For the third year in a row, the Washington, D.C. region will host some of the best horses and riders in the world at the Great Meadow International (GMI). This event will take place in The Plains, VA from July 6 to July 8, 2018. GMI is the only leg of the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) Nations Cup™ Eventing Series held in North America.
The 2018 GMI competition will begin with the dressage phase on Saturday morning, followed by the show jumping phase in the evening. The final phase, cross-country, will be on Sunday morning. GMI offers prize money along with a world-class venue, so the entry list is expected to be star-studded, giving spectators and eventing enthusiasts the opportunity to watch to some of the best competitors that the sport has to offer on their road to the World Equestrian Games.
While GMI brings out top competitors, spectator entertainment is of the highest priority. General Admission ticket holders will be treated to a variety of entertainment, including family-friendly programming, multi-disciplined demonstrations, and extensive shopping. Options to spend cross-country day close to the action with tailgating locations on the course are available for reservation. For attendees seeking a VIP experience, premier hospitality in the VIP tent area offers private dining options and ringside boxes.
Great Meadow has officially announced that Adequan® will return as the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Great Meadow International. Adequan® has supported Great Meadow’s efforts to provide this elite level international of competition in the U.S. since the event’s debut in 2015.
More details about the event, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities will be available in the coming weeks.
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.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.