In 2020, Eventing was going through its toughest year ever with events canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Very few grants requiring a current competition record were awarded. Enter Beth Lendrum, a Rebecca Chaney Broussard Grant Committee member. Beth wanted to keep USEA members involved and looking forward to all the ways they could be involved in the sport, and not necessarily on the back of a horse.
Lendrum suggested a new idea that would give back and benefit the sport at different levels. This concept is geared towards supporting USEA members by encouraging participation in educational/developmental and horsemanship programs.
Collaborating with husband Jerome Broussard and RCB Grant Committee members, Sharon Anthony, Carol Kozlowski, Sharon White, and Jo Whitehouse, Lendrum designed the Going Forward USEA Member's Grants, which cover three educational areas:
The Grants were intended as a one-time opportunity and were offered only in 2020. However, the reception they received and the success achieved by the grant recipients inspired the Broussard family, through their Charitable Foundation Trust, to offer them each year for the next three years.
The Grants will be awarded to eligible and qualified USEA Members through an application, interview, and review process. Qualified applications will be at least 18 years of age. Applicants seeking ICP Certification must have read and met all qualifying criteria listed here. Applicants wishing to complete the Eventing Officials “r” Training Program should confirm that they meet the requirements set for officials as described in the US Equestrian Licensed Officials Policies and Procedures, Section 9, 9.1 Eventing Judges and 9.2 Technical Delegates.
So, if you want to spend a week with a top rider immersed in all things horse-related, then be sure to apply for a Going Forward Horsemanship Immersion grant. If you see yourself as an instructor teaching safe riding skills, the Instructors’ Certification Program is for you. Or maybe judging dressage or officiating as a technical delegate at a USEA event has been a goal of yours for years, then don’t hesitate to apply for a grant that could kickstart your career as an official. Get ready for a whole new adventure with a Going Forward Grant!
Click here for full details and to submit an online application.
Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.
Day 3 of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium at Galway Downs was all about correct cross-country position after an informative discussion from sports psychologist Natalie Hummel.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
From Starter all the way to the top of the sport, the rider’s ability to identify and influence the rhythm, relaxation, balance, straightness, and adjustability of their horse is key, whether you’re riding on the flat or over fences.