Every horse who participated this year in the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program has a story—a background that involves a breeder who labored over bloodlines, veterinary care, initial training, and so much more. This year’s highest-placing U.S.-bred horse in the 5-year-old division at the Dutta Corp./USEA Young Event Horse Championships, Arden Augustus, is no exception. His breeder and owner, Anita Antenucci of Arden Farms in Upperville, Virginia, started her program nine years ago and said that the Warmblood gelding was a more emotionally driven breeding for her than others due to his connections with Antenucci’s long-time friend Sharon White.
Have you ever wondered why professional riders love bringing their horses through the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program? USEA Podcast host Nicole Brown chats with two of this year's YEH Champions, Caroline Pamukcu who won the USEA YEH 4-year-old East Coast Championship aboard HSH Afterglow, and Andrea Baxter who won the USEA YEH 5-year-old Championship with Camelot PJ, to discuss this year's Championships and all of the great things that the program has to offer.
The USEA is incredibly proud to allow the thrill of the 'chase to live on for those who want to experience the unforgettable rush of the classic long format three-day event through our USEA Classic Series events. Long-format events from the Beginner Novice to Preliminary levels are still a reality with the USEA Classic Series and include roads and tracks, steeplechase, and cross-country on "endurance day," as well as horse inspections. In addition, educational activities are offered at the USEA Classic Series Events to help prepare competitors, especially those who are contesting their first-ever long format event.
The Ram Tap Horse Park Horse Trials hosted the final USEA Classic Series Event of the year this past weekend in Fresno, California. The event offered three traditional long-format divisions at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels. Meet the final USEA Classic Series champions of 2024 below.
Joan Harper didn’t get her chance to shine in the saddle until she was in her 50s. A lifelong horse lover, Harper trail rode and played around at a few 4-H horse shows in her younger years, but after her daughter was introduced to Pony Club, Harper started soaking up everything she could about the sport, eventually becoming a prominent face in the North Carolina eventing community as a top-tier volunteer and course decorator.
Each year the USEA opens up the opportunity for membership to weigh in on rule change proposals applicable to the sport of eventing and now is the time for our membership to weigh in on rule change proposals for the 2025 competition year.
As the curtains on the 2023 competition season begins to close, the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) is looking back on a successful year of Interscholastic Team Challenges with bright eyes as the inaugural IEL Championship approaches in 2024. The IEL, which will soon be open to USEA Members in the extended age range of 5th through 12th grade, has had a strong summer and fall season of team challenges that brought eventers from across the Areas together to compete and no doubt gave them invaluable experience as they prepare for the first ever program Championship at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, next spring.
The Event at TerraNova in Myakka City, Florida, might be the new “start” of the winter eventing season in Florida as many eventers slowly begin their retreats to warmer climates for the next few months. This weekend’s event, which starts on Nov. 17 and runs through Nov. 20, features competition at the following levels: Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced, CCI1*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-L.
After winning the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast 5-year-old Championship in 2021 and being the highest-placed 5-year-old on both coasts that year, Corwin Sport Horses, LLC's Hanoverian mare Gina (Gentleman x Ballerina) was a shoo-in for this year's Holekamp/Turner Grant to represent the U.S. at the 2023 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships in the 7-year-old championship. Talley and Gina earned their qualifications to compete at the prestigious event held in Le Lion d’Angers, France, early on, solidifying their spot as this year's grant recipients. Despite an unfortunate cross-country flag ruling that prevented the duo from completing the event, Gina showed all of the talent and will to succeed over the two phases that could be expected from this future bright star of the sport.
The Area V Championships wrapped up on Nov. 4-5 at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas.
The first part of the Championships was held from Sept. 23-24 at Meadowcreek Park Fall Horse Trials in Kosse, Texas. Meet the newest champions below!
The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs featured an action-packed weekend with multiple championships, including the USEA Area VI Championships. In total, 11 USEA recognized championship divisions were offered with the addition of two championships at the Starter level. Get to know the 11 horse and rider pairs who rose to the occasion Nov. 3-5 in Temecula, California, a bit better below.