United States Eventing Association

Newest Invitation to USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame Extended to Trish Gilbert

This year a new class will be joining the 47 eventing legends currently in the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Eventing Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded within the sport of eventing in the United States. Those invited to join the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame have truly made a difference in the sport of eventing. Hall of Fame members have included past Association presidents, volunteers, riders, founding fathers, course designers, officials, organizers, horses, horse owners, and coaches.

Typically, a new group is inducted into the Hall of Fame every three years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process was delayed a year. However, the USEA is delighted to be welcoming a new Hall of Fame class this year. These members of the eventing community will be honored for their accomplishments, contributions, and lifelong dedication to the sport of eventing with a formal induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame Gala at the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention taking place this year in Savannah, Georgia from December 7-11.

The USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be announced throughout the year as inductees are presented with their invitation in person at events meaningful to their contributions. The second inductee of 2022, Trish Gilbert, was surprised today at her home in Maryland by Hall of Fame members and close personal friends Drs. Tim and Nina Gardner, as well as USEA CEO Rob Burk. Family and friends were also in attendance for the surprise invitation.

“It was an enthusiastic and unanimous agreement,” said Dr. Tim Gardner as he notified Gilbert of her nomination. “We all agreed that there is no one more deserving than you. And we also agreed that it was long overdue.”

Gilbert was one of the first women to break the barriers put up against women competing in the sport of eventing. She had considerable success in the early years of eventing amongst non-military competitors. Prior to relocating to her current home in Hartford County, Maryland with her husband Bill, she served as the director of the Blue Ridge Horse Trials and organized the spring three-day U.S. Equestrian Team Championship. She was a team selector, the young rider chairman, and served on many USEA boards. Gilbert was involved at the beginning of Fair Hill International as the event director. She also has served for years as a licensed eventing official. In 2003, Gilbert successfully ran the Pan American Games Eventing Championship. Thanks to her work, Fair Hill International eventually morphed into the Maryland 5 Star - only the second five-star event established in the United States as a permanent fixture.

“I don’t know of anyone who has dedicated their life to the improvement of eventing in the way that you have,” said eventing legend and fellow Hall of Fame member Jim Wofford. “I hope you know that your sport is a better place for your efforts. Congratulations again, and thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Stay tuned throughout the year to find out the additional members of the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022!

Want to learn more about the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame and read about the current members? Click here.