United States Eventing Association

Many years ago, I composed a document for my students called “The Building Blocks for Learning to Ride.” It covered the progressive stages of learning to ride, from sitting on a horse and holding the reins for the first time to jumping cavalletti and preparing for course work. Each step was numbered. I wrote it so that any student of mine who found themselves stuck, in a rut, or regressing could find where they were on this “Building Block” roadmap and then work backward through the previous blocks to see where they might have missed a step or needed to reconfirm a skill.

Coaches from across the country convened at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida, from Jan. 30-Feb. 1 for the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium. Each day was dedicated to a different phase of the sport, and coaches were able to learn from ECP faculty, guest speakers, and demo riders from Intro to Intermediate.

The final day of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium was all about show jumping, but as event riders know, proper flat work is the key to better jumping. As with the previous two days, participants broke into groups with ECP coach mentors to observe demo riders from Beginner Novice through Intermediate, then come up with a lesson plan that included a few key points to work on.

Olympian and five-star winner Karen O’Connor took the literal reins at the start of day 2 of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium as she spoke about proper cross-country position in front of a group of enthusiastic riders and coaches at the Florida Horse Park.

Nearly 50 participants headed to the Florida Horse Park today for the start of the 2024 USEA Eventing Coaches Program Symposium. Each day, participants pair up with ECP Faculty members to discuss demo rides, brainstorm ideas, and create lesson plans. They also have the opportunity for question-and-answer sessions with top professionals in the sport.

Beginning tomorrow, the 2024 Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium will kick off at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida. The event runs from Tuesday, Jan. 30 through Thursday, Feb. 1 and will provide an opportunity for a multitude of eventing enthusiasts and professionals to immerse themselves in the latest and greatest teaching philosophies and techniques of the sport to encourage the safe and successful progression of students. Members won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience the USEA’s revamped program for developing coaches and evaluating riders of all levels.

The 2024 ECP Symposium is less than two weeks away, and the star-studded list of faculty and special guests set to lead the three-day immersive educational experience is sure to make this an unforgettable event. On Jan. 30–Feb. 1, current eventing coaches, riders, parents, owners, and avid supporters of the sport will convene in Ocala, Florida, at the Florida Horse Park to experience some of the key elements of the USEA’s revamped program for developing coaches and evaluate riders of all levels. Click here to register to attend today!

As attendees of the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention filled the room of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Mini-Symposium, ECP instructors began bringing chairs in from the hallway to make sure every participant had a chair in one of the most exciting and interactive sessions at this year’s Convention, held Dec. 7-10 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The United States Eventing Associations’ (USEA) Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) welcomes all interested coaches, riders, parents, owners and avid supporters of the sport of eventing to make plans to attend the 2024 ECP Symposium in Ocala, Florida, on Jan. 30 – Feb. 1! The annual ECP Symposium, which is held in the southeast to accommodate the migration of eventers for the winter season, is at the Florida Horse Park in 2024 and provides an immersive, three-day educational experience for anyone who is interested in learning more about eventing coaching. Click here to download the registration form today!

Cross-country riding is one of the highlights of an eventer’s competition life and certainly the center of an eventer’s experience. So, what does it take for someone to learn how to make cross-country fun, safe, and challenging? Can you teach techniques that someone can learn these traits? This is where a coach can, and should, separate the techniques and make sure there is understanding of the requirements from the rider and the horse that are needed to accomplish that goal of a successful cross-country ride, at the level desired.