The fifth annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships were a huge success at the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, Va. this weekend. There was a record number of 105 Intercollegiate entries, which included 29 teams and 15 unique colleges and universities competing for the Championship titles.
This year was the first year where two divisions were offered – not just the undergraduate division, but also the new graduate division. The graduate division was open to current graduate students, as well as the seniors from the graduating 2020 class who missed out on last year’s Championships after the unfortunate cancellation due to COVID-19. This year’s Champions were the University of Kentucky Wildcats Team (Cosby Green, Ivie Cullen Dean, Caroline Dannemiller, and Abbey O’Day) in the undergraduate division and Amelia Bayer from James Madison University, Macy Clark from the University of Kentucky, and Mackenzie Krason from Virginia Tech in the graduate division. The prestigious Spirit Award was then claimed by Auburn University.
This year’s USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships would not have been possible without the support of some great sponsors, who helped make it special for all students in attendance. Bates Saddles, Saratoga Horseworks, Kerrits, RevitaVet, FITS Riding, World Equestrian Brands, EQuine AMerica Magazine, R&J Equine Kinetics, and US Equestrian all offered up incredible prizes for the students in both divisions.
The Intercollegiate sponsors sent the top three teams in the undergraduate division home with large prize bags filled with luggage bags, grooming bags and other goodies from Bates Saddles, certificates from FITS Riding, leather cleaning kits and certificates from World Equestrian Brands, special items from Equine America Magazine, incredible items such as show coats from Kerrits, branded saddle pads from US Equestrian and RevitaVet, and some other miscellaneous items. RevitaVet also gave the winning team a RevitaVet therapy system, and the winning team also received two spots to attend a one-month hydrotherapy sertive at R&J Equine Unlimited in Virginia. The champions in the graduate division also went home with large prize bags with items from all of the sponsors. Lastly, Saratoga Horseworks sent both Champion teams home with beautiful, custom embroidered show coolers.
The USEA would also like to thank The Virginia Horse Trials and Executive Director Andy Bowles for putting on such a wonderful event and giving this opportunity to the students. A special mention also goes to Leslie Threlkeld, USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Committee Chair, who continues to dedicate her time and energy into the program and on-site at the annual championships.
Top horses and riders headed to the Carolina Horse Park for the Setters' Run Farm Carolina International last weekend, held March 14-17. We were there to catch all the action in the premiere Yanmar America CCI4*-S division, which Liz Halliday and Miks Master C led from start to finish. Check out a few of our favorite photos from the open Intermdiate, Advanced, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S divisions!
The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!
Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.
With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).