United States Eventing Association

The mere mention of the word “equitation” in eventing circles is often met with rolled eyes and raised hackles. No doubt for many eventers the word conjures up images of expensively clothed stick-people with overly arched backs posing as riders on their overly prepped mounts. Those images do not represent what the word describes, nor do those images represent how the discipline of correct and effective equitation has served the great icons of equestrian sports in all three disciplines (Think William Steinkraus, Reiner Klimke, and our own Jim Wofford).

Success at a Classic Three-Day Event requires attention to detail and careful management of many things. Everyone knows how much attention they need to put into conditioning, but often everyday tasks get lost in the excitement of going to a Classic Three-Day Event. A horse’s shoeing should be part of the competitor’s regular schedule, but will it coincide with their Classic Three-Day Event plans? It can be easy to forget and suddenly a competitor is right on top of what might be the most demanding competition them and their horse have attempted.

While exercise off the horse is always useful to improve a rider’s cardio fitness, strength, and flexibility, there’s still no substitute for time spent in the saddle. If you’re looking for some variety in your training and have a safe, reliable horse, longing (also known as lunging) can be a useful tool to improve your seat, strength, and coordination in the saddle.

This month we’re going to talk about a subject you’re likely familiar with and a few others that might just surprise you a bit. We’re going to talk about the growth mindset: the belief that talent can grow with time and experience; that skills are just starting-points that can be enhanced with the right amount of effort and practice.

The Event at Rebecca Farm is known for its stunning venue, energetic atmosphere, its CCI4*-L competition, and its much-loved USEA Classic Series divisions. This year, Rebecca Farm hosted both a Training and Novice Three-Day level, both of which were hotly contested with 27 entries in the Training division and 32 competitors entered in the Novice division.

On July 24, the USEF Board of Directors convened for a special meeting. During the meeting, the Board approved an amendment to the protective headgear certification rule change, which was originally approved during the Mid-Year Board meeting in June.

I love homebred horses. In our Irish Event Programs, national and international, the breeder and breeding is listed. As a commentator, I always commend the breeder. Without the breeder putting the right horses on the ground, we are lost. Breeding is a real labor of love and involves a long wait. I love to see those homebreds getting into the best of hands and this 2-year-old, Redemption Storm, is beautifully handled and produced.

Competing in a long-format three-day event is the ultimate test of preparation, conditioning, stamina, and determination for horse and rider. Recovering your horse from the rigors of a Classic Series Three-Day Event, both during and after the event, is a critical component to your overall success. Recovery is a simple yet complex process that requires a lot of planning and effort from the horse owner, and it doesn’t just begin and end in the vet box on endurance day.

Three new USEA Classic Series champions were crowned during the Summer Coconino HT and Western Underground, Inc. Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice 3-Day Event, held July 7-8 in Flagstaff, Arizona, and in a repeat of 2022, trainer Brittney Caflisch and her student Jaeli Uselding took home two of those wins.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for eventers in Area X (Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada). Riders are gearing up for back-to-back weekends of eventing at the Summer Coconino H.T. I (Jul 1-2) and Summer Coconino H.T. and Western Underground, Inc. Training, Novice, Beginner Novice 3-Day Event on July 6-8 in Flagstaff, Arizona.