Lauren Nicholson

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Lauren Nicholson (née Kieffer) began riding at the age of six and competed in her first horse trials at the age of 12. As a high school graduation present, Kieffer participated in a week-long eventing summer camp with Olympians David and Karen O’Connor, which led to a six-year working student position. Her talent and work ethic helped her reach the top levels of the sport and represent her country in international championships.

Nicholson was a member of the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2016 Olympic Games with the Dutch Warmblood mare, Veronica, and the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games with her Anglo-Arabian gelding, Vermiculus. In 2015, she won team gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto riding Meadowbrook’s Scarlett.

Nicholson won team bronze in 2005 and team silver in 2007 at the North American Youth Championship with her Anglo-Arabian gelding, Snooze Alarm, a full brother to her future WEG partner, Vermiculus. She made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2010, when she and Snooze Alarm completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Since then, Nicholson has had numerous top finishes at the five-star level, including finishing in second place overall and as the highest-placed U.S. athlete at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2014 and 2016 with Veronica, where she won the title of USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champion. The pair also had top-ten finishes at the CCI5*-L level at Pau in 2014 and in Badminton in 2018. With Vermiculus, Nicholson finished in the top ten in the CCI5* events at Kentucky in 2018 and 2019, Burghley in 2019, and at Lumühlen in 2022. She finished in the top ten with Landmark’s Monte Carlo at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star CCI5* in 2021.

Allison Springer

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Allison Springer is a veteran fiver-star event rider, trainer, and coach who aspires to represent the United States in Olympic and International competitions. She has been named multiple times to the United States Equestrian Team’s High Performance List and she was an alternate for both an Olympic and World Equestrian Games Team. She is a Pony Club Graduate and an ICP Level IV instructor. Allison actively competes across the country and internationally, trains and shows horses for clients, and teaches professional and amateur riders. Allison’s commitment to the sport of Eventing is impressive as well. She is a founding member and former President of the Professional Riders Organization and saw the organization’s evolution into the Event Riders Association of North America (ERAofNA.org). Allison was a member of the USEA’s Board of Governors for many years and sits on numerous committees for both the USEF and USEA. Allison graduated from Bowdoin College in 1997. 

Stephen Bradley

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Stephen Bradley brings 35+ years of equestrian experience to his team and his students.

He started competing at age 13 with his local 4-H club…and later joined Loudoun Hunt Pony Club where he graduated with an “A” rating. During college, he decided to make a career of competitive eventing and he began competing internationally in 1989. Since then, Stephen has wins in the U.S., England, and Canada.

In 1991, ’92, and ‘93, Stephen won Canada’s Checkmate International CCI3* an unprecedented three times riding Sassy Reason. The two competed on the ’92 US Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain, and one year later, they won England’s Land Rover Burghley CCI4*.   Stephen and Sassy Reason were only the second American pair in history to ever win this prestigious competition. Stephen’s mentor, Bruce Davidson won the event on Irish Cap 23 years prior!

In 1993, the US Olympic Committee named Stephen Equestrian Athlete of the Year while Sassy was named The Chronicles’ Eventing and Overall Horse of the Year!

Throughout his career, Stephen has trained many horses up to the 4* level. Sassy Reason was his first superstar. Dr. DoLittle, Brandenburg’s Joshua, and From have all successfully partnered with Stephen. Between these wonderful 4 horses, they have been short-listed on 4 Olympic teams, 3 world equestrian teams, and placed in the top ten 5 times at Rolex Kentucky CCI4*. Dr. DoLittle won Kentucky in 1996. Joshua and From won gold medals with Stephen at the ‘03 & ‘07 Pan American Games.

Stephen has shared his experience and expertise with the media. He was featured on TBS’ US Olympic Gold and George Michael’s Sports Machine, and he anchored 26 informational episodes of Horsing Around with Stephen Bradley on Outdoor Life Network. He has also been published in The Chronicle of the Horse, Eventing USA, and Practical Horseman.

When teaching or training, Stephen focuses on putting together a methodical system between horse and rider. “It’s all about the basics and improving those basics.”

For more information please visit https://stephensbradley.com.