The following is provided through a partnership between STRIDER and the USEA. As part of our commitment to diversity, enabling access, and building capacity throughout the industry we are pleased to provide this content to benefit the sport of eventing.
Picture this: you’ve been enjoying schooling all three phases with your horse and your coach. Maybe you’ve even had success at a starter trial or combined test this spring. On the USEA calendar, you spot a recognized horse trial that will be a great first “official” outing for you and your horse. You plan to enter. Now what?
Don’t panic, we’ve got your back. While the team at STRIDER can’t necessarily help with the physical prep required to complete all three phases (though there are clinicians and outings on our platform that might!), we’ve compiled a handy checklist to help you get your ducks in a row before you arrive at check-in.
Map it Out
While much of the entry process is fairly standardized, every organizing entity has slightly different paperwork and documentation requirements from you as a competitor. For example, you may be asked to provide your horse’s vaccine documentation or sign a number of different waivers pertinent to the event you have selected to enter. It’s important to keep your organizer happy by providing them with the information and documentation they need in as streamlined a way as possible.
Do Your Homework
It’s about time to join the USEA! In addition to being a fantastic educational resource, membership is required for riders competing at Beginner Novice and above. Explore the handy chart below to check USEA/ USEF requirements for horse and rider by level.
Be sure to also get familiar with the Rules for Eventing as written and updated by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) in collaboration with USEA. Double-check that your equipment is legal for competition to avoid possible elimination on a technicality!
Some additional resources you may wish to explore include:
While dotting i’s and crossing t’s can seem a bit overwhelming, remember that you are getting out there to have fun with your horse. Consider the competition a way to test the skills and partnership you’ve developed with your horse. Now that the paperwork is out of the way, it’s time to have a great ride!
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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.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.