Tune in this week to hear from some of the winners from the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena® Feeds!
Winners of the 2018 USEA AEC Junior/Young Rider Open Preliminary division Madelyn Floyd and Clementine (Carrico x La Belle), her own 9-year-old Hanoverian mare, join us first to talk about the journey they have taken together to reach this level, how their partnership got started and how it has developed over time. Madelyn also shares how they prepared to compete at the AEC and their plans for the remainder of the season.
Erin Contino and her own Handsome Ransom (Desert Warrior x St. Casmir’s Secret), a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, were the winners of the 2018 USEA AEC Novice Amateur Championship. Contino talks about how her weekend went with Handsome Ransom, what she took away from the experience of competing at the Championships and the strong season the pair have had, and what she plans to do next with her young mount.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum (Loredano x Ramira), Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell’s 12-year-old German Sport Horse gelding, took home the top prize in the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Final after a three-year hiatus from the level. Smith discusses Mai Baum’s comeback after the injury he sustained, how he felt during the competition, what it has been like to have him back competing at the highest level of the sport, and what’s coming up next for Mai Baum.
Finally, Phoebe Manders, owner of RF Scandalous, joins us on the program to complete our FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Preview series. Manders talks about her relationship with Kitty and what it’s like to be the owner of a team horse. She shares with us how she became involved in eventing horse ownership and what she most enjoys about being involved in the sport.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.