Jun 23, 2024

How the Wilton Fair Grant and Essex Horse Trial Grants are Helping Cosby Green's Eventing Dreams Come True

Cosby Green and Copper Beach at the 2023 Pau CCI5*-L. Peter Nixon photo

I was lucky enough to receive the Wilton Fair Grant and the Essex Horse Trials Grant at the tail end of 2023 to put towards my 2024 adventures with my horses. I moved over to England with three horses in March 2023 and towards the end of the year, I had decided I wasn’t quite ready to travel back home to America just yet. Receiving these grants has made staying over an additional year possible, and I couldn’t be more thankful!

The first thing I was able to utilize the grant money towards was attending the Andalucía Sunshine Tour in Spain, which is a show jumping circuit. I thought it would be a great way to prep the horses for the season and would be something slightly different from anything I’ve done before. It was such a cool experience to be able to watch top show jumpers from all over the world every week, and the horses I brought had very clear progressions through their month there. Once we arrived back in England in March, the country was essentially under water due to all the rain. Event after event was canceled, but we finally were able to make a proper outing in the CCI4*-S at Thoresby Park in Nottingham, England. My horses were certainly unpolished due to the time of year and lack of prep runs, but it served its purpose nonetheless.

After Thoresby, it was time for Badminton. I had an extremely unconventional lead-up to Badminton, and I was really uncertain that we were going to make it! When Jonelle Price mentioned I should do it once I completed the CCI5*-L at Pau (France) last fall on Bel Mar Farm's Copper Beach (Radolin x Cloverballen), I thought there would be no way it would become a reality. However, "Sean" just had to prove me wrong. He put in a phenomenal performance at Badminton, most impressively going clear across the country. Show jumping was the opposite of the result I was hoping for, but I’m still grateful for the experience regardless.

Right after Badminton, we had all eyes set on the Millstreet International in Ireland. I was so proud of the horses as Highly Suspicious (by Russel) finished second in the CCI4*L division there and Cooley Seeing Magic (Metall x Ferro), owned by Jo Pidduck, put in another solid performance at the CCI3*-L level at just 8 years old. I currently just have some BE100s and Novice’s in my future for the next couple of months with younger horses, while the top horses enjoy the quiet months before things get very intense and exciting in the fall.

Being able to be in England has been such a life-changing experience, and I am so privileged to be able to have help from these grants and the USEA Foundation to help make all of my wild dreams possible. The experience of being over here has pushed me out of my comfort zone, filled me with confidence and perspective, and has been an overall game-changer in my career. A year ago I would have never been able to dream of all the things I’ve been able to do, so I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

To learn more about 2024 available grants through the USEA Foundation, please visit https://useafoundation.org/

About the USEA Foundation

The fundamental mission of the USEA Foundation is to protect and preserve the sport of eventing for future generations and to provide support for the core educational, safety, and equine welfare programs of the USEA. In addition, the Foundation administers educational grants for riders with the intent of preparing them to reach their goals. Learn more about the USEA Foundation at www.useafoundation.org.

Nov 06, 2024 Young Event Horse

The Gift of a Lifetime: Greengard Reflects on Le Lion Experience Thanks to Holekamp/Turner Grant and Dutta Corp. Prize

When That’s Me Z won the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast 5-Year-Old Championship in 2022, his co-owners Tommy Greengard and Andrea Pfeiffer knew that competing at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championships for Young Horses at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d'Angers, France, in two years time was the ultimate goal for the promising young Zangersheide (Take A Chance On Me Z x Venetia) gelding.

Nov 05, 2024 Interscholastic

Request for Expressions of Interest: USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships Host Sites

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to announce a request for expressions of interest to host the first standalone USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships in 2026 and 2027. With the success of the inaugural joint championships in 2024, the USEA is confident that the progression of these programs lends to a standalone event for these hardworking students in 5th through 12th grade and undergraduate college programs.

Nov 04, 2024 Convention

USEA Podcast #373: Make a Difference in Your Sport at the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is easily one of the most influential weeks in the sport of eventing in the U.S. and this year it is headed to Seattle, Washington, Dec. 12-15. USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown talks about all the details surrounding this year's Convention with USEA CEO Rob Burk and USEA President Lou Leslie. From important discussions around safety and horsemanship to a charity poker tournament and more, there is so much going on in Seattle this year that you won't want to miss!

Nov 03, 2024 News

33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses

The following is an excerpt from 33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses by equine training and conditioning expert Jec Aristotle Ballou. Strength routines and this workout are for horses and riders with a good existing level of fitness who are working toward increased strength and endurance.

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