US Equestrian has announced the roster of horse-and-athlete combinations selected to compete at the 2020 Adequan USEF Futures Team Challenge – East Coast held in Unionville, Pa., from September 17-20, 2020. The format of the Adequan USEF Futures Team Challenge provides an opportunity for eventing athletes to gain valuable team competition experience in an unofficial team scenario on home soil at the CCI3* and CCI4* levels.
The concept initiated by Erik Duvander, U.S. Eventing Director of High Performance, has created a more defined structure to the High Performance eventing pipeline in the United States and fosters a competitive and elite atmosphere for future team and program riders. This year’s teams will be coached by Duvander and Leslie Law, USEF Eventing Development and Emerging Coach, both serving as Chef d’Equipe for their respective teams.
Applications were submitted to the USEF Performance Advisory Team and selected based off of results, potential, willingness to learn, and commitment to developing as future team athletes, following the FEI Nations Cup selection criteria as guidance. The team selections are as follows:
Erik Duvander’s Team
Leslie Law’s Team
The team results will be updated following each day of competition on the U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) and USA Eventing Facebook pages. Results will be calculated in the same manner as an FEI Nations Cup competition with the best three scores counting (one drop score from each team). While the athletes will be competing in either the CCI4*-S or CCI3*-S, their scores will be weighted equally.
The Adequan USEF Futures Team Challenge - West Coast will take place at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., from October 28-31, 2020. Applications close October 5. More information can be found on the US Equestrian website.
Selection to a team under the Adequan USEF Futures Team Challenge does not represent selection to a recognized U.S. team.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.