Mar 06, 2021

Bonus Episode: When Nicole Met Boyd

By USEA

On this episode of the Equiratings Eventing Podcast, show host Nicole Brown talks to Pan American Games gold medalist and U.S. team stalwart Boyd Martin about his career to date, highs and lows, and coming back from injury.

  • Brown starts by going all the way back to the beginning to discuss how Martin's parents - who were both Olympians as well, although at the winter Olympics - met at the 1968 Winter Olympic Games.
  • Sport is a big part of the national culture in Australia, where Martin was born, and he participated in many different sports including Pony Club. That was how he got started in equestrian sport, and when it came time to make a decision about a career, he decided to pursue a career in sport.
  • Early in his career, while he was still based in Australia, he went to work with Heath Ryan. Martin said that, at that point in his life, having a mentor and trainer helped to set him on the right path.
  • In 2007, after coming to the U.S. to compete at the Kentucky Three-Day Event for the first time, Martin made the decision to move to the States. He had dual citizenship because his mother was American, and while most of his Australian cohort went to England, he decided to take a crack at it in America.
  • When he first moved to the U.S., Martin worked with Phillip Dutton, another Australian event rider whom he had stayed with when he came to compete at Kentucky. Martin observed that Ryan and Dutton couldn't be more different, but that both were phenomenal horsemen and have been great mentors for Martin during his career.
  • In 2011, a devastating barn fire at Martin's farm left six horses dead and several more injured, including Neville Bardos, Martin's 2010 WEG partner. Martin reflected on the time as challenging, but that he knew if he just put his head down and put one foot in front of the other they would come out on the other side. That they did, as Neville Bardos made an astounding recovery to finish seventh at the Burghley Horse Trials later that year.
  • "I married well!" was Martin's response to Brown's question about his family. He talks about how he and his wife, German pure dressage rider Silva Martin, have created a thriving business here in the States.
  • Martin holds the record for the highest number of USEA recognized event runs in a single season (you'll have to listen in to find out how many!), so Brown asks Martin what it's like to manage such a busy schedule. In recent years, Martin acknowledged that he's shifted his focus to quality over quantity for a number of reasons, including how many injuries he's sustained.
  • In fact, Martin had four separate surgeries last year, some of which were the result of injuries but others were to repair long-term wear and tear to his body. Martin sees it as all a part of the price he pays to be an elite athlete - it's all part of the game.
  • Having competed at Pan American Games, Olympic Games, and World Equestrian Games, Brown asks Martin what's left on the bucket list for his career. As a competitor, Martin said he's going to keep striving to be better - not just looking to compete, but looking to win.
  • Martin wraps up the episode with some tidbits about what's to come for some of the different horses in his barn, from his 2019 Pan American Games partner Tsetserleg to one of his up-and-comers, Luke 140.
Apr 23, 2025 Competitions

The 2025 K3DE Daily: First Horse Inspection

It's the most wonderful time of the year—and we aren't talking about the holiday season. Welcome to 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) week! This week the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, will be crawling with eventing lovers from all across the globe for the first five-star of the 2025 season and the USEA is excited to once again be onsite for all of the action.

Apr 22, 2025 News

In Memoriam: Dr. Timothy Holekamp (1946-2025)

The USEA is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dr. Timothy “Tim” Holekamp on April 19. He was 79.

Apr 22, 2025

Shop New USEA Merchandise at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

While we all attend the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event for the competition, the next best thing about the event is definitely the shopping! The USEA is excited to be back on-site at the Kentucky Horse Park for the competition this year and to debut some all-new apparel items for the 2025 season. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect to see at our booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, this year.

Apr 22, 2025 Competitions

Fast Facts: 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

They don't call it the "Best Weekend All Year" for no reason! If you love the sport of eventing (or just horses in general) the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is most likely a staple on your calendar or a must-see on your bucket list. This week, thousands of eventing lovers will flock to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, for one of two U.S.-based five-stars that takes place each year, as well as top-shelf CCI4*-S competition and two nights of spectacular show jumping.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shock Wave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA