The Broussard family, through the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust, has announced that for 2020 only, several special educational grants will be available to USEA members. The Trust has made a very generous gift of $25,000 to the USEA Foundation to be awarded to deserving candidates 18 years old and above who are passionate about moving their commitment to the sport forward.
The Going Forward USEA Members Grants will cover three areas:
1. Horsemanship Immersion Program
2. Instructors' Certification Program
3. Eventing Officials “r” Training Program
Are you a rider interested in immersing yourself in an all-encompassing training course with a top coach? Then you will want to apply for the Horsemanship Immersion Program. Have you always wanted to become a certified instructor? Then the grant focused on helping you become ICP certified is for you. The grant for the Eventing Officials “r” Training Program will help all qualified riders who want to get on the first rung of the ladder on their way to becoming an eventing judge or technical delegate.
Candidates must complete a Going Forward USEA Members Grant application, submit references, and participate in an interview with the panel. The grants, a minimum of $5,000 each, will be awarded based on merit.
The USEA Foundation is proud to be working with the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust on this very worthwhile project. The current pandemic might have played havoc with the eventing calendar and the usual grant procedures, resulting in the Rebecca Broussard International and National Developing Riders Grants being impossible to award this year. Still, the Broussard family has not let that prevent them from finding ways to further the education and the eventing careers of USEA Members and our thanks go out to the family for their kindness.
Full details of the three grant types are available here. USEA members in good standing are encouraged to apply for a grant using the online application here.
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.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.