US Equestrian (USEF) has announced the selection procedures for the 2020 Olympics taking place in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, July 31 – Monday, August 3, 2020.
According to the official selection procedure documentation, “All athletes and horses wishing to compete on the 2020 Olympic Games Eventing Team must earn a FEI Certificate of Capability between January 1, 2019 and June 2, 2020 by having achieved one qualifying result at a Concours Complet d’Equitation CCI5*-L, or one CCI4*-S AND one CCI4*-L, to be eligible to compete in the Event.” Riders must be born on or before December 31, 2002 and horses must be at least 8 years of age to be eligible to compete.
Qualifying results are defined by the FEI Rules for Eventing section 517 – Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
a) Dressage test: not more than 45 penalty points (or 55%).
b) Cross-country test: A clear round at obstacles (activating a maximum of one frangible device will maintain the MER result on cross-country); Not more than 75 seconds exceeding the optimum time in the cross-country test four-star level competitions and 100 seconds in the case of five-star level competitions.
c) Jumping test: not more than 16 penalties at obstacles.
Horses and riders hoping to be considered for inclusion on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team may complete any of the events included on this list to earn their qualifications. Furthermore, in order to be considered they must complete one of the following selection trials:
All applications to be considered for the U.S. Team must be submitted to the USEF with the $70 fee by February 14, 2020. Click here for application instructions.
The Selectors, in consultation with the Chef d’Equipe and Team Veterinarian, will recommend three athlete/horse combinations, a traveling reserve, and up to the maximum number of alternates no later than June 1, 2020 based on the following:
The riders and horses named to this list will be required to “demonstrate their continued preparation, soundness, and ability” by competing at designated preparation events. These preparation events will be a CCI4*-S, an Advanced horse trial, or Advanced combined test to be held sometime after June 1, 2020.
The “long list” of athletes must be received by April 10, 2020. The declaration of starters will take place on July 30, 2020. The full selection procedures can be viewed here.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the addition of the Modified Rider division beginning at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds. The USEA AEC will move back to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky August 29–September 3, 2023.
Are you interested in competing in the sport of eventing but aren’t quite sure how to get started? Do you have a horse that is looking for a new career? Consider participating in a USEA New Event Horse (NEH) competition in 2023! The USEA NEH Program was created to be an introduction to the sport of eventing for both horse and rider, and the 2023 NEH Calendar is now available here.
Will Coleman had a huge 2022 with his string of horses, including a team silver medal at the FEI World Eventing Championship in Italy on Off The Record and top four-star placings with Chin Tonic HS, but it was Dondante whose consistency paid off to earn the Standlee Premium Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year title.
Julie Murray has loved horses since she could breathe, so when her daughters showed an interest in Pony Club and then eventing, she was thrilled to go along for the ride.
Murray started volunteering at the Fallbrook Pony Club near her home in Fallbrook, California, serving as an intermediate district commissioner.