3 local riders to represent USA at World Endurance Championships

A trio of local endurance riders will represent the United States at the 2025 FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors in September in Romania, an event that will test riders and horses over a grueling 75-mile course. Vanessa Erickson of Lincoln and Lila Reeder and Jax Beloberk of Loomis were three of the five riders selected to represent the US in this event. All three earned their spots through a demanding qualification process that required four long-distance races of 60 and 75 miles. It's an achievement made even more remarkable by its rarity, as all three ride at Crater Hill Equestrian in Newcastle under coach Samantha Ellis. "The fact that we all come from the same barn is very rare," said Erickson, who noted the other two riders are from Florida. "This doesn't happen often." "This opportunity means so much to me. It's just been a great experience," added Reeder. "We have worked so hard to get here. We had to qualify for and finish all four races across the country. We didn't have any room for error." Reeder said Ellis started to put the idea in their heads last fall, knowing she had a strong group of young equestrian riders. It wasn't easy to get the trio on track for the race, but they managed to get in all four qualifying rides over the course of the year. "It was really a time crunch, because we had to do four qualification rides and there were only four rides leading up to the selection date," said Beloberk. "So if any of us got pulled from them, we wouldn't have been able to make the team." Beloberk said the training process for the championship is unlike anything he has done before. In the foothills, he faces elevation gains and drops and gravel on the ground, while Romania is flat and the final course only has 35 feet of elevation gain. "It's all flat and farm roads," said Beloberk. "Here, we have hills, rocks, you name it." Beloberk says the team has been training in Lincoln on a farm that is more flat so the horses are used to the conditions on the course when they travel overseas. While it may seem easier to train for a ride on flat ground, Erickson says it is actually more difficult because of the difference in technique for the horses. "It is actually harder for the horses, because with all the hills and elevation change here, they're constantly using different muscles," Erickson says. "Because it's all flat over there, they're using all the same muscles all day. To combat that, we have been doing a lot of training on flat land." Erickson also said the weather will be a challenge, as it can be unpredictable in Romania at this time of year and they need to prepare for heat and cold. "We're starting to work on all of our packing. We have to pack food for our horses. We have to pack crewing supplies, and all of our clothes that we will need," says Erickson. "The weather is very unpredictable, so we kind of have to pack for every kind of weather and condition our horses for that as well." The trio is also getting to know their new teammates, having monthly meetings with the national team members and coaches to create a game plan for the championship ride on Sept. 20. "When we meet, it's with the whole US team. Riders, coaches, officials, everybody," said Reeder. "I've seen one of the other US riders at one of the local rides here but I haven't really talked to them much but I'm excited to meet them and get to know them more." Beloberk says outside of the ride, he's looking forward to the opportunity to see another country and embrace a new culture while getting to do what he loves most. He doesn't have any expectations for the ride, other than to represent his country as best as he can. Said Beloberk, "I'm looking forward to just riding across the country with my friends and competing and representing the USA."