Did you know that the USEA Foundation currently administers 15 grants and scholarships designed to help event riders reach their goals? From funds used to assist juniors have access to additional training to aiding up-and-coming riders fund international competition to helping adult amateurs gain education, the current grant opportunities offered by the USEA Foundation has something for almost everyone.
At the 2021 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, the Adult Riders committee led an open forum featuring guest speakers Asia Vedder and Dr. Kevin Keane, both busy and active eventers. Throughout the forum, Vedder and Keane answer several questions on juggling work, life, and eventing to help fellow adult riders find creative ways to make all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
In the wake of the cancellation of the 2020 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC) and the Adult Team Championships (ATC) last fall, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators came together to develop a unique opportunity for their fellow Adult Riders. The Virtual ATC Challenge was held instead to provide Adult Riders with a chance to compete against their peers from around the country.
The USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) is a goal that Adult Riders across the country spend their whole year working towards, training hard and competing alongside their fellow Adult Riders for the chance to represent their Area on the national stage at the ATC, held in conjunction with the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC).
Adult Rider Committee co-chairs Donna Bottner and Dawn Robbins led the Adult Rider Open Forum at the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. The 10 Area Adult Rider Coordinators introduce themselves and explain a bit about each Area's program. Then, Daniel Stewart talks about the Equestrian Athlete Camps at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the benefits of the program. Finally, Bottner and Robbins open the floor for amateur and adult riders in the audience to bring forward questions and concerns for discussion.
The Go Getters did exactly that in the Beginner Novice Adult Team Championship (ATC) at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The Go Getters, from Area III, finished on a cumulative score of 100.0.
It was a hometown win for the Novice Adult Team Championship (ATC) at the 2019 American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds as Team Crazy8 finished on top of the standings. The four riders representing Area VIII finished on a score of a 93.9.
The team declared from the very start that they were out to take home top honors in the Training Adult Team Championship (ATC) and their bold choice of a team name succeeded with Team “In It To Win It” winning the top honors at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds.
Seven teams competed in the Preliminary Adult Team Championship at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, and when the dust settled it was Keep Calm And Gallop On who took top honors. The quartet finished on a score of 121.9 – almost eight points ahead of second-placed Let’s Give it a Go! Third place went to Atlantic Storm which finished on a 133.1.
Cindy DePorter fit all the pieces together to make it possible to take her horse, Drop the Buck, to the USEA Adult Team Championships in September of 2014. DePorter was Co-Chair of the USEA Adult Riders’ Committee in 2014, and while she played a big role in making the ATC happen for adult riders across the country, she decided to take part in the fun for herself.
Many years ago, a good friend, Dot Hamilton, became Area Chair for Area VII. She said, "We need an Adult Rider Coordinator – you do it!" "Ok," I said. "What should adult riders do?" "Let's have a camp," she said! So we did.