United States Eventing Association

The recipients of the 2022 Ocala Horse Properties Rebecca Farm Flight Grant were chosen today in a drawing at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Rob and Chris Desino from Ocala Horse Properties and Sarah and Rebecca Broussard from The Event at Rebecca Farm made the selections by randomly choosing miniature airplanes with the applicants’ names on them.

The year 2020 was filled with challenges and obstacles in the sport of eventing. It also allowed for individual reflection, assessment, and evaluation. From this progressive thinking came the evolution of the Going Forward USEA Members Grant. This educational opportunity provided the possibility to transform members’ lives, careers, and horsemanship, along with enriching the sport of eventing.

Did you know that the USEA Foundation currently administers 15 grants and scholarships designed to help event riders reach their goals? From funds used to assist juniors have access to additional training to aiding up-and-coming riders fund international competition to helping adult amateurs gain education, the current grant opportunities offered by the USEA Foundation has something for almost everyone.

In 2021 the team from Ocala Horse Properties, led by Rob and Chris Desino, visited The Event at Rebecca Farm for the first time. In awe of the quality of the event, they felt that the entire eventing community, especially those on the East Coast of the United States, needed to make this event a part of their yearly competition plans. Inspired to take action Ocala Horse Properties announced during the 2021 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention that they would step up to provide two grants to make the trip possible for horse and rider combinations at the CCI4*-L and CCI3*-L levels. Ocala Horse Properties has a long history of supporting and sponsoring three-day eventing, but this is the first time that they have established a grant through the USEA Foundation.

Strides for Equality Equestrians and the USEA Foundation are proud to announce the recipient of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship for winter 2022. The scholarship, which is the first of its kind, is fully funded by Edy Rameika and provides an opportunity for riders from diverse backgrounds to train with Sara Kozumplik-Murphy for two months in Florida. Sierra Lesny is the second recipient of the bi-annual scholarship.

Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) and the USEA Foundation are currently accepting applications for the winter 2022 round of the Ever So Sweet (ESS) scholarship in Ocala, FL. The scholarship period will be two months beginning in January and ending in February/ March. The application deadline is October 15, 2021.

Thanks to the support of Joan Iversen Goswell, the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships were established in 2000 to provide financial assistance to amateurs to pursue their education in eventing. The funds from the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships may be used for training opportunities such as clinics, working student positions, and private or group instruction, or to learn from an official, course designer, technical delegate, judge, veterinarian, or organizer.

The USEA Foundation is now accepting applications for the Essex Horse Trials Grant, the Seema Sonnad Junior Rider's Grant, and the Haller Scholarship for Eventing Officials.

Strides for Equality Equestrians and the United States Eventing Association Foundation are proud to announce the first recipient of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship. The scholarship, which is the first of its kind, provides a fully-funded opportunity for riders from diverse backgrounds to train with upper-level professionals. Helen Casteel of Maryland is the first recipient of the bi-annual scholarship.

2021 will be the last year the Rebecca Broussard International and National Developing Riders’ Grants will be offered. The committee would like to thank Jerome Broussard and the entire Broussard family for supporting these valuable grants for so many years.

Interviews for this year’s International and National Developing Rider’s Grants will be held at The Event at Rebecca Farm and will be limited to riders entered in both the CCI4*-L and the CCI4*-S. For those riders entered, please sign up for your interview at the show office upon arrival. Interviews will take place Tuesday through Thursday before your dressage tests.