United States Eventing Association

The Event College kicked off this afternoon with a discussion by Tamra Smith on rider warm-up techniques. The Event College, hosted by the United States Eventing Association (USEA) and Professional Horseman’s Council (PHC) is a special series designed to educate competitors as well as the general public about the sport of Eventing. This discussion took place during the Adequan USEA Gold Cup dressage phase, which allowed Smith to explain to the audience each rider’s warm up techniques and how those helped prepare the horses.

Smith emphasized how pushing your horse in the warm-up can lead to more brilliance in the test. “By the time you get here today you know your movements, the horse is trained to the movements as much as he can be. It’s about preparing them to do the movements,” Smith explained. She also encouraged the audience to take advantage of the corners of the dressage arena when performing a test. “Every step is critical. Every corner prepares you for the next movement. The corners are the only place you aren’t judged, so you should always try to take advantage of that space,” Smith continued.

Buck Davidson also led a group to walk the Training cross-country course this afternoon. Davidson is sitting in second place on Stuart Brown’s Mr. Poppers in the Professional’s Choice Training Horse division. Some of this year’s sponsors also got a closer look at the Adequan USEA Advanced course as they did a course walk with Mike Huber. Because Huber is coaching the current leader in the Advanced division, Jacob Fletcher, sponsors experienced the added bonus of their insight on how to maintain the lead.

The Event College will continue tomorrow with the following opportunities:

2:30 p.m. Meet Course designer Captain Mark Phillips by the main water complex for commentary during the Merial Intermediate Division.

3:50 p.m. Meet Cathy Wieschhoff by the main water complex for commentary during the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Divison.

5:00 p.m. Novice Divison course walk with Joe Meyer.

5:15 p.m. Beginner Novice Divison course walk with Tamra Smith

Click here for live scoring and ride times.

Click here for complete Event College Schedule.

About the AEC

The Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by VTO Saddlery is the annual American championship for every level of the Olympic equestrian sport of Eventing, from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This year the AEC is being held from September 24-27 at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas.

The USEA would like to thank all the generous sponsors of the 2015 AEC including:Nutrena, VTO Saddlery, Adequan, Merial, Professional’s Choice, Broadstone,Devoucoux, Priefert, Standlee Hay, Charles Owen, Merck Animal Health, Pyranha Fly and Insect Control, Practical Horseman, DG Stackhouse, Animals to Wear, Fleeceworks, The Chronicle of the Horse, FLAIR, SmartPak, CWD, Brody Robertson Show Jumps, Point Two Air Jackets, Equine Art by Julie, Ovation, Eventing Training Online, Auburn Laboratories, Sunsprite Warmbloods, Back on Track, FITS,The Jockey Club, GumBits, NTEA, Schneiders Tack, Greenwood Farm, Pro View Global Digital Surveillance, The Scoring Chix, C4 Belts, Horse Hydrator, Kastel Denmark, SportsBrainUSA, Nature’s Select, EasyCare Inc, Likit, Noble Outfittersand more!