United States Eventing Association

Riding has its ups and downs, regardless of the sport you concentrate on, but if you're an eventer, it's a positive roller coaster.

How many hours a day do you sit and think about tack? Probably and hopefully not too many, unless you're a bit weird. Naturally you contemplate it while trying to clean the green crud out from under the buckles of your bridle, or when a stirrup leather breaks in mid-air as you fly over the coffin jump, but most of us can get through a day nicely without thinking about leather. This reluctance to deal with our attitude towards tack is an obvious symptom of the severe psychological quirk that affects us all-TACK FRENZY.

I am your Fence Judge. You don't know me but I sit in a chair all day carefully watching each trip across my designated domain. I am that nameless, sometimes faceless person volunteering so that you can have the ride of your life. Treat me well... For without me, the Event does not run...

Last weekend the USEA hosted one of our most successful Conventions to date with over 400 attendees.

In 1993 Stephen Bradley and Sassy Reason were the first Americans to win the prestigious Burghley CCI4* and five U.S. riders finished in the top 10 - a super accomplishment for the country.

The 1975 Pan American Games were only the fifth edition of the Games and they took place in Mexico City.

In preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the USEA (then, USCTA) Safety Committee did a great deal of research on the affect of heat and humidity on horses and riders.

This week's Throwback Thursday presented by the Endowment Trust reminds us about the proper etiquette in the warm-up arena at competitions.

In 1984, Bruce Davidson was awarded the Windy Acre Farm Trophy for Rider of the Year for the second year in a row, following a successful eventing season in 1983 on Pilot Kid, J.J. Babu, and Dr. Peaches.

This article, reprinted from In Stride in the December Issue of Eventing USA (formerly USCTA News), is a good read as the winter approaches, which is typically a time full of hacking and flatwork for many riders.