Ever So Sweet Camp 2025

Special thanks to Edy Rameika for funding

Strides for Equality’s third Ever So Sweet Camp provides a fully-funded opportunity for Equestrians of Color of any age to experience a week of training with an upper-level professional rider. Participants will take mounted and unmounted lessons with Sara Kozumplik at Overlook Farm in Virginia.

SEE Ever So Sweet Camp August 2025 will begin on Thursday, August 21 and conclude on Sunday, August 24.

Housing for riders and stalls for horses will be provided, and travel expenses for both riders and horses will be reimbursed.

Applications are due July 6. accepted riders will be notified by June 15 to allow time to plan travel. Auditing opportunities may become available once riders are finalized, and will be advertised on SEE social media.

There is a limited number of horses available to use for the weekend if needed. Please indicate whether you will be bringing a horse to ride or are applying to use a provided horse.

SEE’s Ever So Sweet camps provide opportunities for equestrians from diverse backgrounds to go deeper into professional and amateur careers in eventing. Here, 2024 campers school showjumping.

Tentative Camp schedule

Weds PM: Move in

Thurs AM: First mounted lessons

Thurs PM: Welcome Party

Meet former SEE Ever So Sweet Scholarship Recipients, SEE board members, and the Overlook Crew

Fri AM: Mounted lessons

Fri PM: Horsemanship lessons

Sat AM: Mounted lessons

Sat PM: Horsemanship lessons

Sun AM: Mounted lessons

Sun PM: Departure

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must…

Either be a minimum of 16 years old or be accompanied by a guardian.
Be based in the United States.
Be available for ALL camp activities beginning on the morning of Thursday, August 21 and ending on the afternoon of Sunday, August 24
Either have their own horse and ability to transport it to Berryville, VA (transport expenses will be reimbursed) or be willing to ride an Overlook Farm horse for the duration of camp.
Be dedicated to pursuing a dream in equine sports
Be willing to track travel expenses for reimbursement
Be willing to share their experience as part of the camp in blogs, social & print media
Be invested in increasing access to equestrian sports for underrepresented group

How to Apply

To apply, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements listed above. Then, complete and submit the application below.

Please note: All applicants, regardless of age, should fill out their own application. Parents may assist younger riders in thinking through their answers, but riders should complete their own applications. The use of AI writing assistants is strongly discouraged.

Application Deadline: July 6, 2025

Share With A Friend

“Hey! I saw this awesome opportunity from SEE and USEA to promote diversity and inclusion in eventing. It’s a fully-funded camp with some upper-level trainers to learn about training, horse care, and competing. I think you’d be a great candidate. You should check it out: www.stridesforequality.org/eversosweet.”

2025 SEE EVER So SWEET Camp Application

Please complete the application below.

Applications for July 2025 SEE Ever So Sweet Camp are due by July 7, 2025.

Applicant Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns

Applicant Email

Phone

(###)

###

####

Birthdate

YYYY

Age Requirement

Riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, whose expenses will also be covered by the camp. Do you meet this requirement?

I am 16 or older

I am under 16 and confirm that a chaperone will accompany me for camp.

Social Media

Please share your social media handles, if any, or links to any available videos of your riding. If you prefer, you may email 2-4 short (1 min or less) videos of your riding to stridesforequality@gmail.com.

Riding Experience

Describe your riding experience in a paragraph or two. What is your current level of riding experience? Do you currently work with a coach or trainer? Do you have a horse? Have you competed?

Camp Goals

Describe some specific goals for what you would like to learn during the camp in about a paragraph. What specific areas of riding or horsemanship knowledge would you like to improve?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Tell us about your personal experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the equestrian world. Share your vision for how you will contribute to this work as you pursue your riding goals.

Are you willing to be a representative & spokesperson for DEI causes within the horse world (including SEE, the USEA, the USEA Foundation, the USEF DEI initiatives)?

Are you willing to share your experiences & education at ESS Camp (for example blogging, interviews, social media, and/or published articles) ?

Will you be bringing your own horse or borrowing an Overlook horse?

Audit

If you are not selected to ride, would you like to be contacted about auditing opportunities?

T-Shirt

What is your preferred T-shirt style and size?

About our patron

Edy Rameika shares the passion for providing opportunities for deserving riders, “Our family loves horses and the sport of eventing. My daughters, Roxanne and Nadine, began riding when they were quite young. They rode and competed through high school, and Roxanne continued into her college career. We are very fortunate. But there are students in underserved communities who have the passion and talent for the sport but perhaps not the means. Roxanne passed away in 2017 but her passion lives on through her family. Nadine, Sara, and I want to honor Roxanne and Nadine's Native American heritage and their love of eventing through this scholarship in the hopes of helping to keep others' dreams alive. Ever So Sweet is a song that was beloved to Roxanne and Nadine, especially during those memorable years of riding.”

About our host

Sara Kozumplik is a US 5* eventer, Grand Prix show jumper, as well as a USEA certified coach who has coached national teams at the Central American and Pan American Games. She is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive environment within eventing. "I've had to overcome many challenges in my life as an upper-level event rider, but I never had the challenge of feeling like the sport wasn't easily available to me. This scholarship allows access for those that currently don't have a clear pathway to fight for their dreams," Sara said when explaining why they decided to offer the opportunity. Ever So Sweet is an important first step toward increasing diversity and inclusion in equestrian sports.