The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana) is renowned amongst members of the eventing community for its exceptional competition venue, genuine hospitality, and stunning backdrops. The Broussard Family Charitable Foundation and USEA Foundation are excited to share that travel grants to this iconic venue are returning once again for 2024 to assist riders traveling to Montana to compete in the CCI3* and CCI4* divisions at this year’s competition which takes place July 17-21.
The Event at Rebecca Farm travel grants are one of three types of Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants offered each year thanks to the generosity of the Broussard Family Charitable Foundation and administration of the USEA Foundation. To apply, please submit a Travel Grant Application to the USEA Foundation by June 1.
Since the inception of these Travel Grants in 2011, over $193,718 has been awarded to help offset expenses related to competing at Rebecca Farm as riders pursue their eventing dreams of representing the U.S. at international competition.
These grants are available to any rider of any age who is successfully competing at the CCI3* or higher levels and has not already represented the U.S. at the Olympics, World Championships, or Pan American Games.
New for 2024: While in the past all Travel Grant recipients were expected to sit for an interview with the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants Committee during the course of The Event at Rebecca Farm, the success of the program and resultant expansion of the pool of applicants have rendered such a universal interview procedure impractical.
Accordingly, starting in 2024 there will no longer be an expectation that all applicants must sign up to be interviewed; instead, the Grant Committee may, at its discretion, choose to invite certain applicants to sit for interviews during the event. Such invitations to interview will be conveyed by email, text, or phone communications directed to the applicants.
About the USEA Foundation
The fundamental mission of the USEA Foundation is to protect and preserve the sport of eventing for future generations and to provide support for the core educational, safety, and equine welfare programs of the USEA. In addition, the Foundation administers educational grants for riders with the intent of preparing them to reach their goals. Learn more about the USEA Foundation at www.useafoundation.org.
We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.
The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!
Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.
Day 3 of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium at Galway Downs was all about correct cross-country position after an informative discussion from sports psychologist Natalie Hummel.