Through the Lens: The Return to Competition

By Jessica Duffy - USEA Staff

Out of the box and away we go! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

After nearly three long months of waiting, eventers were finally able to return to competition this past weekend with three events taking place at River Glen in New Market, Tennessee; Feather Creek in Norman, Oklahoma; and Plantation Field in Unionville, Pennsylvania. The USEA attended the Plantation Field Horse Trials on Friday to observe the return to competition amid new restrictions put in place by the USEF to protect all in attendance from COVID-19. Read more about what eventing's "new normal" looks like in practice and check out more photos from this past weekend.

Medical staff were on site to perform contactless temperature checks at the single entrance to the show ground. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Packet pickup was self-service and available following temperature checks. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

CDC guidelines, course maps, and orders of go were posted throughout the show grounds that riders could take photos of with their phone in lieu of paper copies. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Feeling good to be out and about once again. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Warm-up areas were kept quiet so people could maintain social distance. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Plenty of smiling faces to be seen, even in the dressage arena! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Contactless bit check was one of the many new protocols in place due to COVID-19. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

It was clear that riders have been using the downtime to practice their skills in preparation for the return to competition. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Face masks and social distance gave the event a different look and feel. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes were available throughout the show ground. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

As part of the event's one-day format, riders completed their show jumping rounds and went immediately to cross-country. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

As always, volunteers are the reason this is all possible! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

New frangible tables were on display at Plantation Field this weekend. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Horses and riders alike were happy to be out competing again! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

There's nothing quite like that finish line feeling! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

A good post cross-country roll is just the icing on the cake! USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Dec 01, 2020 USEA Foundation

Support the USEA Foundation for #GivingTuesday

The USEA Foundation is thankful to you, our donors, for your generous support over the years. Your gifts to the Foundation showed your commitment to protecting the sport and the USEA against any future national crisis. Naturally, we all hoped that we would never see such a crisis, but in 2020 see it we did!

Dec 01, 2020 Convention

Announcing the Schedule for the 2020 USEA Virtual Convention

The 2020 USEA Virtual Annual Meeting & Convention is next week and the schedule is now available! The centerpiece of this week will be the USEA Annual Meeting & Keynote Address, taking place on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time through a Zoom Webinar.

Nov 30, 2020 Association News

Etalon Diagnostics Returns to Sponsor YEH and FEH

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the renewed partnership with Etalon Diagnostics. As a Contributing Level Sponsor to the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) and USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) programs, Etalon Diagnostics will provide 10 Minipanel PLUS Tests with Ancestry to be used towards prizes for the USEA YEH and USEA FEH Championships.

Nov 30, 2020 Future Event Horse

Conformation Critique with Chris Ryan: Luprian

“What a stunning photo of a stunning individual,” was Chris Ryan’s first remark when assessing this 2-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. “He typifies the refinement the Thoroughbred brings to the table. Look at the fine outlines. Look at the jugular groove and those beautifully light connections."