This #GivingTuesday the USEA Foundation is placing the focus on horsemanship and the care of our equine partners. USEA President Max Corcoran has made improving horsemanship the centerpiece of her administration. To enable this to happen Corcoran teamed up with Dr. Mark Revenaugh and the USEA Foundation to create the Poggio Horsemanship Fund in 2019.
“The Poggio Horsemanship Fund is an exciting start to helping us to educate riders, owners, grooms, and eventing enthusiasts to give their horses every benefit when it comes to improving their lives,” said Corcoran. “It will allow the USEA Foundation to provide funding for research, speakers, and anything else we may need to make the lives of all horses better.”
A common statement heard during horse activities is that good horsemanship has been declining in recent years. To reverse this trend better education is needed at all levels of the sport. Thanks in part to the USEA Foundation and the horsemanship fund, leading experts are being brought in for in-person, virtual, and live-streamed educational opportunities for all eventers. As an example, Dr. Revenaugh himself will serve as the keynote speaker during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. Corcoran is also bringing forward new initiatives to grow horsemanship education and better involve professional experts such as grooms, veterinarians, researchers, and coaches in those educational offerings. Many of these topics are slated to be discussed or approved during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention December 9-12.
Since the creation of the Poggio Horsemanship Fund the community has raised over $30,000 in donations and we are committed to seeing this fund grow to the point that it can self-sustain in the years to come. The USEA Foundation is thankful to you, our donors, for your generous support over the years. We are also asking you, our friends, on this Giving Tuesday, to show your love of the sport and commitment to its long-term success by donating to the USEA Foundation. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will be gratefully received and recognized as we work to improve the well-being of our horses in the years ahead.
Please visit USEAFoundation.org and donate today to benefit eventing's future. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
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.
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
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.
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.
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.