Applications for the 2020 Adequan® USEF Futures Team Challenge are open beginning on August 3. The Futures Team Challenge, part of USEF’s Eventing Pathway Program, was established in 2019 to prepare future senior team athletes by providing an opportunity to experience competing as part of a team and working with the U.S. team coaches. All eventing athletes are invited to apply.
The competitions will take place as part of the Plantation Field International CCI3*-S/CCI4*-S, September 17-20, 2020, and the Galway Downs International CCI3*-L/CCI4*-L, October 29-November 1, 2020. Applications for Plantation Field close on August 24 and applications for Galway Downs close October 5.
Selection is based on applicants’ results, potential, willingness to learn, and commitment to developing into a future team athlete. Selection will follow the selection criteria used for Nations Cup competitions as a guideline.
“With the break from competition, the athletes have been working hard on improving, and it should be a great experience,” says Law. “This will be one of the few team experiences available to athletes this year, and we look forward to having a strong group of applicants.”
Selected athletes will participate in a two-day training camp in preparation for the simulated team competitions. The training camp will provide athletes with the opportunity to learn the expectations of being a team rider, including preparing for and operating at a team event. Athletes will receive dressage test ride reviews and show jumping practice. U.S. Performance Director Erik Duvander and U.S. Developing Coach Leslie Law will coach and serve as Chef d’Equipe for the two teams.
“The Futures Team Challenge will be the most exciting thing that has happened all year!” says Duvander. “I am looking forward to coaching teams at Plantation Field and Galway Downs and encourage athletes to put their names forward. We are also grateful to Adequan for stepping up as the title sponsor. Thank you to Allyn Mann and the team at Adequan for their support.”
Learn more at https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/eventing/usef-north-american-futures-team.
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.