PODCAST: 21-Year-Old Madeline Backus Receives $45,000 Wilton Fair Grant

Dec 29, 2017

PODCAST: 21-Year-Old Madeline Backus Receives $45,000 Wilton Fair Grant

The USEA Foundation offers several different grants and scholarships, all designed to assist event riders in reaching their goals. Grant funds are designed to be used for coaching, training, and competing in the pursuit of advancing skills of horse and rider, some with the ultimate goal of representing the United States in international competition. USEA Chief Development Officer Jo Whitehouse joins us on the program this week to describe the different grants and explain the important work that is accomplished by the Foundation.

New this year is the Wilton Fair Grant. David and Cheryl Lenaburg made a very generous donation of one million dollars in memory of their great event horse Wilton Fair, and the fund allows for up to $100,000 each year to be awarded for a variety of educational opportunities for riders 29 and under who have not yet ridden for a senior team.

This year, Madeline Backus was the recipient of both the $10,000 Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant as well as $45,000 for the Wilton Fair Grant. Get to know about this talented 21-year-old rider, her string of horses, and her plans for 2018.

In the spirit of the season, we hope you will consider making a donation to the USEA Foundation before the new tax laws go into effect in 2018! Your gift will go a long way towards supporting the efforts of the Foundation as they work to make improvements within our sport and support riders as they strive to reach their goals.

Dec 23, 2024 Education

Saddle Fit Simplified

Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?

Dec 22, 2024 USEA Foundation

Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant

Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!

Dec 21, 2024 Education

3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025

With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.

Dec 20, 2024 Sponsor

“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.