Apr 01, 2018

A Letter From PHC Chair Matt Brown

Matt Brown and BCF Belicoso show jumping under the lights at the 2017 USEA American Eventing Championships Advanced Gold Cup Final. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

As the incoming chair of the Professional Horseman’s Council, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and the Council and talk about what some of our goals are for the upcoming season.

Equestrian sport has served to inspire my life and career since I was able to say the word "horse." Eventing in particular captured my imagination with the bravery, athleticism, and horsemanship that I saw in the horses and riders galloping cross-country. I truly believe that eventing represents the best in equestrian sports; partnership, teamwork, comradery, toughness, boldness, freedom, grit.

It is with this passion for our sport and a belief that we can evolve into a safer modern sport, while still maintaining our foundational principles, that the PHC will work to help ensure the sport of eventing will continue to thrive well into the future.

Our Mission

The Professional Horseman’s Council is composed of active members of the USEA who are professionals in all aspects of the sport of eventing. The purpose of the council is to facilitate communication between professionals and the eventing community, including the governing body, officials, organizers, and competitors and to assist in the further development, growth, and safety of our sport.

Who We Are

  • Matt Brown, Chair
  • Angela Bowles
  • Max Corcoran
  • Robert Kellerhouse
  • Lauren Kieffer
  • Heather Morris
  • Karen O'Connor
  • Tamra Smith
  • Travers Schick

What We Are Working On

  • Continuing to discuss safety including; fence construction, course design, footing, flagging, etc.
  • Footing. Experimenting with ways to objectivity evaluate and grade footing at eventing venues so riders can know what to expect for the competition.
  • Facilitating communication between competitors and stewards to maintain calm and well-run warmup areas.
  • Outreach. We will be working on reaching out to competitors, organizers, and Area Coucil members to see where the PHC could be helpful in fulfilling their needs.

As professionals within the sport of eventing we understand that our sport depends on the participation of amateurs, young riders and professionals in order to have a healthy, vibrant and growing sport. We will be working on outreach in order to lend support to causes that are important to the sport as a whole and which effect riders at all levels.

Unlike other mainstream sports which are spectator based, our sport is participant driven. It is truly OUR sport, so it is important to grow the number of participants and for participants of all types from lower level amateurs and young riders to high performance riders, course designers, organizers, and other professionals to be invested in the sport and in each other and together continue developing and enjoying the sport we all love.

I encourage anyone with ideas, thoughts, or comments to reach out to any of the PHC members. I can personally be reached at [email protected].

See you all on cross-country!

Matt Brown, PHC Chair

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Weekend Quick Links: May 24-25

Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.

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Three Months Until the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships at Galway Downs

The 2025 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is just over three months away, which means it is time to start planning your trip to Temecula, California! This year, the AEC will be on a Western rotation to the ever-popular Galway Downs, which is a staple on the Area VI calendar each year.

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USEF Announces Host of the 2026-2027 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships

The U.S. Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce that the Maryland International and Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland, has been chosen as the host of the 2026-2027 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships (CCIJ1*-Intro, CCIYJ2*-S, CCIU253*-S). The championships will be held on June 25-28, 2026, and June 24-27, 2027.

May 20, 2025

ECP Coach Ashley Johnson: Better Coaching for a Brighter Future

What makes a trainer qualified to coach? Could it be a master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University? A career as a five-star event rider? Being an ‘A’ rated Pony Club graduate? Getting your license as a U.S. Equestrian Federation ‘R’ judge and technical delegate for eventing?

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