The USEA is sad to share the news that Daniel Starck passed away on December 13, 2020 at the age of 69 due to a rare form of liver cancer (Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma).
Dan had been a cross-country course builder since 1985, when he helped build the courses at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. Since then, he built courses all over the East and Midwest, including North Georgia, Foxhall, Virginia Horse Center, Poplar Place, Chattahoochee Hills, Maui Jim, Wayne, and the 2007-2010 USEA American Eventing Championships.
Dan was the co-chair of the USEA Designers and Builders Committee. He was the 2005 recipient of the USEA’s “Posthole Digger” award and was the author of the Frangible Pin Handbook. Dan was very generous with his time and held course building seminars at the AEC as well as donating fences to the event site.
Originally from Aurora, Illinois, Dan settled in Carbondale, Illinois where he attended Southern Illinois University in the early 1970s. He was also known for his fine wood craftsmanship, stained glass, historic restoration, and home building/renovations.
Dan is survived by his fiancé Jan Zwak, daughter Ellie Burkey, granddaughters Zeppelynn Burkey and Josselynn Burkey, and step-daughters and step-granddaughters Alyss, Camilla, Sophia, and Kiera Zwak.
The USEA sends sincere condolences to Dan's family, friends, and connections.
The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!
Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.
With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).
The standings after today’s CCI4*-S show jumping at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International shuffled with 14 double-clear rounds out of 35 to start, but Liz Halliday stayed right where she was at the top of the leaderboard aboard Miks Master C.