of instruction from Anne Kursinski, Katie Prudent and Beezie Madden.

“I wish I could do it on my own horse,” Ansley said. “But my horse lives in California. I didn’t want to put that on his body to ship him back all the way over here for this. So we leased one.”

Ansley Wright in action for the 2023 Holiday Finale at Wellington International. Photo: Anne Gittins Photography

According to USEF: ‘ The Horsemastership Training Series is designed to identify the next generation of top US Jumping team athletes and includes mounted and unmounted sessions.’

Criteria for participants aside from being aged between 16 and 21 were based on the athletes results at US Jumping Pathway Programs. Ansley found out just over a month ago that she had been awarded a wildcard spot.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and forming connections for the future,” Ansely said. “It’s about learning from all the things. There’s so much going on in those four days, that it’s hard to make sure that you get all the information. But you get to meet so many different people that you can call on later.”

The Horsemastership Training Series takes place from January 4-7 at Equestrian Village, Global Dressage Festival grounds in Wellington and it will be livestreamed on the USEF network, starting with flatwork on Friday 5th at 8am.