United States Eventing Association

Five Reasons to Renew your USEA Membership for 2022

It’s membership renewal season and the USEA is proud to offer several programs and perks for its new and renewing members. Here’s some of the reasons why renewing your membership and rejoining the USEA’s 13,000 member family for 2022 is a no-brainer.

1) Enjoy excellent competition

Did you know that in 2021 there will be over 200 events recognized by the USEA all across the country? The USEA works hand-in-hand with event organizers and officials to ensure competition guidelines and safety standards are being met, making your competition experience a fun and safe one. Take a look at the remaining competitions for the 2021 season and preview some of the upcoming 2022 events here.

Only USEA members are able to compete in USEA recognized events and your membership also allows access to specialty competitions such as the USEA Classic Series, USEA Young Event Horse Program, USEA Future Event Horse Program, USEA Area Championships, USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, USEA Adult Team Championships, and allows you to earn qualification for the annual USEA American Eventing Championships.

New to the sport of eventing? Check out discovereventing.com to learn more about our sport and to access free educational resources to help you prepare for your first outing!

2) Connect with a like-minded community

Your fellow USEA members are here for the same reasons you are: love for the horse and love for the sport. Your USEA membership allows you to connect with riders just like you through one of the many programs the USEA offers.

Adult Rider Program: The USEA Adult Rider Program is for all adults, professional or amateur, ages 22 years and older*. The program aims to include adults across all skill and experience levels in a supportive program that promotes education, communication, recognition, and just plain fun! The goal of the Adult Rider program is to increase adult rider participation in eventing by providing education, recognition, and offering communication and camaraderie.

Young Rider Program: The USEA Young Rider Program is offered for riders 25 years of age and younger* of all levels of riding. The purpose of the program is to encourage younger members to become involved in the sport of eventing and continue this involvement into their adult lives. The program seeks to promote a love of the sport as well as an appreciation and understanding of the horse while fostering the wonderful relationship that can develop between horse and rider. Further, involvement in this program helps to instill important moral values, such as responsibility and work ethic, as young riders grow into mature adults. You can learn more about the Young Rider program here.

*Riders ages 22-25 may choose to compete in one or both the Young Rider and Adult Rider Programs, but can only compete in one year-end championship (the Adult Team Challenge or Youth Team Challenge).

Intercollegiate Eventing: The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program provides a framework on which eventing teams and individual competitions can flourish at universities and colleges across the country. Any accredited college or university may register as an affiliate organization of the USEA and any individual who is a current undergraduate student at a university or college that is an affiliate of the USEA is eligible to be a collegiate member. The Intercollegiate Eventing Program offers Intercollegiate Challenges throughout the year and culminates in the annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships.

Interscholastic Eventing League: ​​In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to bring together junior riders who are in the 7th-12th grade and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 7th-12th grade who share a common bond (same barn, same school, same Pony Club, etc.) register with the USEA as an interscholastic team.

3) Access tons of educational resources and opportunities

USEA members have access to countless educational resources and opportunities for all levels of rider. Find clinics near you or access documents designed to ensure safe training measures at home such as this one. USEA instructors are able to join the USEA Instructors Certification Program which offers education, instruction and support for eventing trainers all across the U.S. USEA official course designers, technical delegates, and eventing officials are required to be licensed by the USEA and have access to the USEA Training Programs for Eventing Officials for further education and licensing opportunities. In addition, USEA members receive a subscription to Eventing USA, which not only highlights USEA members and competitions, but also features educational and informational articles for every eventing enthusiast!

4) USEA members have access to tons of perks!

As a USEA member you have access to the many USEA Member Rewards offered for members. From insurance providers to accommodation discounts and more, the USEA Member Rewards is a gift to you as a USEA member to assist with cost-saving opportunities that will benefit you the most.

5) Your membership helps support the sport

Did you know that the USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization? The goal of the USEA is to provide eventers and eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skill. Your membership helps continue the growth of eventing in the U.S. by providing critical funding to support the USEA’s mission of enabling the sport, creating a safe competition environment, offering opportunities for riders of all backgrounds, better advancing the future of the sport through necessary research, and so much more.

With 29 committees and task forces such as the Area Affairs Committee, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the Safety and Equine Welfare Committee, your membership helps support the efforts of the USEA in every facet possible, allowing us to do our best to serve you each and every day.

There are many more reasons why you should consider joining or renewing your USEA membership for the 2022 season! Join as a Full, Junior, Collegiate, Lifetime, or Supporting member today to begin your journey as a USEA member.

The USEA would like to thank our Corporate Level sponsors Mountain Horse, SmartPak Equine, Standlee Premium Western Forage, Nutrena Feeds, Bates Saddles, Adequan, Parker Equine Insurance, and Saratoga Horseworks.