Have you thanked your competition management team lately? Here’s your spring season reminder to do just that! Whether you’ll be debuting in the Starter division or cruising around at Advanced, competition management has a lot of moving parts to manage that will ensure a great experience for you and your horse. Keep your competition management team happy and help support the future of eventing with these quick tips from STRIDER.
Do you want to break into the world of providing eventing commentary at events or brush up on your already-acquired skills? Legendary equestrian commentator John Kyle, who has been "the voice" of the Kentucky Three-Day Event live stream since 2014, has provided commentary for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and is contracted to provide his services during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and so much more.
What started as an opportunity to gain feedback from participants in an Adult Rider Camp, turned into something so much more and USEA Area VI Adult Rider Coordinator Sharl Talan is eager to share all that she gleaned from the experience with coaches and adult riders across the country.
Gretchen Butts grew up in the long-format era of eventing in the 1970s, completing the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2003 and 2004 and finishing one of the last long-format Burghley Horse Trials (England) in 2004 on her beloved Zydeco.
One of the best thing about our sport is that we all get to share it with the people who mean the most to us. Our friends and family have an open-ended invitation to watch our classes, clinics, and competitions; and our trainers, grooms, horse owners, and barn-mates are permanent fixtures at our most meaningful and memorable events.
For the past couple of years I’ve been moving through a confusing and disconcerting season of my career. I’ve spent my whole life fit (unless injured) and extremely active competing and training horses. A couple of years ago that all started to change with the slow onset of an illness that has taken away a lot of my ability to compete or ride at any level effectively.
It’s a while since we’ve engaged so it’s possibly a good time to press the "refresh" button! As the title suggests, good conformation can assist good soundness and, therefore, good longevity which is obviously in the best interests of both equine and human partners.
Many years ago, I composed a document for my students called “The Building Blocks for Learning to Ride.” It covered the progressive stages of learning to ride, from sitting on a horse and holding the reins for the first time to jumping cavalletti and preparing for course work. Each step was numbered. I wrote it so that any student of mine who found themselves stuck, in a rut, or regressing could find where they were on this “Building Block” roadmap and then work backward through the previous blocks to see where they might have missed a step or needed to reconfirm a skill.
We’re just about one week away from the official start of spring. For many eventers, signs of spring mean it’s time to venture off the farm for cross-country schooling, educational activities, and/or schooling shows. These outings are invaluable as they enable horses and riders to practice their skills in a supportive environment and foster a positive experience. The team at STRIDER is here with five tips to help you make the most of your spring outings.
As eventers, the health and happiness of our horses is key. USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown chats with Board-Certified Equine Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Amy Polkes about your horse's heart health, common cardiac issues you should be aware of, and ways to best ensure that your horse has the healthiest heart possible!
As most eventers know, the key to success in the show ring often lies in the preparation done beforehand. For the cross-country phase, memorizing your course and having a plan is a given, but another key factor to consider is choosing the appropriate studs for your horse. If you're new to the sport, the concept of studs might seem a little overwhelming, but former USEA President and current co-chair of the USEA Grooms Committee Max Corcoran broke down all of the basics that you need to know when putting together your stud kit for the first time or before packing up for your first show of the 2024 season.