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.
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. The team at STRIDER has outlined some ideas for involvement that you may even find align with the 2025 goals you set for yourself and your horse.
One of the best ways eventers can support the growth of the sport is by engaging in educational opportunities. Whether it’s attending clinics, workshops, or online seminars, expanding knowledge about training techniques, horse care, and competition strategy helps raise the standard of the sport. Encourage others to participate in these educational activities, especially newcomers and young riders. Whether it’s by volunteering as jump crew at a clinic or purchasing an auditor ticket, fostering a culture of continuous learning helps elevate the collective skill level and create a more cohesive community.
You can find opportunities to participate in educational opportunities through the USEA, and of course on STRIDER’s calendar of competitions, schooling opportunities, and clinics.
Grassroots initiatives are critical to build a strong foundation for the sport, and eventing enthusiasts can help by supporting and participating in local competitions and educational opportunities. Contributing to fundraising efforts that help keep the sport going, volunteering at local competitions or even mentoring up-and-coming riders are all ways to help sustain the sport.
Many of the top venues and competitions nationwide have active fundraising campaigns in the off-season to help make course improvements or generally support their initiatives. Be sure to also explore how you might be able to volunteer your time either before, during, or after a competition at your favorite venue. Check out your local venue’s website for more information, or simply ask around for how you might be able to help!
Eventers have a unique platform to promote both horse welfare and sustainable practices within the sport. By adopting and advocating for responsible training methods, injury prevention, and proper care, eventers help ensure the long-term health of the horses that make the sport possible. Additionally, supporting sustainable practices—such as minimizing waste at events, encouraging eco-friendly facility practices, and promoting conservation efforts—helps ensure that eventing remains a sport that can continue to thrive for generations.
However you choose to participate, there are countless ways to make a positive impact on the sport. By getting involved at all levels, sharing knowledge, and promoting responsible practices, we can help ensure that eventing not only thrives, but continues to inspire future generations of riders, horses, and fans. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, collaboration, and lasting positive change for the eventing community.
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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.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.
After the success of the first annual USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, members are not going to want to miss the second edition in 2025! Barry and Cyndy Olliff, owners of Stable View, and their team are gearing up for an even bigger and better event in the coming year. If you are a current or prospective member of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or the Interscholastic Eventing League, be sure to block off the weekend of May 3-4, 2025 to attend these exciting Championships.