United States Eventing Association

Tik Maynard to Give Keynote Address at 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is thrilled to announce that eventer and horseman Tik Maynard will give the keynote address at the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, held Dec. 12-15 in Seattle, Washington.

Maynard, who’s native to Canada, has ridden to the four-star level, most recently on his own, Sinead Maynard, and the A.C.E. Syndicate’s SKM Lux Sonata, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Lux Z x Garrendruig Sally).

Based in Ocala, Florida, with his wife, five-star eventer Sinead Maynard and two children, Tik is as passionate about training horses as he is competing.

This year he made history at the Road To The Horse competition in Lexington, Kentucky, where he became one of only two English riders to win. Known as the “World Championships of colt starting,” the competition pairs trainers with unstarted horses and gives them just a few days to back them and demonstrate what they’ve accomplished. Tik came in first in all three of the individual rounds to clinch the win.

Tik was able to bring home his horse, Tom Cat, and he’s hoping to continue both their educations through ground work and other kinds of western riding.

He plans to speak at the Convention on his experience at Road To The Horse and what lessons he’ll take forward from it with his own horses, his competition career, and in life in general.

“It was a highly-charged, emotionally-taxing event to do where I made a connection with a horse in three days,” he said. “Because of the circumstances, it felt like one of the most interesting, intense, profound, important connections I’ve ever made with a horse in my life. I feel like there are a lot of things I’m still processing and thinking about from that weekend, and there are a lot of lessons I hope I’m going to be able to take forward into other stuff. I really look forward to sharing them with other people, and I’m curious if they’re going to find them interesting or relatable and if they’re going to be able to take them into some of their lives with horses as well.”

Tik was inspired by last year’s Convention speaker Temple Grandin and is honored to follow in her footsteps.

“Temple Grandin is one of my big heroes,” he said. “It’s an honor and a pleasant surprise to be invited after her because I have a lot of respect for her. Sinead will be coming with me. She’s one of my heroes in eventing as well as my wife. She’s always followed who’s been the keynote speaker at the USEA Convention, and it’s really nice to be able to share that with her.”

For more information on the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, please visit useventing.com/convention. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting & Convention, please contact Jennifer Hardwick, Senior Director of Membership Services and Meeting Planning, at [email protected].

About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place in Seattle, Washington, on Dec. 12—15. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

The USEA would like to thank the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Sponsors: Adequan, ARMA, Bates Saddles, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet Shock Wave, Rebecca Farm, RevitaVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee, and World Equestrian Brands.