The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to announce Bates Saddles has returned as the “Official Saddle of the USEA,” as well as a “Platinum Sponsor of the USEA American Eventing Championships” (and Preliminary division sponsor), “Silver Sponsor of the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention,” “Contributing Sponsor of the Young Event Horse Series,” “Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Team Championships,” “Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Classic Series,” “Title Sponsor of the USEA Lady Rider of the Year,” and “Title Sponsor of USEA Mare of the Year Leaderboard.”
"As we celebrate our 90th year, Bates Saddles is thrilled to continue our partnership with the USEA American Eventing Championships. We're honored to support riders at every level, from Starter to Advanced as they showcase their skills at this prestigious event. Our team looks forward to cheering on competitors and meeting eventing enthusiasts at our booth. We're proud to equip many riders with our high-performance saddles and to contribute over 150 prize packs to the event annually. The AEC truly embodies the spirit of eventing, and we're excited to play a part in recognizing the achievements of these dedicated athletes and their horses,” said Erin Kenworthy, Bates Head of Marketing and Technology.
Bates Saddles, a long-standing Australian saddle and tack manufacturer, was founded in 1934 in Perth, Western Australia. They have since grown into a global brand and can be found in 36 countries worldwide. Specializing in innovative saddles for both the horse and rider, Bates saddles are known for their adjustability, durability, and comfort.
“We at the USEA are very pleased Bates has returned for another five years as our Official Saddle,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “Bates has been a popular brand in eventing for many years, and that is a testament to their quality and innovation. Many of our members ride in Bates saddles, and I encourage anyone to try riding in a Bates. We have been fortunate to work with them for the last five years and are thankful for their continued support for these next five years!”
Bates makes both dressage, jump, and all-purpose saddles, as well as Australian stock saddles. They also have an extensive collection of tack and accessories for the horse and rider. Endorsed by many top event riders, Bates saddles are the essence of cutting-edge technology with classic style. Visit their website to learn more: http://batessaddles.us
About the United States Eventing Association
The USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization committed to providing eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skills. By assisting and educating competitors, event organizers, and officials; maintaining responsible safety standards; and registering qualified competitions and clinics, the USEA offers a strong and continuous training opportunity for an ever-expanding field of world-class competitors. Just as importantly, the USEA provides a means for all riders, regardless of age or ability, to experience the thrill of eventing. To learn more, visit www.useventing.com.
Riders in both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L are sharing similar sentiments about this year's cross-country courses: course designer Derek di Grazia didn't play around this year. Here is what some of the riders across both divisions had to say about the tracks they will aim to conquer on Saturday.
Off The Record decided not to let Michael Jung be the only record-breaking entry at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this week and delivered a career-best score in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S on Friday morning. He and Will Coleman delivered a test that received a score of 21.8, not only marking a personal best for the horse but also securing their position at the top of the leaderboard going into cross-country tomorrow.
Boyd Martin and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3 were the last pair to go in the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L field on Friday afternoon and were warmly greeted to the bluegrass with an impressive downpour that outshined anything the other horse and rider pairs had to combat throughout the day. But that didn’t stop this pair from putting their best foot forward and impressing the judges enough to earn them a score of 26.0, just 0.2 points ahead of second-place pair Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality.
Please always remain vigilant when it comes to sending any personal communications via email or text. Every year we receive reports of members and leaders of our sport receiving phishing attempts both online and by phone. These are often communications disguised as being sent from USEA staff or other leaders. As the years go on, the phishing attempts appear to be more directed and tailored.