The Charles Owen Technical Merit (COTM) Award aims to reward juniors and adult amateurs that demonstrate safe and appropriate cross-country riding technique and educate riders and trainers as to what constitutes safe cross-country riding.
The COTM Award will be presented at one event in each of the 10 USEA Areas at the Training level to one junior and one adult amateur rider who have not competed at the Intermediate level or above. Every eligible rider at the Training level is automatically judged during their cross-country round on the five criteria listed below and receives a scoresheet with written comments, providing valuable feedback on their cross-country riding technique.
The winners of the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award at each event during the year will receive a Charles Owen body protector and helmet bag, and then the overall highest scoring junior and adult amateur rider from all 10 events will receive a voucher for a Charles Owen helmet. The USEA will also provide ribbons through third place for each junior and adult amateur at every event that hosts the COTM award. The tentative 2019 COTM calendar can be found below.
Pine Top Advanced H.T. | February 23-24, 2019 | Thomson, GA (Area III)
Golden Spike H.T. | June 15-16, 2019 | Ogden, UT (Area IX)
Coconino Summer I H.T. | July 5-7, 2019 | Flagstaff, AZ (Area X)
The Event At Rebecca Farm | July 24-28, 2019 | Kalispell, MT (Area VII)
Cobblestone Farms H.T. | August 2-4, 2019 | Dexter, MI (Area VIII)
Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. | August 17-18, 2019 | Geneseo, NY (Area I)
Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II | August 24-26, 2019 | Santa Ynez, CA (Area VI)
Otter Creek Fall H.T. | September 13-15, 2019 | Wheeler, WI (Area IV)
Texas Rose Horse Park | November 9-10, 2019 | Tyler, TX (Area V)
Full Moon Farm H.T. | November 10, 2019 | Finksburg, MD (Area II)
About the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award
In 2009, the Professional Horseman’s Council in partnership with Charles Owen founded the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award to reward juniors and adult amateurs for demonstrating safe and appropriate cross-country riding technique and educate riders and trainers as to what constitutes safe cross-country riding.
The Charles Owen Technical Merit Award is presented at one event in each USEA Area each year at the Training level to one junior rider and one adult amateur rider who have not competed at the Intermediate level or above. Every eligible rider at the Training level is automatically judged during their cross-country round on the five criteria listed below and receives a score sheet with written comments, providing valuable feedback on their cross-country riding technique. Level III and IV ICP Instructors, USEF licensed eventing officials, and USET Senior Team riders are all qualified to judge the Award. Click here to learn more about the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award.
The USEA would like to thank Charles Owen for sponsoring the Technical Merit Award.
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.
The USEA is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dr. Timothy “Tim” Holekamp on April 19. He was 79.
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.
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.