United States Eventing Association

Save the Date for the 2019 USEA Educational Symposium at the Grand Oaks Resort!

The United States Eventing Asssociation (USEA) Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP), Future Event Horse (FEH) Program, and Young Event Horse (YEH) Program are teaming up once again to bring USEA members the ultimate educational opportunity in Florida this winter. Taking place February 18-21, 2019, the USEA Educational Symposium has found a new home at the impressive Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Florida.

The Grand Oaks Resort is located just 25 miles south of Ocala and features remarkable equestrian facilities with state-of-the-art arena footing, immaculate cross-country courses, a covered arena, and ample stabling.

“The Grand Oaks Resort is a unique resort destination with an equine heartbeat,” stated Managing Partner Tom Warriner. “We are one of the few places in Florida that boast terrain, over 12 arenas with state-of-the-art fiber, a sit-down restaurant and coffee shop, where one has the ability to stay in one of our cottages and play. Our partners, including Shelley Page and Clayton Fredericks, have contributed to the management, course design, and schooling venues we hope will guide us as long-term supporters of eventing. We are proud supporters of the USEA and this Educational Symposium.”

The ICP Symposium will take place Monday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 19. Monday will be a dressage training day, with focus on training and movements with clinician Maxime Livio. On Tuesday, Livio will teach show jumping and cross-country, focusing on riding related fence lines. Both ICP days will require demo riders at Training level through Advanced level.

The Training and Education of the Young Eventing Horse Symposium will take place Wednesday, February 20 and Thursday, February 21. Both dates will host morning classroom sessions inside the Grand Oaks Resort, with live sessions and riding demonstrations taking place outside both afternoons on the grounds. Wednesday will primarily focus on the Young Event Horse program with featured clinician Maxime Livio teaching and riding and Thursday will feature the Future Event Horse program with FEH judges Robin Walker and Peter Gray. FEH and YEH judges will be able to maintain their judging status by attending the FEH and YEH days as judging workshops are available at the symposium.

For anyone interested in attending the ICP symposium as a demo rider, please contact Lauren Gash at [email protected]. For anyone interested in sending their young horse as a demo horse in the FEH and/or YEH symposium, please contact Kate Lokey at [email protected].

To register to attend as a spectator for the ICP symposium on Monday and Tuesday, click here. To register for the FEH/YEH portion of the symposium on Wednesday and Thursday, click here.

The USEA is setting up a room block in The Villages, Florida area, just a 15-minute drive from the Grand Oaks Resort. More information on hotel booking with the USEA room block will be available soon.

For more information on the ICP Symposium taking place Monday and Tuesday, February 18-19, 2019, contact Nancy Knight at [email protected] or (703) 669-9997.

For more information on the Training and Education of the Young Eventing Horse Symposium taking place Wednesday and Thursday, February 20-21, contact Kate Lokey at [email protected] or (703) 779-9897.

About the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program

Instructors are essential to the training of riders and horses for safe and educated participation in the sport of eventing. The USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) was initiated in 2002 to educate all levels of eventing instructor with essential training principles upon which those instructors can continue to build throughout their teaching careers. ICP offers educational Workshops and Assessments by which both regular instructors, Level I through Level IV, Young Event Horse (YEH) instructors, and Young Event Horse professional horse trainers can become ICP certified. Additional Information about ICP’s goals, benefits, Workshops, and Assessments is available on the USEA website. Names and contact information for current ICP-certified instructors, YEH instructors, and YEH professional horse trainers are available on the USEA website as well, listed by ICP certificate level and type and by USEA Area. Click here to learn more about the Instructors’ Certification Program. The USEA would like to thank Stable Secretary, sponsor of the ICP program.

About the USEA Young Event Horse Program

The Young Event Horse (YEH) Program was first established in 2004 as an eventing talent search. Much like similar programs in Europe, the YEH program was designed to identify young horses that possess the talent and disposition to, with proper training, excel at the uppermost levels of the sport. The ultimate goal of the program is to distinguish horses with the potential to compete at the three- and four-star levels, but many fine horses that excel at the lower levels are also showcased by the program.

The YEH program provides an opportunity for breeders and owners to exhibit the potential of their young horses while encouraging the breeding and development of top event horses for the future. The program rewards horses who are educated and prepared in a correct and progressive manner. At qualifying events, youngsters complete a dressage test and a jumping/galloping/general impression phase. At Championships, young horses are also evaluated on their conformation in addition to the dressage test and jumping/galloping/general impression phase. Click here to view the jumping standards and specifications.

About the USEA Future Event Horse Program

The USEA introduced the Future Event Horse (FEH) Program in 2007 as a pilot program in response to the popularity of the already established USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program. Where the YEH program assesses 4- and 5-year-old prospective event horses based on their performance, the FEH program evaluates yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds for their potential for the sport based on conformation and type. Horses are presented in hand and divisions are separated by year and gender. At the Championships, 3-year-olds are also required to demonstrate their potential over fences in an additional free-jump division.

New in 2017 was the FEH 4-year-old division, designed for youngsters not quite ready for the rigors of the Young Event Horse program. These horses are presented under saddle at the walk, trot, and canter before being stripped of their tack and evaluated for their conformation. Additionally, 4-year-olds also participate in the free-jump divisions at Championships to show their potential over fences. Click here to learn more about the Future Event Horse Program.

The USEA would like to thank SmartPak, Standlee Hay Company, Merck Animal Health, and C4 Belts for sponsoring the Young and Future Event Horse Programs.