As previously announced, the United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Professional Horseman’s Council (PHC) will be hosting The Event College at the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event again this year. The Event College is a special event designed to educate the general public on the sport of Eventing, and will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the competition.
This year’s Event College “Professors” include the following top event riders and professionals: Allison Springer, Sharon White, Tamra Smith, Max Corcoran, Samantha Henley, and multiple Rolex competitors.
A tentative schedule for The Event College can be viewed below, but please make sure to note that times and locations are subject to change. The schedule will be finalized after the veterinary inspection on Wednesday, and hard copies of the final schedules will be available at the USEA booth at Rolex, starting Thursday morning at 9:00 AM, as well as the general Information booth in the stadium. Click here for the Sponsor Village map. The USEA is located at spot 34. Below this schedule you can find more detailed information about each of these Event College events, and the professors.
EVENT COLLEGE TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Friday, April 29, 2016:
11:30 AM – Meet with Allison Springer in the Dressage Warm-up
12:30 PM – Meet at the Bit of Britain vendor booth with Max Corcoran & Samantha Henley to discuss Show Turnout
Saturday, April 30, 2016:
11:00 AM – Meet with Max Corcoran and Samantha Henley at the XC vet box
2:00 PM – Meet with Sharon White at XC obstacle #24 abc, Park Question
4:30 PM – PRO’s XC Rider Q & A at the pavilion between the Stonelea and Claiborne rings. (This Pavilion is off Nina Bonnie Blvd. This is near the domestic stabling, and directly across the International stabling).
Sunday, May 1, 2016:
1:00 – Meet with Tamie Smith in the Show Jump Warm-Up
On Friday, Rolex competitor Allison Springer will be available in the dressage warm-up arena to discuss her pre-show rituals, superstitions, and give insight on how she warms up for a CCI4* dressage test. She will also be giving commentary as other riders warm-up, and answer any questions the Event College “students” may have for her. During the lunch break, the prestigious Max Corcoran and Samantha Henley from the Equine Management Training Center will be offering a 20-minute demonstration and discussion on show turnout for horses and riders.
Saturday’s schedule offers three exciting sessions for Event College students, starting with Corcoran and Henley discussing everything that goes on in the vet box after horses’ gallop through the cross-country finish line. They’ll give their professional insight on everything that’s involved with the vet box, and answer any questions attendees may have. CCI4* rider Sharon White will be meeting Event College students at the Park Question (XC jump # 24) and breakdown how the combination rides, offering insight on how each rider may navigate the line with their horses. Sharon will offer insight on how horse and riders may prepare at home for these types of fence questions, and how riders’ handle any discrepancies that may happen while on course. After the cross-country course is complete, the Professional Riders Organization will host a rider Q&A at the pavilion between the Stonelea and Claiborne warm up arenas near stabling. Many of the cross-country riders will be available for interactive dialogue and questions from Event College students. The rider Q&A will essentially be like a ‘press conference for the public.’
On Sunday, CCI4* rider and coach Tamie Smith will break down the show jumping course for attendees, and give commentary as riders warm-up for the final phase of competition. Tamie will share her warm-up techniques, assess the strategies of other riders preparing for the CCI4* show jumping course, and give insight on how she’ll be warming up her students that are competing this weekend at Rolex.
About The Event College
The Event College was created by the USEA and the Professional Horseman’s Council to generate awareness of the sport of Eventing. The College aims to educate spectators, interested parties and the general public on the goals and function of each phase (dressage, cross-country and show jumping) and the complexity and value of the sport. The College also aims to educate young riders, adult amateurs, and all those interested in the sport on horsemanship and different skill sets needed to be involved with Eventing. High profile Eventing experts will act as “professors” and host casual, interactive dialogue with “students” of The Event College. Anyone interested in the sport of Eventing can be a student, and the opportunity is free of charge.
The horses in trainer Joe Davis’ barn at Horseshoe Indianapolis don’t just get standard hay in their nets each day. Throughout the afternoon, Davis or one of his employees opens the HayGain machine that sits at the end of his shed row and pulls out a warm, beautiful-smelling bale of freshly-steamed hay to fill their nets.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Sara Kozumplik’s five-star partner As You Like It at the age of 34. The gelding died in his sleep at his retirement home at Kozumplik's parents' residence.