Nov 23, 2020

Recipients of the Broussard Going Forward Grants Have Been Selected

Jennifer Rousseau is one of the recipients of the Broussard Going Forward Grants. Photo courtesy of the L'Esprit Equestrian Facebook page.

In July, the USEA Foundation announced a new set of educational grants spearheaded by the Broussard Family and the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust that would be awarded to deserving candidates 18 years old and above who are passionate about moving their commitment to the sport forward. These grants cover three areas: Horsemanship Immersion Program, Instructors' Certification Program, and Eventing Officials “r” Training Program.

The response to these "Going Forward" grants was overwhelming, and the caliber and quality of each applicant were impressive. This made decision-making nearly impossible. The review panel reviewed every single application and letter of recommendation submitted and then decided on a list of finalists to be interviewed via Zoom.

Following further deliberations, the panel is delighted to announce the name of the successful applicants by category:

Horse Immersion Program

  • Patricia "Peaches" Cava, Area VII

Instructors' Certification Program

  • Laura Vello, Area V
  • Gina Pletch, Area VIII
  • Michael Graham, Area IX

Eventing Officials "r" Training Program

  • Jeanie Clarke, Area III
  • Jennifer Rousseau, Area IV
  • John Meriwether, Area VII

The total amount of grants awarded was $32,000.

The review panel and the USEA Foundation would like to thank Jerome Broussard for his generosity in supporting these grants and his willingness to increase the total amount available when it was clear there were so many deserving candidates. This allowed grants to be awarded to seven individuals instead of four or five as was initially planned.

More information about the Going Forward Grants is available on the USEA Foundation website.

Jan 20, 2025 News

Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing

Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.

Jan 19, 2025

That “Forward” State of Mind

We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.

Jan 18, 2025 Interscholastic

Stars of the Interscholastic Eventing League Shot to the Top of the 2024 Leaderboards

The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!

Jan 17, 2025 Volunteers

2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year Susan Hart Makes USEA History with Gold Medal Achievement

Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.

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