Apr 19, 2023

Get to Know What’s Happening in Area II in 2023

By Jonathan Horowitz - USEA Staff
Loch Moy Farm. Mike McNally photo courtesy of the Maryland Horse Trials

Note: Throughout 2023, the United States Eventing Association will be putting the spotlight on each area and sharing how they will uniquely contribute to the growth of the sport of eventing. After starting the series with Area X, Area III, Area VI, and Area V, the next area featured is Area II.

The United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Area II plays a big role in the past, present, and future of eventing. From north to south, the Area covers the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. That includes a number of eventing hubs—Northern Virginia; Fair Hill, Maryland; Tryon, North Carolina; Unionville, Pennsylvania; and more.

In terms of the past, the first headquarters of the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA), the predecessor to the United States Eventing Association (USEA), was founded at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, in 1959. After a period of incorporation in Massachusetts, the USEA’s headquarters returned to Leesburg in 1994.

In terms of the present, Area II has the largest membership in USEA with 2,380 members as of April 2023, representing 24 percent. The newest CCI5*-L takes place at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill with its third renewal scheduled for 2023. That event is also the site of The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.

In addition, the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, stepped up on short notice to host the USEF CCI4*-L National Championship in 2020 and is doing so again with the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships in 2023.

“That’s been where we have played an important role in the growth of the sport,” Molly Oakman, the Director of Equestrian Operations at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, said about being on call to host major events. She reflected on both championships, “It’s a great way to help grow the sport and support both the top-level riders and the future of the sport.”

Tryon. USEA/Leslie Mintz photo

In terms of the future, Area II continues to add new competitions. The Maryland International + Horse Trials (Adamstown, Maryland) will run a CCI4*-S for the first time in 2023.

“Ian Stark has designed an educational course,” said organizer Carolyn Mackintosh, who has run events at Loch Moy Farm since 2006. “We’re going to be ready to go for the four-star, and we’re going to have enhanced hospitality and sponsorship for it.”

To help grow eventing from a grassroots level, the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation Scholarship will, for the first time in 2023, award four $1,000 scholarships to riders competing at CCI1*-S, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S at the Maryland International.

“Carolyn is incredibly motivated and has built up a superb facility,” said Chris Ryan, who has made many visits from Ireland to Area II to serve as a judge and commentator. “Great all-weather surfaces for the flat work and showjumping, and she uses the uphill terrain to great effect on her cross-country courses. I could compare the track to Strzegom in Poland, which hosted the European Championships in 2017 and where Marcin Konarski has also hosted the European Pony Championships the last two years. Carolyn is a great supporter of the ‘young horse’ and has a separate schooling ground laid out for them.”

Loch Moy Farm also hosts Cross Derby events with cross-country fences from cross-rails to Modified levels placed in arenas—an adaptation for eventing to take place during winter months.

“I like that we never close because my nine acres of rings—I went to Aston Le Walls in the U.K. and saw what they did for their winter schooling—so I put in ditches, banks, water, all kinds of stuff,” Mackintosh said. “So, we run cross-country schooling there starting in November all the way through March. And then, we do these great cross derbies that everyone is so excited about where we put about 100 jumps in the rings.”

There are a total of 55 USEA-recognized events scheduled in Area II in 2023. They cover a wide range of what the sport has to offer. There’s the family-run Full Moon Farms H.T. (Finksburg, Maryland) by the Fulton family. There’s the volunteer-run Marlborough H.T. (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) that takes place at Rosaryville State Park offering levels from Starter through Training. Pony Clubs run two events for both the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club H.T. (Leesburg, Virginia) and Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (Poolesville, Maryland).

Marlborough Horse Trials. GRC Photo courtesy of the Marlborough Horse Trials

“What’s really great about Area II is that it’s very focused on grassroots eventing, so there’s a pipeline of new riders all the time” Morgan Rowsell, who serves on the Area II Council and is also a cross-country course designer, said, while referencing events like Waredaca (Gaithersburg, Maryland), Flora Lea (Medford, New Jersey), Olney Farm (Joppa, Maryland), and more. “Ultimately, that makes the experience for someone who is just trying the sport out, whether it be an amateur or a little kid, it really gives a positive experience for grassroots eventing.”

In addition to the grassroots, there are some of the most prestigious events in the United States, scheduled for 2023 in Area II, such as the CCI5*-L at Fair Hill on Oct. 18-22 , the CCI4*-L at the Tryon International Three-Day Event on May 10-14 and at the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials on Oct. 12-15. That represents two of the five CCI4*-L in the country, more than any other Area hosts.

It’s not just the events but also the venues in Area II that are particularly conducive to eventing of the highest quality.

“If you’re starting your young international horse at Plantation or Fair Hill or Jersey or wherever, they all have enough terrain and enough space to constantly be giving the horses the confidence to run on good grass, the confidence to get in good shape,” Rowsell said. “And, to be competing against Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin and Buck Davidson, you get the competition in Area II.”

Area II combines eventing history and evolution and provides valuable glimpses into the past and future of the sport in the United States.

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA