Aug 17, 2022

Cadence, Canter, and Candidness Conquer Day Two of Aspen Farms EA21 Regional Clinic

By Olivia Airhart - USEA Staff
Ashley Widmer. USEA/Olivia Airhart Photo

Riders returned to Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington for the final day of the USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) Regional Clinic with USEA Instructor's Certification Program (ICP) Level IV Certified Instructors Rebecca Brown on Tuesday. Coming off of a solid first day focusing primarily on proper flatwork and dressage basics, the twelve young riders took to the outdoor arena for the show jumping portion of the clinic.

Brown, who trained under the legendary show jumper, Joe Fargis right out of college, shed some much needed light on what she called “the most difficult portion” of three day eventing.

“Show jumping is often the most lacking portion. Just keeping the rails up without a plan is not quite good enough. Understanding and being familiar with the history of the American showjumping system is a huge help in being successful in this sport,” stated Brown.

The Advanced level eventer went on to explain that as opposed to the traditional European style of riding which features a deep and heavy seat and hand, the American forward style of riding features a lighter seat. She continued to explain the root of that tradition in the U.S. which dates back to the1960s, 70s, and 80s when the country was developing a solid foundation for the sport and a successful team the riders were primarily competing on Thoroughbreds. Emulating this style works so well for this sport because most people are still eventing with Thoroughbreds or those with Thoroughbred blood and even those that are not can really benefit from what this style of seat brings out in their horse.

There were two main seat positions that the eventers focused on in their lesson:

  1. Two-point
  2. Light seat or three-point


While all of the riders were advanced in their application of the two-point, with a steady lower leg position and centrally balanced seat, they all received individual tweaks to “finesse” their technique to better situate themselves on their mounts in an effort to achieve a more quality jump.

Throughout the three sessions of four riders, Brown adjusted bits, tweaked lower leg positions, corrected closed upper body positions, and heavily emphasized the “square turn” to make sure each rider was approaching the fence straight and balanced - the hallmark of a successful show jumper.

Brown went on to explain that a “great” round in the arena should be boring, meaning that the cadence and rhythm should be so smooth and soothing that it all looks fluid and the same to the point of boring the audience. In attempting to achieve this higher standard of canter and consistency, Brown encouraged the riders to constantly look for that consistent canter rather than for the distance to the jump.

“When you are constantly searching for a distance you are either hitting the gas or slamming on the brake, speeding up or slowing down, and you lose your consistent and steady canter making the jumps harder to find as they are approaching at differing speeds and distances,” Brown noted. She continued stating that instead of honing “your eye” riders should hone their skills with the German Training Scale, which was the primary focus of day one of the clinic.

After the final group concluded their jumping session, the first of the two West Coast EA21 Regional Clinics came to a close as Brown had to jet off to the final EA21 Regional Clinic which is being held at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CaliforniaWednesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 18. Riders reflected on their time with Brown stating it was an incredible experience and they were refreshed to hear a differing perspective and training style from what they usually have at home.

With some riders heading off to college, others gearing up for the upcoming 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, or planning to head south for the winter season, all showcased an extraordinary level of talent and commitment to their horse, their skills, and their future in the sport.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Jun 29, 2024 Education

The Event Rider’s Top 3 Organization Tips for Horse Trials Day

Despite our best plans and organizational efforts, life with horses can very often mean we are cycling through Plans B through Z when we start the day with Plan A in mind. If your summer schedule includes your first horse trials or your hundredth, it’s always helpful to check-in with your own organization methods to stay prepared and ensure competition day runs as smoothly as possible.

Jun 28, 2024 Eventing News

Equestrian Team Apparel to be Bronze Sponsor for 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is pleased to announce Equestrian Team Apparel as a “Bronze Level Sponsor for the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)” taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 27- Sept. 1.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA