United States Eventing Association

Everything You Need to Know from the USEA Board of Governors Meetings from the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

Seattle, Wash.–Dec. 15–The USEA Board of Governors met twice during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, once on Wednesday afternoon and once on Sunday morning. We’ve recapped some of the biggest discussion points for you below.

USEA Board of Governors Changes

There are two board members who stepped down prior to the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, Shelley Page and John Marshall. In addition, the terms of Deeda Randle and Dr. Cynthia Wiseman came to a close during this year’s meeting. In their place, Allison Murphy (Area IX) and Dr. Angie Yates, DVM (At Large) were voted into place during the USEA Annual Meeting of Members. The following individuals were selected to fill the spots of the two members who stepped down: Dan Michaels (Area IX) for a one-year term and Christina Gray (Area VI) for a two-year term.

Two new incoming Area Chairs were also approved: Max Corcoran for Area III and Jessica Ptak-Hooker for Area IV.

USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) Committee

A motion was made that all athletes under the age of 25 should be able to participate in any program they are eligible for, whether that be the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) or USEA. Neither organization should be able to preclude athletes from one list dependent upon their participation in another list.

David O’Connor, who is involved in both the USEA EA21 program and the USEF’s developing rider programs, spoke on the differences between the USEA and USEF programs and how it is important we don't limit a rider from participating in any program because of the goals and differences between the two programs.

The motion was approved by the USEA that would not limit a rider selected to participate in a USEF program from participating in the USEA EA21 program. The USEF would have to make decisions regarding programs on their end.

USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Update

Statistics from the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention are as follows:

• Total attendance: 379
• Show Jumping Seminar Attendance: 41
• Awards Luncheon Attendance: 196

Next year’s USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place Dec. 10-14, at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.

A few new models for Convention for years 2026 and beyond were proposed, and it was determined that a Task Force would be created to discuss the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention and the various areas of opportunities for making the event an educational staple on the calendar of eventers all over the country, while still maintaining financial viability for both the USEA and attendees.

USEA Committee Updates

Area Affairs

• Siobhan O’Brien from the USEA Area Affairs Committee noted that the events which take place in the state of Tennessee are requesting to be reallocated under Area VIII versus their current base of Area III. The Board will potentially see this as a voting action in their January meeting.

Committee Roles Task Force

• There was great discussion around term limits for USEA Committee members. There is a policy being accepted for 2025, and the Committee will put forward a proposal to the Board that will strategically roll out term limits based on the years of service of current longstanding committee members.

Competitions, Calendar, and Rules

• All USEF Extraordinary Rule changes are due Jan. 9, 2025
• The Mile High Horse Trials (Parker, Colorado) was allotted the ability to run in 2024 with the stipulation that there would be a post-event evaluation of the event’s potential negative impact on other competitions in the surrounding area (but not necessarily in the USEA Area). After a review of the 2024 starters, it was noted that all starters went up across the board at the anticipated impacted events in the weeks before and after the event. Mile High Horse Trials requested to stay on the same date, which would be July 5, 2025, and the request was approved.
• There were three additional competition changes for 2025:
  • Full Moon Farm (Finksburg, Maryland) requested a mid-summer date (June 29, 2025) for a Combined Test.
  • Winona Horse Trials (Hanoverton, Ohio) requested a date change to one week earlier for May 3-4, 2025
  • Kentucky Summer Horse Trials (Lexington, Kentucky) requested the addition of the Intermediate level to their event July 11-13, 2025
    • All were approved
• USEA American Eventing Championships qualifications for years 2026 and beyond were discussed. It was determined that a Task Force would be created to look at the current qualifications and evaluate if any changes to future qualifications should be made.

USEA Eventing Coaches Program

• A motion was approved to look into opportunities for insurance benefits for ECP-licensed coaches

USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program and Interscholastic Eventing League

• Dates and a location were selected for the 2026 and 2027 USEA Intercollegiate and IEL Championships and will be announced at a later date.

USEA Young Event Horse

• A motion was made to approve the creation of the Opportunity Event Horse division from the YEH committee provisionally for one year. The committee will be expected to provide data on the program to the Board at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December 2025, at which point the program will be reassessed.
• A motion was approved for the YEH East Coast Championships to allow qualifying competitions up until the closing date of the East Coast Championships.

Helpful Links

• USEA Convention Schedule
• USEA’s Coverage

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About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in Seattle, Washington, on Dec. 12—15. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, ARMA, Bates Saddles, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Gallops Saddlery, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet Shock Wave, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.