We hope you enjoy the photo gallery from this year's USEA Convention down in New Orleans - it will certainly be fondly remembered for many years. If you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out the Lucinda Green videos from her speech at the Meeting as well. Click here to see it! (Photos by Josh Walker)
Yes, that's snow you see outside the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans!Convention attendees help themselves to the tasty buffet during the Board of Governors Welcome Reception on Thursday night. That fruit display was hard to pass up...Good times were had by all during Thursday night's festivities!A local musician set a jazzy mood for the Friday night Area III "Masked Event"Partygoers grabbed masks at the door or showed up in their own...and then the fun began!J.J. Johnson got the crowd revved up at the event.Most people wore their masks on their faces...but there's always a rebel in every bunch.USEA President Kevin Baumgardner welcomed our keynote speaker Lucinda Green with open arms on Saturday.Lucinda's passion for the sport and love of horses was evident during her heartfelt speechSaturday's Award Luncheon was a time to celebrate competitors who've had an exceptional year and loyal members who contribute so much to our sport.Rohena Armstrong won the Adult Amateur Worth the Trust Scholarship.Kay Brady had an exceptional year at the Beginner Novice topping the national leaderboards in the Master BN Rider & Master Amateur BN Rider sections, while her horse Homecoming Affair won top BN Horse.Elisabeth Mehner and her horse Good Day Gali won awards on the Novice leaderboards.Bethany Myers receives her award for being the top Junior Training Rider in the nation.Callie Judy's had a wonderful year, and took home top honors in the Junior Preliminary Leaderboard.Jennifer Brannigan & her horse Cooper (who unfortunately couldn't make it to "N'awlins") cleaned up on the Young Rider Intermediate & Intermediate Horse leaderboards.Ronald Zabala-Goetschel was the national Master Amateur Advanced Rider.Jennie & Cooper also won the Intermediate Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series, and accepted the award from President Baumgardner and Allyn Mann of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the makers of Adequan®Tory Smith won the Advanced Gold Cup with her horse Bantry Bay V. Here she shares the spotlight with her good friend Jennie.Kevin presents Becky Bowen with a Governors Cup. The USEA Governors' Cups are presented annually to the volunteers who form the backbone of eventing. These are individuals who labor tirelessly behind the scenes at the many jobs associated with the running of the sport.Always smiling and cheerful, Patte Clement accepts her Governors Cup.Jackie Fisher Smith got to accept her son's Worth the Trust Scholarship (Young Adult) earlier, and then got to accept her own Governors Cup!Carol Kozlowski serves on the USEA Board of Governors, is VP of Safety, a talented rider and trainer, and now the owner of well-deserved Governors Cup. Marty Whitehouse accepts the Courtney Reeves trophy. This trophy is awarded to the young individual who exemplifies sportsmanship, the spirit of the sport, and who gives back to the sport.Aaron Rust wins some new equipment for winning the Posthole Digger Award.John Williams had an overwhelming majority of the popular vote, which gave him the honor of accepting the Neil Ayer Course Designer's Award. This award commemorates Neil's passion for cross-country design and is presented to a cross-country designer in recognition of their innovation and vision.The As You Like It Above and Beyond Award is presented to a horse owner who has competed at the preliminary level or higher and has gone "above and beyond" in support of their rider(s), helping them achieve their goals. Thom Schulz & Laura Coats, owner of McKinlaigh, proudly accept this award.Lefreda Williams accepted the Andrew H. Popiel Memorial Award. This award is donated by the Popiel family in memory of legendary organizer Andrew Popiel, honors the unsung heroes of eventing—the organizers. Nominees were chosen by Area personnel from a list of current organizers.Ralph Hill was his usual smiling, jolly self as he accepts the Ironmaster Award, a special award given to the person who exemplifies courage and fortitude.Malcolm Hook won the prestigious Wofford Cup, an award given each year by the Wofford family to honor someone whose service to the sport has made a profound impact. Past Wofford Cup winners choose new winners each year.Jennie Brannigan took home top honors for Young Rider of the Year.Ronald Zabala-Goetschel was Adult Amateur of the Year.Jennifer Wooten accept the Mare of the Year award on behalf of her talented partner The Good Witch.Phillip Dutton won his ninth (or tenth??) USEA Rider of the Year award.USEF Director of Executive Sport Programs presents Appreciation Gifts to owners and riders on the Olympic Team - here he presents Karen O'Connor an award.Gina Malito accepts the Pony of the Year award for Woodlands Silver DollarUSEA members vote during the Annual Meeting on Saturday afternoon.The U.S. Olympic team shares their ups and downs of their experience in Hong Kong, and the video & photo re-cap of the Games brought a swell of emotions from the team members as well as their fans.During the live auction on Saturday night, several lessons with top riders including Boyd Martin, were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Boyd got the crowd pumped and the bids poured in!One special item to be auctioned off was a bracelet made by Sarah Kelley, which is woven from Theodore O'Connor's tail. The bids were high, but in the end Howard Simpson won the bracelet (via a phone bid!) and gave it to Karen O'Connor. Half the money went to horse pulmonary hemorrhage research and the other half will be used to send a talented horse and rider team to Burghley for valuable international experience.
It's cross-country day at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event! Easily the busiest day the Kentucky Horse Park sees each year, make sure to get there early, grab your coffee, and go ensure you get the viewing spot you want for both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions today.
Ask any U.S. eventing fan what the biggest day in the sport all year is, and they will most definitely respond with, "cross-country day at Kentucky." Saturday is by far the busiest event, normally averaging around 40,000 people at the Kentucky Horse Park, which is nearly 50% of the event's total ...
New Zealand’s Monica Spencer found herself in a familiar position at the end of the second day of dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event today—in first after dressage in the five-star aboard her longtime partner Artist.
