The Ocala Jockey Club is pleased to announce that, as part of the $100,000 Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event taking place November 16-19, 2017, one of the special events will be a Celebration of Women in Peak Performance Equestrian Sports Luncheon, held Friday November 17 at the OJC Clubhouse. Admission is included in VIP packages and for riders and officials at the event. Separate admission for the luncheon only may be purchased for $45 per ticket.
Equestrian sports are the only Olympic sport where men and women compete equally. Women comprise a disproportionate percentage of amateur riders and a large percentage of riders in lower level competitive divisions. However, it still requires a special level of commitment and support for women equestrians to get to the top levels of their chosen sport and stay there. As Nina Gardner, an owner and supporter of top rider Jennie Brannigan and some of her competition horses, says, “Challenges don’t seem to be related to lack of interest or lack of talent, but at least partially due to challenges in financial and other support for women riders.” The luncheon will be a celebration of those women who have made the journey to the top successfully, as well as a discussion of the current process and support system for women riders to succeed at the highest levels. Come to get inspired and to discuss ideas to do even better!
The Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event includes three FEI level divisions of competition: CIC3*, CCI*, and CCI2*, each also including a Thoroughbred Eventing Champion division. The event will start on Thursday, November 16, with dressage, continuing into the weekend's show jumping and cross-country events. There will also be a Family Fall Festival with many activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as a scavenger hunt on the cross-country course, sack races, and other games. Event information and tickets are on the event website at www.OJC3de.com.
The venue, the Ocala Jockey Club, is a crown jewel in Ocala, the winter and year-round horse destination for many disciplines. Ocala Jockey Club features a 924-acre Thoroughbred and eventing training and conditioning paradise. Venue information is at www.OcalaJC.com.
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
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.