United States Eventing Association

USEA Adult Riders Program to Host Course Walk with Derek di Grazia at 2025 #K3DE

Will you be at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this year? Are you a member of the USEA Adult Rider Program? Then you will not want to miss out on this exciting opportunity to join cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia on a walk of the CCI5*-L cross-country course. The USEA-hosted event will take place at 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, April 24.

This course walk is only open to USEA Adult Rider Program members. Those who wish to participate should meet at the five-star start box at 8:15 a.m.

The Adult Rider Program is proud to offer these course walking opportunities as they help focus on two key points of the program's mission: to provide opportunities for adult members of the USEA to enhance their knowledge and skills through educational activities and by helping to create a community of support and encouragement amongst adult riders all across the country through these fun group activities.

"We appreciate when course designers lead walks at these types of events as it allows members to come together to learn more about the art and science of course designing," shared Amy Winnen, chair of the USEA Adult Rider Coordinator Committee.

In addition to the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, di Grazia’s courses have been featured at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (England), the Tokyo Olympics, MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, Canada), and the Morven Park International Horse Trials (Leesburg, Virginia). As a rider, di Grazia won the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 1985 with Sasquatch (Quinta’s Playboy x Sweet Surprise), a Thoroughbred-Appaloosa cross. He began designing cross-country courses in 1986 and has designed at Kentucky since 2011.

The USEA Adult Team Championship will make its debut at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, this year during the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by Nutrena Feeds. Click here for more information about the USEA Adult Team Championship.

About the USEA Adult Team Championships

The USEA Adult Team Championships, which debuted in 2014, is the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges, providing adults the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area of the country in a friendly and fun environment. Historically, adult riders had three regional Team Challenges in which to compete with fellow adults in a team environment, with the locations changing each year. In 2013, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators voted to move to support Adult Team Challenges taking place in all 10 Areas across the country, with the finale being the ATC at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Each Area can send up to eight teams from Beginner Novice through Preliminary level to the ATC. Adult Riders know how to have a good time, and there is no doubt that they bring an increased level of excitement and camaraderie to the AEC! Click here to learn more about the USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Schneiders Saddlery, and Sidelines Magazine for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.

About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations 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. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 26-31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Standlee; and more!