The United States Eventing Association (USEA) announces a multi-year partnership with Sunsprite Warmbloods. As the Presenting Sponsor of the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP), Sunsprite Warmbloods is generously covering the cost for all USEA recognized events to use the EventingVolunteers.com application for the next five years! The application allows event organizers to post volunteer positions they need filled. Volunteers can easily sign up for shifts directly through the application, and record their hours for the USEA Volunteer of the Year leaderboard.
“Sunsprite Warmbloods constantly supports the sport of eventing” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “As the Presenting Sponsors of the Volunteer Incentive Program at its inception, Sunsprite stepped in to support some of the most important parts of our sport, our volunteers. The owners and operators of Sunsprite Warmbloods are also constantly stepping up as volunteers themselves. Couple that all with the fact that they are producing some of the leading horses in U.S. Eventing and beyond. We love Sunsprite Warmbloods!”
Sunsprite Warmbloods is a breeding and training operation in Southern California, specializing in today’s most successful competition warmbloods. Their mission is to breed the perfect athlete that can be a sane and sound partner for riders at all levels. They take great pride in raising and training their horses with the utmost care and attention. Don Trotter and Pamela Duffy of Sunsprite Warmbloods are longtime supporters of volunteerism in the sport of eventing. For more information, visit their website.
“The Volunteer Incentive Program exists in its current state because of a generous offer by the USEA to Sunsprite after Don and Rob had spoken about an opportunity for Don and I to sponsor a national program to honor volunteers at USEA recognized events,” stated Pamela Duffy of Sunsprite Warmbloods. “Volunteers are the soul of three-day eventing and Sunsprite Warmbloods is honored to assist in recognizing their contribution, passion, and dedication to the sport.”
Visit EventingVolunteers.com for the go-to spot for volunteers to sign up for events and keep track of volunteering hours.
About USEA Volunteer Incentive Program
Volunteers are the lifeline of our sport, the unsung heroes, and the people who make it possible to keep the sport alive. In efforts to recognize the dedication, commitment, and hard work that volunteers put into eventing, USEA formed the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) in 2015. In 2017, an online management portal was designed for volunteers, organizers, and coordinators at EventingVolunteers.com (available as an app for iOS and Android.)
Volunteer incentives include national and area recognition, year-end awards with ribbons, cash prizes, trophies, a top ten USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a “Volunteer of the Year” award which is given to the volunteer who tops the leaderboard by accumulating the most volunteer hours over the USEA competition year. Click here to learn more about the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP).
About the United States Eventing Association
The USEA is a non-profit 501 C (3), educational organization committed to providing eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skills. By assisting and educating competitors, event organizers and officials; maintaining responsible safety standards; and registering qualified competitions and clinics, the USEA offers a strong and continuous training opportunity for an ever-expanding field of world-class competitors. Just as importantly, the USEA provides a means for all riders, regardless of age or ability, to experience the thrill of eventing. Learn more about the USEA by visiting the website.
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.
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.
After the success of the first annual USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, members are not going to want to miss the second edition in 2025! Barry and Cyndy Olliff, owners of Stable View, and their team are gearing up for an even bigger and better event in the coming year. If you are a current or prospective member of the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or the Interscholastic Eventing League, be sure to block off the weekend of May 3-4, 2025 to attend these exciting Championships.