Jun 16, 2019

Judging the USEA Charles Owen Technical Merit Award with Wayne Quarles

By Claire Kelley - USEA Staff

One of the most highly respected event officials in the country, Wayne Quarles, will be judging Area IX’s USEA Charles Owen Technical Merit Award (COTM) at Golden Spike Horse Trials in Ogden, Utah on Sunday, June 16. With dressage and show jumping finished on Saturday, twelve Training level competitors will leave the start box Sunday morning in hopes for a winning cross-country round.

The winning COTM cross-country rounds will be based on five criteria: gallop, preparation period, execution of jump, rider position, and general impressions. But most of all, Quarles said, “I'll be looking for riders with the right balance and the way they handle the turns and terrain. I want to see how they adjust themselves to ride whatever is happening underneath them.”

“I want to see a change in their position to adjust for the terrain - whether it be uphill or downhill, if it’s a drop jump verse up bank. Even if they have a stop, it will depend on what the rider does. How does the rider handle that? How do they come back? What do they do to set themselves back up?”

“Combinations on cross-country are always going to require you to have more balance and not so much pace. As we know from the speed studies done several years ago, most riders ride much faster between combinations because the combinations require you to slow down and regroup. There’s no way you can maintain 520 m.p.m. at every jump all the way around the course.”

The 4ab Training level combination at Golden Spike H.T. USEA/Claire Kelley photo.

Given to riders who exhibit safe cross-country riding, the COTM award is an award unlike any other in eventing.“The one thing we don’t have in this discipline is recognition for equitation and balance. We don’t have any awards [other than COTM] that recognize the people who put in that extra effort and time to ride correctly,” said Quarles.

Quarles who is the dressage judge, show jumping judge, and COTM judge at Golden Spike Horse Trials, explains, “cross-country riding is different than show jumping because in show jumping we’re asking you to ride a series of fences that a) knock down and b) are all set on exact distances. So, the adjustments in show jumping are less because you don’t have terrain. Riding a show jump course tests regularity and pace.”

The Training level cross-country course at Golden Spike Horse Trials has a total of eighteen fences with a bank up, bank down, corner, water question, and a coffin combination. The optimum time is five minutes and 22 seconds with a speed of 450 m.p.m. So, where will Quarles be on course? “I’ll be judging a variety of fences. Last year I judged a combination, two fences before the combination, and one after the combination [in order] to see how riders adjusted their balance,” said Quarles.

16ab Training level combination at Golden Spike H.T. USEA/Claire Kelley photo.

Stay tuned for Area IX's COTM award winners!

About the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award

In 2009, the Professional Horseman’s Council in partnership with Charles Owen founded the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award to reward juniors and adult amateurs for demonstrating safe and appropriate cross-country riding technique and educate riders and trainers as to what constitutes safe cross-country riding.

The Charles Owen Technical Merit Award is presented at one event in each USEA Area each year at the Training level to one junior rider and one adult amateur rider who have not competed at the Intermediate level or above. Every eligible rider at the Training level is automatically judged during their cross-country round on the five criteria listed below and receives a score sheet with written comments, providing valuable feedback on their cross-country riding technique. Level III and IV ICP Instructors, USEF licensed eventing officials, and USET Senior Team riders are all qualified to judge the Award. Click here to learn more about the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award.

The USEA would like to thank Charles Owen for sponsoring the Technical Merit Award.

Dec 07, 2023 Convention

USEA Board of Governors Meet for the First Time During 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

This afternoon, USEA President Louise “Lou” Leslie welcomed U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors members, USEA staff, and USEA Annual Meeting & Convention attendees to the first of two Board meetings which will take place during this year’s Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, with the teaser that 2024 is going to be full of initiatives for more opportunities to access the eventing experience, some of which attendees might get first wind of during this year’s gathering. The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.

Dec 06, 2023 Convention

Fast Facts: 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

Welcome to the Show Me state and to Area IV USEA members! The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention kicks of tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all with one aim—to bring the eventing community together to continue to improve upon and celebrate the sport that we all love. This year’s Convention takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis from Dec. 7-10, and we have rounded up everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the heartland.

Dec 05, 2023 Education

Digital Resources to Maximize Education & Access for the Eventing Community

To accompany the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, USEA Educational Partner STRIDER has prepared Digital Resources to Maximize Education & Access for the Eventing Community. In keeping with the USEA’s mission to expand the sport of eventing, this webinar outlines ways in which digital tools can be leveraged to increase access and education across equestrian opportunities. As part of STRIDER’s popular Professional Development Webinar Series, this presentation aims to provide a quick overview of best practices and digital tools used across the equestrian industry to boost growth.

Dec 05, 2023 Young Event Horse

Young Event Horse Arden Augustus Exceeds All Expectations for Antenucci and White

Every horse who participated this year in the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program has a story—a background that involves a breeder who labored over bloodlines, veterinary care, initial training, and so much more. This year’s highest-placing U.S.-bred horse in the 5-year-old division at the Dutta Corp./USEA Young Event Horse Championships, Arden Augustus, is no exception. His breeder and owner, Anita Antenucci of Arden Farms in Upperville, Virginia, started her program nine years ago and said that the Warmblood gelding was a more emotionally driven breeding for her than others due to his connections with Antenucci’s long-time friend Sharon White.

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