United States Eventing Association

The Rider Experience with EMS

Dawn Robbins is a current USEA Board of Governors member, Area VI adult rider, and a contributor to the development of the Event Management System (EMS). Note that this article was written more than a year ago and serves as a guide for future USEA software development. The ‘guts’ of this complex system for organizing and scoring events – the Event Management System – is in development and a great deal of work has already been done. Show organizers and secretaries will interact with the EMS, while riders, owners, trainers, and spectators will interact with the free USEA Event Companion App on their smart devices – all tied to the same accurate and complete show information. Updates to the USEA Event Companion App are also in development but will not be complete until later in 2021. This article is to provide a vision of how EMS could change the competition experience in the future.

On my way to the barn in the morning, I receive an alert on my phone that the closing date for the Galway Downs May Horse Trials is today. At the barn, I open my USEA Event Companion App and log in. I enter the show, choosing one of my available horses, and I decide on the Preliminary Rider division once the app confirms my qualifications. I pay with my credit card, stored within my phone, order stabling, enter my preference of barns and stalls after the app shows me a map of the available barn locations, and I order shavings and an RV spot. I request that a receipt be texted to me, and I’m all set!

In the days leading up to the show, I decide to change my division. I open the app and make that change. Later, I receive a series of alerts. One is my time schedule with a division confirmation, and another is a stall number confirmation. I check on the app to find a map of the barns, competitor entrances, gate codes, wash racks, and show office location. As the weather reports become available, it appears that the temperatures will be high. I get an alert that the schedule has changed and I’ll be running cross-country an hour earlier in the morning. I log in to check that my friends are stabled near me and to see what time they run. I decide to ‘follow’ them throughout the weekend so that I’ll get their scores sent to me automatically, along with my own.

At the show, I perform my dressage test. Within a short time, I receive an alert that my score is ready to view. I check on my phone, and I see all of my individual movement scores, the judge’s comments, and my overall score. I forward the information to my trainer and my boyfriend. For the friends that I’m following, I start receiving alerts of their ride times and arena locations. I also realize that I’m going to need more shavings, so I order two more bales via the app. I get a confirmation that they’ll be there by 3:00 p.m. today. I also order a second ticket for the competitor party and get a receipt and confirmation.

The next day, I receive an alert as I’m getting ready for cross-country that there is a hold on course, and then I receive a second alert saying that my time has been delayed by 30 minutes. Once I’m done riding, I receive alerts that the scores are posted, including scores on each cross-country jump and my time. I can check the app and see how I’m doing overall, and I receive alerts if a score has been changed and re-posted.

The rest of the weekend goes great and I get an alert that the ribbons for my division are ready for pickup. Later, I receive an invoice for my charges, which I accept to close out my account. I get a receipt sent to me and a nice message from the show organizer, thanking me for coming to the event. The next day, I receive a notification from the USEA that my score has qualified me for the USEA American Eventing Championships and directing me to more information about attending.

About the Event Management System

The future of three-day eventing is in the new Event Management System (EMS). This new software system will allow for competitors, coaches, organizers, and secretaries to have relevant event information in their hands. By using advanced technology, this new software system will be an all-encompassing tool used to provide a well-organized, smooth competition with limited contact and instant updates.

For more information on EMS, please read What is EMS, the EMS Frequently Asked Questions, or contact [email protected].