Jun 23, 2020

Tom O’Mara Elected President of US Equestrian for 2021-2025 Term

By USEF - Press Release

The US Equestrian Board of Directors has unanimously elected Tom O’Mara as the organization’s new president with his term beginning in January 2021. The election took place as part of the Mid-Year BOD Meeting on June 22 and 23, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. O’Mara will take office at the 2021 US Equestrian Annual Meeting, currently scheduled for January 12-17, in Austin, Texas.

O’Mara has been a member of the Board of Directors for four years, and has served as Secretary/Treasurer for the past two years. He has been an active part of the hunter/jumper community for many years, where his wife, Liz, daughters Meg, Casey, and Abby, and son T.J., are active competitors. Meg and T.J. are both past winners of the Dover Saddlery®/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final.

With a professional background as a financial services manager and consultant, O’Mara brought his business acumen to his role on the Board of Directors. He took on the task of heading the Drugs and Medications/Lab Review Task Force, which ultimately led to the transfer of the USEF testing lab to the University of Kentucky. O’Mara has also been active in elevating varsity equestrian as an intercollegiate sport.

“I am thrilled that the Board has elected Tom O’Mara as my successor as USEF President,” says the organization’s current president, Murray Kessler. “Tom is passionate about equestrian sport, is deeply experienced on USEF committees and the board, has unique experience with intercollegiate equestrian sports, and understands the importance of each of our 29 breeds and disciplines. He also brings real-world business experience to the position, which I found incredibly important over the past four years. I look forward to Tom building on the great progress made by the organization over the last four years and taking US Equestrian to the next level.“

"Tom has been an invaluable member of the Board of Directors over the past several years,” says US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “His experience in the organization and equestrian sport at large paired with his willingness to listen to and learn from all segments of the horse show industry position him well for the role of USEF President. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Tom in his new role.”

“It’s truly an honor to have been nominated for, and now elected, President of the United States Equestrian Federation,” says O’Mara. “I was fortunate to have worked with a great Board of Directors over the last four years led by President Murray Kessler, who I commend for having done so much in a relatively short time. Now, with that building block in hand, I see a lot more to come along the path he has set us on.

“I believe in the joy of horse sports and am focused on bringing the joy to as many people as we can,” O’Mara continues. “US Equestrian members know the imprint that the horse has made in their lives. I really believe there are so many more with similar passion for the horse who we will connect with through a variety of new and expanded initiatives. Many have already reached out to me with suggestions and solutions and I look forward to a continued dialogue with members and affiliates about the future of equestrian sport.”

O’Mara will remain in his current role as Secretary/Treasurer until officially beginning his presidential term in January 2021. Murray Kessler will continue to serve as US Equestrian President through the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Dec 06, 2023 Convention

Fast Facts: 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

Welcome to the Show Me state and to Area IV USEA members! The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention kicks of tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all with one aim—to bring the eventing community together to continue to improve upon and celebrate the sport that we all love. This year’s Convention takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis from Dec. 7-10, and we have rounded up everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the heartland.

Dec 05, 2023 Education

Digital Resources to Maximize Education & Access for the Eventing Community

To accompany the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, USEA Educational Partner STRIDER has prepared Digital Resources to Maximize Education & Access for the Eventing Community. In keeping with the USEA’s mission to expand the sport of eventing, this webinar outlines ways in which digital tools can be leveraged to increase access and education across equestrian opportunities. As part of STRIDER’s popular Professional Development Webinar Series, this presentation aims to provide a quick overview of best practices and digital tools used across the equestrian industry to boost growth.

Dec 05, 2023 Young Event Horse

Young Event Horse Arden Augustus Exceeds All Expectations for Antenucci and White

Every horse who participated this year in the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program has a story—a background that involves a breeder who labored over bloodlines, veterinary care, initial training, and so much more. This year’s highest-placing U.S.-bred horse in the 5-year-old division at the Dutta Corp./USEA Young Event Horse Championships, Arden Augustus, is no exception. His breeder and owner, Anita Antenucci of Arden Farms in Upperville, Virginia, started her program nine years ago and said that the Warmblood gelding was a more emotionally driven breeding for her than others due to his connections with Antenucci’s long-time friend Sharon White.

Dec 04, 2023 Young Event Horse

USEA Podcast #349: All About the USEA Young Event Horse Program

Have you ever wondered why professional riders love bringing their horses through the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program? USEA Podcast host Nicole Brown chats with two of this year's YEH Champions, Caroline Pamukcu who won the USEA YEH 4-year-old East Coast Championship aboard HSH Afterglow, and Andrea Baxter who won the USEA YEH 5-year-old Championship with Camelot PJ, to discuss this year's Championships and all of the great things that the program has to offer.

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