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Aug 23, 2019
The Road to AEC: Coming Back Stronger
My name is Molly Hunt and I am 13 years old from Area II. I have qualified for the American Eventing Championships at Beginner Novice with my 19-year-old mare, Lena. She is an American Paint Quarter horse. We have had a tough road to the AEC.
We used to compete in jumpers with my previous trainer, then we got into the world of eventing only in the last 18 months. We had two great events in Beginner Novice in the summer of 2018 and decided to compete at the River Glen Horse Trials at Novice in November of 2018. We had a rotational fall at jump number 13 on cross-country. Lena was okay without injury, but I broke my arm. It was very scary, but when I realized we would be okay I knew I would get back on in a couple of months.
After a couple of months I was able to ease back into riding. When I went to a short arm cast, I was able to ride short amounts of flatwork. On New Year's Day I got my cast off and it was great to fully get back on, although we had to work back slowly until we both got our strength back. For the first months, we did lots and lots of trot and cantor sets to build up her fitness again. We slowly started to jump by just doing short combinations with little jumps then eventually longer courses with higher jumps. Shortly after that, we started cross-country schooling again to prepare for FENCE Horse Trials in the spring. We just needed one clear cross-country course to qualify for the AEC.
Our first event back after our fall was April 2019. After dressage at the horse trials, we were in 4th place, then after a clear cross-country later that day we were tied for first. Show jumping the next day happened to be my birthday as well. It was a great birthday because we had a clear round which made us end up in first place! Lena gave me the best birthday present EVER, qualifying us for the AEC!
She has the biggest heart of any mare I know and is one smart girl! All of our hard work has paid off and we can’t wait to be in Kentucky!
About the USEA American Eventing Championships
The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. The 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships will be held August 27-September 1, 2019 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.
Sep 30, 2022
Convention
Registration is Now Open for the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Savannah, Georgia!
Attention USEA members! Registration for the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is now open! The convention will be held in person on December 7-11, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Sep 30, 2022
News
USEA Names Athletes for Inaugural EA21 National Camp
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the selected Young Rider athletes for the Emerging Athletes 21 Program (EA21) national camp, now that the EA21 regional clinics have concluded. Twelve riders were accepted into each of the five regional EA21 clinics, taught by USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructors, and now riders have been selected from the regional clinics to participate in the inaugural EA21 national camp this winter.
Sep 29, 2022
Instructors
The Eventing Coaches Program: Phyllis Dawson on Training Horses and Riders
Ninety percent of training a horse is getting the horse to understand exactly what you want them to do. In general, horses are generous and willing creatures who want to please us; very seldom do they behave badly on purpose. Horses don’t come out and say, ‘Let’s make Mom’s (or Dad’s) life miserable today by going as poorly as possible - most prefer to do the right thing, as long as they know what that is.
Sep 28, 2022
Education
A Veterinarian’s Tips for Maximizing Longevity and Soundness
Regardless of the level at which a horse is competing, its veterinary team is at the forefront of most decisions regarding its career and well-being. Liz Arbittier, VMD, CVA, has been working with equine athletes for over two decades. Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) in 2001, she worked in private practice with a focus on sports medicine and pre-purchase exams until joining Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center Field Service team in 2013. Situated in the heart of Area II’s eventing scene, the team provides ambulatory services to the surrounding area, which is home to multiple Olympians.
