Jul 28, 2011

Bit of Britain Road To The AEC Blogger Post 8

AS THE ROAD TURNS, SO TURNS THE AEC

The Opening Date for the Nutrena/USEA American Eventing Championships is today…

I do not want to write this post… Nope, I want to stomp, stomp and pound my knees…. I DON’T WANNA WRITE THIS POST. No, no, no… Phew, that felt really good! I believe it was "the Don" who said one should never underestimate the power of a good Diva fit!

You see, on May 16th, I wrote for Bit of Britain’s Blog Series "On the Road to the AEC" eagerly telling the story of why I wanted to go, how I got there and all the silliness involved riding on Eventing’s version of the Double Wide Short Bus (DWSB). ( On the Back Roads Headin’ to the AEC)

Simply, the DWSB’s occupants will not be going to the AEC this year. The driver of this bus (me) took her environmental education to a new level and decided early on course at Groton House Farm Horse Trials to involuntarily dismount in order to hug a tree. Most of you know the details from previous (and prolific) posts (Landmarks vs Obstacles) , it was a simple thing which caused me to break four ribs and a partially collapsed lung requiring an overnight stay in the hospital.

The odd thing is (and I hope my family doesn’t read this) that I’m glad that it was me put on injured reserve for the summer and not Sugar (Fame and Frolic). I am healing and will be back for the Fall. Some of you out there are not that fortunate. Horse injuries are harder on us than our own… for a million different reasons.


My Stall Rest should be completed by August 12th*. I will be back in the game and, like a recovering horse… slow and steady increase in work… I’ll be baaack. I just won’t have what it takes to compete in the American Eventing Championships this year.

Wish me luck qualifying for next year… Til’ then… I’ll be cheering all of you on…

*Actually, if you promise not to tell my family, I’m going to get on Sugar this weekend… just walking but together again…. shhhhhhh….

Interested in becoming a Bit of Britain Road to the AEC Blogger? Check out this post for more details and send your story and photos to [email protected]

May 19, 2025 Interscholastic

USEA Podcast #387: Flashbacks to the USEA Intercollegiate & IEL Eventing Championships

Were you one of the competitors at this year's USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Eventing Championships? Or do you dream of the day that you can participate yourself? Are you just a huge eventing superfan and love seeing young riders of all ages enjoying the sport? No matter where you fall, you will love this week's episode of the USEA Podcast where we chat with a member of the USEA IEL champion team and the president of this year's Intercollegiate Spirit Award winners, the University of Georgia. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it feels like to participate in one of these championships from Olive Dumais and Katlyn Parker.

May 18, 2025 Education

How to Ride the Horse You Thought You Bought

In this excerpt, trainer and educator Anne Buchannan explains bit contact connection and why it matters for true collection and healthy movement.

May 17, 2025 Education

Eventing 101: The Show Secretary is Your New Best Friend. Here’s How to Keep Them Happy

Familiarizing yourself with the key players at each horse trial is an important step to your success at your next competition. One of those important figures is the show secretary. Think of the show secretary as the mastermind behind most of the organizational efforts related to each horse trial. They manage entries, the show schedule, ride times, stabling, and so much more. Without the hard work of the show secretary and their office staff, a horse trial simply would not be able to operate.

May 16, 2025 Officials

USEA Foundation Announces the Janet Briggs Fund for the Continuing Education of Licensed Officials

The USEA Foundation is pleased to announce a new initiative, the Janet Briggs Fund for the Continuing Education of Licensed Officials. Established in memory of Janet Briggs, this fund honors her lifelong dedication to the sport of eventing by supporting the ongoing education and development of eventing licensed officials.

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Official Forage of the USEA

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