United States Eventing Association

The USEA is so 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.

In the final USEA Classic Series event of 2022, three horse and rider pairs rode their way to the top of the podium in the Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice 3-Day divisions offered during the Ram Tap Horse Park Horse Trials which took place November 18-20 in Fresno, California.

Nearly 100 horse and rider pairs traveled to Laytsonville, Maryland to compete in the four USEA Classic Series divisions offered at the Waredaca Three-Day Event and Horse Trials held October 21-23, 2022, but only four new Three-Day Champions were crowned. Meet the Champions of the Waredaca Preliminary, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice Three-Day Events!

Professional rider Ashley Kehoe has been eventing since she was 13. The former hunter/jumper rider who got her start at the early age of nine had the opportunity to attend the Radnor Hunt Three-Day event on endurance day and was bitten by the eventing bug.

Three new USEA Classic Series champions were crowned during the Spokane Sport Horse Farm Horse Trials in Spokane, Washington which were held September 29 through October 2nd. Three Classic Series divisions were offered at the Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice levels.

There is still time to experience the long format of three-day eventing this year, by competing in a fall USEA Classic Series Event! The USEA Classic Series offers long-format eventing at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, and Preliminary levels, and there are still a few left on the fall calendar in various Areas.

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!