United States Eventing Association

Bec Braitling is passionate about continuing education in the sport of eventing— not just for riders, but for coaches as well.

A strong frame and foundation and are required to build a healthy horse and home, but did you know that they’re also just as important when it comes to building a healthy mindset? The good news is that everything we experience, from our struggles to our successes, combine together to create a strong mental foundation.

Horse trials are so much more than a competition; they are community events where riders, trainers, organizers, spectators, and volunteers come together to celebrate the sport we all love. Competitors invest countless hours training, preparing, and strategizing, and each event provides invaluable experiences.

2020 was a year of extreme change for the world as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. After enduring lockdowns and restrictions, people’s priorities changed. For some, it was a year of transformation. Adult amateur Susan Hamblen was one of those people, ready to quit riding until she met a young pinto crossbred of unknown breeding in rural eastern Pennsylvania who would change her life.

One of the biggest parts of preparing for your 2025 season includes taking a look at what your horse's end-of-season schedule looks like. USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown sat down with five-star rider Meghan O'Donoghue about how you can plan for your horse's downtime, however that might look for them, to make the most of your upcoming goals.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC) is the annual national championship for every level of the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing. The USEA is officially accepting bids for the following service providers at the 2025 USEA AEC which takes place Aug. 26-31, at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.

The United States Eventing Associations’ (USEA) Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) is pleased to announce the dates and location of the upcoming 2025 USEA ECP Symposium, hosted by Galway Downs. The annual ECP Symposium, which is typically held in the southeast U.S., will be moving West next year to further open the door to education to a wider audience of interested candidates. The symposium will now be hosted on Jan. 14-16, at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.

Last month we discussed flooding and exposure therapy, two techniques that help us overcome things that overwhelm us. While both are very effective, there are two unfortunate problems with them: (1) some of the things that overwhelm us require more practice than we’re able to give while in the saddle (like twice a week) and (2) some of the things that overwhelm us aren’t exactly the kind of things we want to practice (like falling or reacting to a spook).

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. He is quite the athlete!” Such comments are fairly common for Jennifer Skinner to hear about her American Quarter Horse stallion Bullys Legacy (“Diggy”). Eleven years ago Skinner, a professional barrel racing and young horse trainer in Bryan, Texas, welcomed the bay colt into the world—he’d been the culmination of dream bloodlines, bred for a career in her industry.

Group rides are an important tool to include in the education of both riders and horses to give them a well-rounded education, enhance the rider’s skills, and give confidence to both horses and riders. Managed well, group rides also add to the enjoyment of our sport.