United States Eventing Association

5 Ways to Support Your Local Events This Season

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.

Eventing brings people together. Both in the barn aisle and out at schooling or recognized competitions, the eventing community is a large, enthusiastic, and cohesive group. From the grassroots to the very top levels of the sport, events across USEA regions need support. Whether or not you intend to compete this season, check out team STRIDER’s top 5 ways to support events near you.

Volunteer

Offer up your time. Events rely heavily on volunteers to assist with various tasks such as course setup, jump judging, hospitality, parking, and more. Volunteering your time not only helps the event run smoothly but also fosters a sense of community within the sport. Whether you have experience in eventing or are new to the sport, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved. Even if you can’t be hands-on during the day(s) of the event, you might be able to support in an organizational capacity or pitch in with event set-up or breakdown.

Sponsor

Whether they’re schooling or recognized, events can be incredibly costly for management teams and host facilities. Supporting events through sponsorship can provide much-needed financial assistance to organizers and help offset the costs associated with hosting competitions. Sponsors can contribute funds, products, services, or in-kind donations in exchange for recognition and exposure at the event. Sponsoring an event is also a great way for businesses to reach their target audience within the equestrian community.

Participate

The numbers matter! If you and your horse are able to enter, give it a go! Safety first, of course, but get out there, and enjoy the ride. If you're not competing, attending events as a spectator can help to create a vibrant atmosphere and demonstrate support for the sport. Cheer on your friends and fellow competitors, enjoy the excitement of the competition, and take advantage of opportunities to learn and network within the eventing community. Attendance helps showcase the sport to non-horsey spectators (who may be future participants) and potential sponsors.

Spread the Word

Let folks know about local events coming up. Help spread the word by sharing a post on social media, forwarding an email, or texting a friend some details about the event. These are low-effort (and low-cost!) ways to help your local eventing community.

Provide Feedback

Providing constructive feedback and suggestions to event organizers can help improve the quality of future events. Whether it's sharing your thoughts on course design, facilities, scheduling, or other aspects of the event, your input can be invaluable in shaping the future of eventing competitions.

Whatever support for your local event(s) may look like, it is vital for the sustainability and growth of equestrian sport as well as our eventing community. Have a great season!

STRIDER is the leading entry platform across disciplines for the equestrian industry.

From enabling riders to discover and book the perfect opportunity to helping equestrians across the industry grow and run their businesses, STRIDER fosters connections to top-tier experiences. Please visit www.striderpro.com to learn more about the suite of software products and services available.

Connect with STRIDER on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.