The USEA is honored to carry forward the legacy of the traditional long-format, three-day event through the USEA Classic Series. These events celebrate the roots of our sport, offering riders a chance to step back in time and experience the original format that shaped the sport we enjoy today. From the excitement of steeplechase to the strategic demands of roads and tracks, endurance day serves as a true test of the preparation and partnership between horse and rider. In addition, horse inspections and educational opportunities add to the depth of these competitions, making them an unforgettable milestone, particularly for those experiencing the long-format for the first time.
In 2024, the USEA Classic Series continues to thrive, with 21 divisions offered from the Beginner Novice to Preliminary levels across seven events held from coast to coast. In celebration of a successful conclusion to the 2024 USEA Classic Series, we wanted to take a moment to recognize this year's champions once more.
Indiana Eventing Association (IEA) H.T. | May 31 – June 2, 2024 | Edinburgh, IN (Area VIII)
Bonnie Coulter rode her own 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Network News (Kitten’s Joy x Roja) to the win in the Training Three-Day division.
In the Novice Three-Day, Claire Rigney and her own 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cobra King (Cobra x Highland Destiny) led the division from start to finish to bring home the win.
Young rider Josie Jacobs was victorious in the Beginner Novice Three-Day aboard her own 14-year-old Welsh/Hanoverian gelding Junior Mint.
Summer Coconino H.T. and Western Underground Inc. T, N, BN 3 Day Event | July 4-6, 2024 | Flagstaff, Arizona (Area X)
Area X sport horse veterinarian Anastasia Keyser got to take off her veterinarian cap and put on her helmet for the Training Three-Day division this year, coming home with a win alongside her homebred 7-year-old Appaloosa/Appendix cross mare, Bellatrix (Hands Of A Hero x Art I A Mover).
Brittney Caflisch acquired her third win in a row in the Classic Series competitions at Coconino this year. Caflisch returned to Coconino to compete in the Novice division aboard the 12-year-old Connemara gelding Benmore Westonhouse Boy (Westonhouse Straboe x Benmore Betty).
Winning the Beginner Novice Three-Day division was Arianha Romero and Flash of Gray, her 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Don’tsellmeshort x Olympic Funding).
The Event at Rebecca Farm | July 17-21, 2024 | Kalispell, MT (Area VII)
Erin Grandia rose to the top of the field in the Training Three-Day division at Rebecca Farm riding Adriane Jimenez’s 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (O.B.O.S. O Quality 004 x Thornhill Hazel) Riptide Rio.
Tori Traube led the Novice Three-Day from start to finish on Sheryl Ehrlich’s 5-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Chase De Muze (I’m Special De Muze x NLS Nikitas Cool Dancer).
Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event | October 16-20, 2024 | Lexington, KY (Area VIII)
Topping the field in the Training Three-Day was Kathleen Fitzgerald riding the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse/Oldenburg mare Global Pixie (OBOS Quality 004 x KEC Paddling Pixie).
Darci Burton competed in her second Classic Series event of the 2024 season in Kentucky with her own VS Correlli Surprise, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (FS Correlli Bravo x Coevers Surprise). After finishing in 10th in the Novice Three-Day at the IEA H.T. earlier in the year, the pair won the Novice Three-Day division at the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event.
Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event & H.T. | October 25-27, 2024 | Laytonsville, MD (Area II)
Megan Loughnane and her own Flamenco Ping, a 13-year-old Selle Français/Hanoverian gelding (Je t’Aime Flamenco x Ping Pong) topped the Modified Three-Day division.
Danielle Downing took on the challenge of her third long-format event on Nancy Read’s Caribe PCH, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Con Capilot x Rhonda), and they topped the Training Three-Day on a score of 30.5—their second year in a row winning.
A flawless weekend finishing on their dressage score of 30.0 gave professional Jamie Leuenberger and her 6-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare N’Chantress (Toronto x Gremlin N’ Gold) the Novice Three-Day win.
Alissa Genovese had the honor of winning her first ever long-format with Jodie Potts’ 19-year-old Appaloosa gelding Island Fever (Jokers Measleyone x Tooyoungtohonkytonk) in the Beginner Novice Three-Day at Waredaca.
Ram Tap H.T. & Classic 3-Day | November 15-17, 2024 | Fresno, CA (Area VI)
Professional Gina Economou rode her client Kristin Terris’ 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Rathcash Olympia (Je T’aime Flamenco x Fortmill Olympia Clover) to the win in the Training Three-Day, finishing on their dressage score of 27.4.
Junior rider Charlotte Boleda took home top honors in the Novice Three-Day on a score of 24.7 on her own Bellechase, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Lancelot x Red Brigade).
Kristin Terris won the Beginner Novice Three-Day on a score of 24.9 with her own 4-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Sportsfield Cool Lady (CoolKeeran x Warantha).
About the USEA Classic Series
The USEA Classic Series keeps the spirit of the classic long format three-day events alive for Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels. Competitors can experience the rush of endurance day, including roads and tracks, steeplechase, the vet box, and cross-country, as well as participate in formal veterinary inspections and educational activities with experts on the ins and outs of competing in a long format three-day event. Riders who compete in a USEA Classic Three-Day Event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors and earn leaderboard points. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.
The USEA would like to thank bronze sponsors SmartPak Equine and D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, as well as contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Parker Equine Insurance for supporting the USEA Classic Series.
With 2025 just days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the top moments for the USEA across the 2024 season. Take a trip down memory lane with us and relive these high-performing moments from our online news, the USEA Podcast, and our Instagram account!
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
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.