More in Store at the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana
There are so many incredible speakers and sessions at this year’s USEA Annual Meeting & Convention on December 11-14 in New Orleans, LA that the list couldn’t fit in just one article. As a follow up to the featured sessions from Thursday and Friday, the USEA is breaking down the list of must-attend activities on Saturday and Sunday below.
Click here to view the full event schedule. If you haven’t secured your registration for this year’s Convention, there is still time to sign up! The 2025 Convention Registration can be found here on HorseConnect, the USEA’s new online services platform.
A Full registration is $280 per person for Full or Life USEA members and $155 for Junior or Collegiate USEA members if purchased during the early-bird window, which closes on December 9. On December 11, prices will increase to $300 for Full or Life members and $180 for Junior or Collegiate members on-site. The registration form will also allow you to select several add-on options, like additional tickets for the Annual Meeting of Members Luncheon & Keynote Address, registration for the Show Jumping Seminar, and seating at the USEA Annual Year-End Awards Dinner. Purchase your tickets here.
Keep reading to wrap up your daily itinerary for the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention!
USEA Safety Committee Open Forum | Marc Grandia, Rusty Lowe, & Dr. Angie Yates
Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. ET in Napoleon D3
In 2017, the USEA Board of Governors reorganized the Safety Committee by splitting it into three separate subcommittees: the Rider Safety Subcommittee, the Equine Safety and Welfare Subcommittee, and the Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee. This open forum allows the industry experts from each subcommittee to come together to present the critical work they’ve completed over the past year to the USEA membership and open the floor for discussion and questions on safety initiatives across the board for the Association. If you are interested in the initiatives that the USEA and it’s volunteer leaders champion to keep our sport as safe as possible for the horses and riders that compete each weekend, you will not want to miss this forum.
USEA ECP Interactive Open Forum & Mini-Symposium | Mary D’Arcy, Natalie Hollis, Jennifer Howlett-Rousseau. Sharon Anthony, Bevin O’Reilly, & Christel Carlson
Saturday, December 13 at 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ET in Borgne
Join the USEA Eventing Coaches Program for a taste of the ECP Symposium, which is quickly approaching on January 13-15, 2026! This interactive, round table session is open to everyone, whether you are a coach, rider, horse owner, eventing professional, parent, or supporter of the sport – there is something for you to learn!
The theme of the exercise is developing the “eye” of the coach; to recognize where the horse and rider are in their training journey, what underlying weaknesses might be limiting their progression, and prioritizing the next steps in correct increments to best support the rider’s goals. This session will just be a small sample of what will be shared at the Symposium in January, so this is your chance to learn what all the buzz is about before registering to attend!
Is Your Saddle Helping Your Rider Biomechanics? Presented by Bates Saddles | Hannah Diebold
Saturday, December 13 at 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. ET in Napoleon A3
Your position and how your horse responds to your aids are affected by the balance of your saddle. Get hands-on as our Official Saddle, Bates Saddles, have sent Hannah Diebold, an expert in saddle fit and balance, to refine how a performance saddle should look on your horse, and what changes you can make to your saddle for improved balance and stability in all three phases.
Making Strides for Equality and Growing the Sport | Dr. Anastasia Curwood & Heather Gillette
Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. ET in Napoleon D2
What does eventing have to do with equality in our nation and the world? Join the co-founders of Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE), Dr. Anastasia Curwood and Heather Gillette, to find out. This session will explain how Equestrians of Color are a vital part of our sport and how others can be their allies.
Rule Change Open Forum | Malcolm Hook & Alison Lloyd
Saturday, December 13 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET in Borgne
The always well attended Rule Change Open Forum, incoming Chair of the Competitions, Calendar, and Rules Committee (CCRC) and “S” TD, Malcom Hook, and USEF Director of Eventing Sport Administration, Alison Lloyd, will again take place on Saturday morning of the Convention. This session is dedicated to reviewing the General and Eventing specific Rule Change Proposals (RCP) that are on the docket for the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) for the 2027 season. USEF Subscriber and Active members have the opportunity to submit their commentary to all RCPs through their My USEF dashboard each year, and this forum allows for open discussion on the potential new rules before members submit their thoughts.
For discipline specific rules, the USEA Board of Governors will review and vote on recommendations that are provided to the USEF after Convention, so these are especially important to discuss. This year, the EV RCPs include topics such as clarifications to cross-country specifications, updates to the definition of a Compulsory Retirement (CR), the permissible uses of ear plugs, and more. Attend to participate in the governance of the sport!
Keynote Address at the USEA Annual Meeting of Members Luncheon | Natalie Hummel
Saturday, December 13 at 12:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET in Napoleon BC123
In a time when the equestrian world is under unprecedented scrutiny, from the macro-level challenges of horse welfare and social licensing to the personal disillusionment of riders questioning the sport’s validity, Natalie Hummel will offer a bold vision for the future, inviting the USEA community to shift the narrative from one of defense and doubt to one of pride, possibility, and progress.
Through her work at the intersection of elite performance coaching and nervous system science, Hummel draws a powerful parallel between the collective health of the sport and the internal state of each rider. With a regulated nervous system as both metaphor and method, she illustrates how individuals and the sport can lead, compete, and live from a place of grounded strength, unlocking a higher standard of excellence and integrity.
This keynote will be both a rallying call and a roadmap inviting every rider, from hobbyist to professional, to take part in shaping the future story of eventing. While one ticket to the Annual Meeting of Members Luncheon comes complimentary with each Full Convention registration, additional
Adult Rider Program Open Session: Understanding What Happens Behind the Scenes at an Event | Amy Winnen
Saturday, December 13 at 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET in Napoleon A2
Join the Adult Riders Program to discuss what it takes to organize a USEA Recognized event. Committee Chair and Area I Adult Rider Coordinator, Amy Winnen, will kick things off with an overview of the Adult Rider Program, then she’ll moderate a panel of officials who will take attendees behind the scenes to reveal what really goes into running a great event. Learn insider tips, gain a deeper appreciation for the teamwork involved, and discover how to make the most of your next competition experience!
USEA Annual Year-End Awards | Led by Master of Ceremonies, Jim Wolf
Saturday, December 13 at 6:30 – 11:00 p.m. ET in Napoleon BC123
Join the USEA to celebrate the year-end leaderboard champions from Starter to Advanced! This evening of celebration and reflection will be led by eventing legend, Jim Wolf. Come enjoy a meal and cheer on your fellow eventers who dedicated their season to success in 2025. Tickets for the Annual Year-End Awards Dinner can be purchased individually for $115 per person, or for a table of 8 for $920, or a table of 10 for $1,150. Secure your seat at the party here!
Leadership in Action: USEA Board of Governors Meeting | Led by New President, Molly Pellegrini
Sunday, December 14 at 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET in Maurepas
To close out the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, Incoming President, Molly Pellegrini, will lead her first Board of Governors Meeting. All attendees are welcome to sit in and hear what is currently on the USEA agenda. The closing meeting of the Convention will focus on reports from the USEA Committees and Task Forces regarding the progress of their programs over the year, and the general business of the USEA.
If you have any questions about the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 11-14, please contact Jennifer Hardwick, by email at [email protected] or by phone (703) 779-0440, ext. 3003.
About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention
The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Dec. 11—14. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.
The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, ARMA, Bates Saddles, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, PulseVet, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.
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