United States Eventing Association

This time next Friday, the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will be well underway in Seattle, Washington, at The Westin Seattle, and we want to make sure you make the most out of your trip. The Convention schedule for Dec. 12-15 is brimming with opportunities for education and socializing with your fellow eventing enthusiasts, and there are several seminars you won’t want to miss.

You’ve made it to your horse trial, your horse is settled, your equipment is unloaded and organized, you have checked in with the secretary, and everything is good to go–now what? It’s probably a good time to go on a little walk around the facility and familiarize yourself with your cross-country course.

Recently, while teaching the USEA EA21 Central Clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, I found myself reflecting on what it means to produce eventing horses all around this huge country where trainers, coaches, and athletes find themselves with vast differences in access to cross-country courses, schooling fields, or just open land.

Sleeping Fox Farm Eventing is honored to host three-time Olympic medalist Phillip Dutton (USA) for a two-day clinic at Leg Up Farm in Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania. The event will take place June 1-2, and will start at 8:00 a.m. each day.

As most eventers know, the key to success in the show ring often lies in the preparation done beforehand. For the cross-country phase, memorizing your course and having a plan is a given, but another key factor to consider is choosing the appropriate studs for your horse. If you're new to the sport, the concept of studs might seem a little overwhelming, but former USEA President and current co-chair of the USEA Grooms Committee Max Corcoran broke down all of the basics that you need to know when putting together your stud kit for the first time or before packing up for your first show of the 2024 season.

There are currently 48 states which are covered under the Equine Activity Liability Act. This act, which does not apply in the states of California or Maryland, shifts the burden of the risk involved in equine activities onto the participant. However, as USEA Board of Governor member and attorney Yvonne Ocrant pointed out during her seminar, “Equine Law 101: Understanding & Minimizing Risk of Liability in Equine Activities,” which took place during the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, there are always exceptions to every rule.

The United States Eventing Associations’ (USEA) Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) is pleased to announce the dates and location of the upcoming 2024 ECP Symposium. The annual ECP Symposium, which is held in the southeast to accommodate the migration of eventers for the winter season, will be hosted at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida, on Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2024. This three-day immersive educational experience is recommended for anyone who is interested in learning more about eventing coaching, including current coaches, riders, parents, owners or avid supporters. Click here to download the registration form today!

There are only four days to go until the start of the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds! Whether you’re already on your way to the Kentucky Horse Park or you’re preparing to start your trip, this article has all of the last-minute information you need for a smooth arrival at the venue. The 2023 USEA AEC takes place from Tuesday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Sept. 3, and features championship divisions from Beginner Novice through Advanced. The $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final is the pinnacle level of competition at the AEC, and the USEA Adult Riders will again have the opportunity to compete in the Adult Team Championships (ATC) from Beginner Novice through Preliminary.

As complex as eventing can be through the various lines and tracks presented to horses and riders in the jumping phases, gridwork can help make things simpler when in the heat of the moment of a competition, clinic, or lesson. Regardless of the level, gridwork teaches horses and riders to establish the rhythm they will need and the feeling they get from successfully riding a line of jumps.