United States Eventing Association

Connections of Great Event Horse Eagle Lion Offered Invitation to USEA Eventing Hall of Fame

This year a new class will be joining the 47 eventing legends currently in the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Eventing Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded within the sport of eventing in the United States. Those invited to join the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame have truly made a difference in the sport of eventing. Hall of Fame members have included past Association presidents, volunteers, riders, founders, course designers, officials, organizers, horses, horse owners, and coaches.

Typically, a new group is inducted into the Hall of Fame every four years. The USEA is delighted to be welcoming a new Hall of Fame class this year. These members of the eventing community will be honored for their accomplishments, contributions, and lifelong dedication to the sport of eventing with a formal induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame Gala at the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention taking place this year in Savannah, Georgia from December 7-11.

The USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be announced throughout the year. The fourth invitation offered was to the connections of the mighty event horse Eagle Lion. Out of the famous mare Stream Lion, a producer of many excellent event horses, and by the Thoroughbred sire Gipfel whose progeny went on to be top-class sport horses, Eagle Lion competed at the highest level of the sport with Bruce Davidson Sr. in the tack. The horse, bred by Patricia Nicholson and owned by Dr. George Strawbridge, won the Fair Hill CCI*** and was the first of only two American horses to win the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials. Eagle Lion also had several top-five finishes at Fair Hill, Burghley, and other outings at Badminton. He has the honor of being one of few horses to complete the four-star course at Badminton double-clear four times in his career. Throughout his time competing in the U.S., Eagle Lion never acquired a cross-country jumping penalty.

Visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky may have noticed the stunning bronze statue beside the Rolex Arena of Davidson and Eagle Lion depicting their legendary drop into the Head of the Lake. Eagle Lion passed away at the age of 27 in December of 2012.

Stay tuned throughout the year to find out the additional members of the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022!

Want to learn more about the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame and read about the current members? Click here.