United States Eventing Association

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to compete in a traditional long format Three-Day Event? Can you imagine the thrill of three additional phases leading into cross-country? In the early 2000s, eventing began to shift away from long format events and toward modern short-format competitions. Not all is lost though! The United States Eventing Association (USEA) created the USEA Classic Series to give riders a taste of the old school experience. These competitions preserve eventing’s history and allow riders at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels to take on the challenge of traditional long format events.

The Event at Rebecca Farm, which took place July 20 -24, was host to the third USEA Classic Series event of 2022, offering both Training Three-Day (T3D) and Novice Three-Day (N3D) divisions. Traveling from Wilton, California, it was Marissa Nielsen who emerged victorious in the T3D with Black DiAmond Partner’s 6-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Ozzie (Well Done x Zina), while the Kirkland, Washington native, Raquel Egdes brought home the win in the N3D aboard her own 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Ardeo Refined (Numero Cruise x Mountain Beauty).

The Summer Coconino Horse Trials took place in Flagstaff, Arizona on July 8-10, 2022, and featured two USEA Classic Series divisions held at the Beginner Novice and Novice levels. It was the trainer/student duo of Brittany Caflisch and Jaeli Uselding of Amarillo, Texas who brought home the win in their respective divisions, making their USEA Classic Series experience even more special.

There are so many things to love about the USEA Classic Series: the way the conditioning and preparation strengthens your bond with your horse, the educational opportunities to enhance your skills as a rider, and, of course, your chance to experience the rush of the classic long format three-day event. There are eight Classic Series events taking place across the U.S. in the 2022 season and they are a great goal for many horse and rider pairs to work towards. Featuring the traditional long-format phases of roads and tracks and steeplechase in addition to the three regular phases of a horse trial, a USEA Classic Series event puts partnerships to the ultimate test. For riders who have already ticked off completing a long-format event from their bucket list, looking back on the thrill of steeplechase before heading out on cross-country often comes with fond memories. Check out what these USEA riders had to say about their favorite steeplechase moments!

Join USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown as she chats with technical delegate, judge, steward, instructor, USEA committee and task-force member, and all-around eventing extraordinaire Gretchen Butts about the proper preparations to set you up for success when aiming for a USEA Classic Series event.

The first USEA Classic Series competition of the year kicked off on June 3, 2022, at the IEA Horse Trials in Edinburgh, Indiana. Offering both Novice and Training level divisions of the classic three-day format, the IEA Classic Series event is a staple in the midwestern eventing calendar since it hosted its first Classic Series event in 2009 at the Training level.

The USEA Classic Series offers the long format of three-day eventing at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary level. It’s a fan favorite among adult amateur and junior members who want to experience the thrill of steeplechase but, it can also be beneficial to professionals as well.

A USEA Classic Series Event is the perfect way to cap off a successful season. For a first-time classic-format competitor, the prospect of competing can be daunting. However, with a few pointers and tips, they can be easy to navigate.

Lovers of the USEA Classic Series gathered together at the 2021 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention for an open forum, hosted by Waredaca’s Event Organizer and Chair of the USEA Classic Three-Day Task Force, Gretchen Butts. Butts opened up the session with a mission in mind: to facilitate an open conversation surrounding the long format and how to preserve it's role as an educational competition and long-term goal for eventers across the country.

Experience the long format of three-day eventing by competing in a USEA Classic Series Event! The USEA is pleased to announce that the 2022 Classic Series calendar is now available. This year there will be 20 Classic Series divisions offered at Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels. While the majority of the Classic Series events take place in the fall, the first one on the 2022 calendar is in Area VIII at the Indiana Eventing Association on June 3-5, 2022.