United States Eventing Association

The Fair Hill International April H.T. and CCI-S is back from April 9-11, 2021 after a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 shut down last year and with the calendar roll, it is two weeks before the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event – making it an ideal prep. The venue in Elkton, Maryland is hosting four USEA recognized events this year including the inaugural Maryland 5 Star this October.

The Twin Rivers Spring International Three-Day Event in Paso Robles, California was awarded a CCI4*-L to join their already robust schedule of divisions in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the delay of the new level until 2021. Five pairs will be contesting the inaugural CCI4*-L from April 8-11, 2021 looking for their chance to win the McKinlaigh Cup and their chunk of $5,000 in prize money.

The very first Fork Horse Trials was supposed to be held in April of 2002, but the event was rained out and didn’t debut until the next year. The Fork went on to run every April since 2003 except for in 2020 when the event was forced to be canceled due to COVID-19. While The Fork was originally held at Jim and Bernadette Cogdell’s farm in Norwood, N.C., this will be the fourth year that it is run at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, N.C.

The inaugural Stable View Spring FEI CCI-S 1*/2*/3*/4* and Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge Horse Trials in Aiken, S.C. ended with all four divisions running cross-country over courses designed by Mogie Bearden-Muller and Captain Mark Phillips. However, cross-country didn't cause any problems for the overnight leaders, and all four who were at the top of the leaderboard after show jumping stayed that way following cross-country.

A closing date isn’t until two weeks before an event. That gives organizers almost no time to put together schedules, hire enough officials, make sure there is enough available stabling, food vendors, and more. On the flip side, if there are not enough entries then organizers may not be able to cover their costs.

As competitors rise through the levels, they often see the costs associated with competition rise and, unfortunately for most organizers, this can’t be avoided. With fewer competitors requiring more jumps, officials, footing management, etc., the expenses for running higher levels – especially FEI – are greater than lower levels.

Following feedback from our membership to the rule change proposal for the USEF Rules For Eventing: Appendix 3 – Participation In Horse Trials, the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors voted to modify the rule change proposal, but still to recommend the establishment of rider licenses and increase Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) to the regulating authority of the sport US Equestrian (USEF).

The USEA is very sad to share the news that Susanne W. Hershey passed away at her home in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on February 18, 2021, following a long illness. Sue was instrumental in starting the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) and contributed greatly to the Association.

The USEA recognizes more than 245 events across 36 states 12 months of the year and each one of those event organizers provides an outlet that enables amateurs to reach competitive goals; professionals to make a livelihood; horses to gain qualifications; and riders from every walk of life to experience the joy of eventing.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the formation of a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and a new partnership between the USEA Foundation and Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE).