United States Eventing Association

Searching for a new restaurant to try, catching up on the news, or watching funny cat videos? The internet’s where it’s at. But buying a horse, sight unseen, from the web? “I don’t recommend it,” said Jesse Kirchhoff, 43, with a chuckle, remembering how she came to own Wings of a Dove (HB II x Vorbuch 2), a 22-year-old Zweibrücker mare.

It’s common to see a horse trailer trucking along with a sign on the back stating, “Precious Cargo!” or “My best friend is in here!” Traveling long distances to competitions is the norm for many eventers. When traveling between climates, like going from the sandy soil of Aiken, South Carolina, to the rich Kentucky bluegrass, our horses have to adjust to a whole new set of environmental conditions quickly.

While he might have flown under the radar a bit for the first year he was in Will Coleman’s barn, Diabolo is having his breakout year in 2024.

Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.

This month’s VIP Volunteers are a mother and daughter duo who have a unique tradition that started over four decades ago: volunteering at the Kentucky Horse Park together. While both Marjorie “Marji” Hines and her daughter, Robinson Regen, have a pleasure riding background, and Hines used to work cattle with her father on the family farm, they knew very little about eventing when they first started volunteering.

What do a cultural anthropologist and an equestrian have in common? One answer would be Dr. Aubrey Graham. Aubrey went from specializing in humanitarian aid in the Congo to mastering the art of re-training off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) to be the best that they can be.

Aspen Farms Horse Trials and the first part of the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Area VII Championships has concluded with more than $35,000 worth of cash and prizes awarded by show sponsors to top finishers from throughout the region and beyond. The final leg of the USEA Area VII Championships will be for Starter and Modified divisions at Spokane Sport Horse Fall Horse Trials in two weeks.

Eventing can feel a little overwhelming to those new to the sport. It’s unlike any other equestrian sport, with three phases packed to the brim with action and excitement. When you enter a horse trial, you’re likely to interact with a wide variety of support staff, all of whom are there to ensure you have an amazing weekend of competition.

When Alice Sarno was 8 years old, she begged her parents for riding lessons. “All I could do was think about horses,” said Sarno, 75, recalling that they eventually agreed. “They finally gave up on giving me dance lessons and got me horseback riding lessons instead. My mom and dad made a deal thinking I would phase right out of it. But by the next year, I had two more horses.”

The USEA is saddened to report that horsewoman Lefreda Williams died on Aug. 29. She was 87. Williams was a pillar of the North Carolina equestrian community and a founding member of the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina.