United States Eventing Association

Prizes and Free Entries to Claim at the USEA Intercollegiate Championships Next Week!

The United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Intercollegiate Eventing Team Championships are one week away, taking place at the Virginia Horse Center May 25-28, 2017. Team prizes and free entries will be awarded to top placing teams at the second annual Intercollegiate Championships.

At last year’s Championships, 37 students from 10 colleges and universities forming 10 teams competed for top honors. The University of Georgia (UGA) Red Team were the eventual winners, but the competition was close, with less than 10 points separating the top four teams. UGA also won the coveted Spirit Award and received a refund on their entries to VHT.

2016 USEA Intercollegiate EventingTeam Champions, The University of Georgia (Red Team). USEA Photo.

Nearly 90 riders and 22 teams have already entered the 2017 Intercollegiate Championships, which is more than double the participation from the inaugural Championships last year at the Virginia Horse Center. Colleges and Universities from up and down the East Coast, as well as some from Texas are entered to compete for the Title of 2017 Intercollegiate Eventing Champions.

All college competitors will be stabled together in “College Town” which will be located in a large stabling complex with an indoor arena. Riders stabled in College Town will have a dedicated scoreboard to keep up with the college team standings and championship announcements.

Each team is encouraged to set up gazebos and tents in College Town and decorate their stabling area with their school colors, banners and gear to show their school pride. The team with the best decorations that show the most school spirit will win the “Spirit Award” and be awarded with free entries for the entire team.

Thanks to the generous USEA sponsors, ribbons will be awarded to the top six teams, and prizes will be given to the top four teams. The Champion team will receive prizes such as Champion embroidered show coolers, silver plate trophies, embroidered saddle pads from the USEF, Charles Owen helmet bags, FLAIR nasal strips, USEA apparel, and more! The Reserve Champion team will receive Reserve Champion plates, embroidered saddle pads from the USEF, Ovation zocks, Likit treat bars, sponsor ball caps, and many more miscellaneous items. The third and fourth place teams will receive USEF embroidered saddle pads, as well as USEA gift certificates.

Scoring and Team Dynamics

To account for differences in level difficulty, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. Only the best three individual scores will count towards the team score, so teams of four will have one “drop” score.

The coefficient system that will be applied at the Championship is as follows:

Beginner Novice: 1.1

Novice: 1

Training: 0.9

Preliminary: 0.85

Intermediate: 0.75

CCI*: 0.75

CIC2*: .70

The team with the lowest score at the end of all three phases will be named the 2017 Intercollegiate Champion.

To participate in the Championship, schools must be affiliated with the USEA. Schools may fill out this form to become an affiliate. For more information, contact Kate Lokey at [email protected] or (703) 779-9897.

To view the omnibus listing for the Intercollegiate Championships at the Virginia Horse Center, click here.

About the USEA Intercollegiate Program

In 2014, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program as an official program of the USEA. Originally proposed with input from the Intercollegiate Eventing League, the program was established to provide a framework on which Eventing teams and individual competition could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. Click here to see if your school is an University Affiliate.

Don’t forget if you have not yet renewed your membership with the USEA – Collegiate members get a $25 discount! Log onto your Online Services Account to renew, and a $25 refund will be issued after the USEA has received proof of enrollment.

About the Virginia Horse Trials

The Virginia Horse Trials has been a premier Eventing destination for over 25 years. Situated on 600 acres, the Virginia Horse Center is a first-class venue. Brian and Penny Ross founded the Virginia Horse Trials in 1989, and organized the Event through its 25th Anniversary in 2014. Andy Bowles took over the organization of the Virginia Horse Trials in 2015 and looks forward to maintaining it as a destination for east coast eventers in the years to come.