United States Eventing Association

The horses in trainer Joe Davis’ barn at Horseshoe Indianapolis don’t just get standard hay in their nets each day. Throughout the afternoon, Davis or one of his employees opens the HayGain machine that sits at the end of his shed row and pulls out a warm, beautiful-smelling bale of freshly-steamed hay to fill their nets.

Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.

The 2024 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) National Camp is just a little over a month away and all over the country, young riders are preparing for their trip to Ocala, Florida, to participate in this year's prestigious week-long academy led by U.S. eventing legend David O'Connor. This year's camp takes place Dec. 31, 2024, through Jan. 4, 2025, and will feature classroom sessions, guest lecturers, and in the saddle work as a group to help strengthen the foundation of each rider selected to participate.

Bringing along a young horse is such a special process for everyone involved. The USEA is excited to dedicate an episode to celebrating some of the special young horses in the United States that have risen to the occasion. Joining USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown in this episode are Tommy Greengard, the rider and co-owner of this year's Holekamp/Turner Grant Recipient That's Me Z who represented the U.S. at Le Lion this year, and Kaylawna Smith-Cook, who piloted Bonner Carpenter's Only-Else to the highest national score in the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championships.

Cornelia Fletcher (USA) and Daytona Beach 8 were the only pair to jump double clear in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova, claiming the win with a final score of 41.4 penalties.

Only two horse and rider combinations finished within the time allowed in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L Saturday at The Event at TerraNova. Canadian Jessica Phoenix on her 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare Fluorescent Adolescent (Gaudi x Amelia II) made a huge leap from 14th place after dressage to take the lead on 39.1 penalties.

Mia Farley and Invictus, owned by Karen O’Connor, took the lead in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova at the completion of the dressage phase with 27.9 penalties, followed by Olivia Dutton on Sea of Clouds (29.5). Overnight leader Lauren Nicholson is now in third place with Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z (30.4).

Every now and then, a video goes viral on social media of a rider heroically going around a show jumping or cross-country course with one, or no, stirrups. There’s a great one of Mark Todd going around Badminton with a broken stirrup, and you just wonder how on earth a course that difficult could be jumped like that—because it’s hard enough with two stirrups!

The final CCI4*-L of the 2024 season got underway this morning at The Event at TerraNova in Myakka City, Florida, and will run through Sunday, offering not only the feature CCI4*-L division, but also competition at the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI1*-L, Preliminary, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice, and Starter levels. Get to know the CCI4*-L field and the competition details a bit more in this final edition of the USEA's Fast Facts.

On this Veteran's Day, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and honor members of our USEA family who have previously served or are actively serving in the various branches of our U.S. military. Meet some of them below and please join us in thanking them for their service.