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Feb 26, 2024
In Memoriam: More Inspiration
The USEA is saddened to report that Canadian eventer Holly Jacks-Smither's five-star horse More Inspiration died on Feb. 19. He was 18.
Bred in Canada by Display Farm, the Thoroughbred gelding (Inspired Prospect x Gentle Buck) started 28 times at the track and had four wins.
Jacks-Smither bought "Morris" when he was 4 as a resale project, but after he completed his first CCI2*-L in 2012, she decided to keep him.
While Morris was tricky, Jacks-Smither never gave up on him. They completed their first CCI4*-L at Jersey Fresh (Allentown, New Jersey) in 2015, then were selected to represent Canada at the Aachen CCIO4*-S in Germany that summer.
They completed the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2017 and the Pau CCI5*-L (France) in 2019. Their last competition was the Stable View CCI4*-S (Aiken, South Carolina) in March 2021.
"My $2,000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell stuck around to change my life," said Jacks-Smither in a Facebook post. "If it wasn’t for you, Morris, I would have been on a totally different career path. You taught me that hard work truly pays off; that thinking outside the box is a must to be successful with the tricky ones; that a big heart matters more than confirmation; and that hard work and perseverance get results. From a gallop girl at Woodbine Race track where we met, to my first Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, my first five-star at Kentucky, and my first European five-star in Pau, France… we did it all together. I’ll never have another horse like you.
"Thank you for challenging me, teaching me and giving me so much joy," she continued. "But most importantly, thank you for being my soul mate and making me believe that life can be changed because of one special OTTB and a dream."
The USEA sends our condolences to Jacks-Smither and all of those who shared connections with Morris.
Dec 20, 2024
Sponsor
“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
Dec 19, 2024
Volunteers
The VIP Volunteer: Cathy Hale Has A Thirst for Adventure and a Love for Volunteering
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
Dec 18, 2024
Association News
USEA Office Closed for Holidays
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.
Dec 18, 2024
Interscholastic
Start Planning for the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View
After the success of the first annual USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, members are not going to want to miss the second edition in 2025! Barry and Cyndy Olliff, owners of Stable View, and their team are gearing up for an even bigger and better event in the coming year. If you are a current or prospective member of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or the Interscholastic Eventing League, be sure to block off the weekend of May 3-4, 2025 to attend these exciting Championships.
