They say it’s too far to travel, that January is too cold, and some even say that it’s a waste of time. Sadly, I’ve even heard it whispered that the Annual Meeting is just boring.
So, I turned to the infamous “They” and asked, “Have you ever attended? Have you ever sat with your fellow eventer and cheered as they picked up year-end ribbons? Or, have you ever watched the Young Riders' year played out on a slideshow of inspiration? No, comments like that prove that you, the infamous “They," have yet to experience the fun of Area I’s Annual Meeting!”
This year, 100 strong showed up for a packed agenda coupled with a very competitive Silent Auction. Lunch was a spectacular Italian buffet ending with an array of sweets. It was an event filled with challenge (beating out a neighbor to win a coveted entry), clapping (congratulations to year-end award winners), and culture.
From the Organizers Meeting:
From the Annual Meeting:
From the Keynote Speaker – Steven Kraus, Head Farrier at Cornell University:
“The Effects of Conformation on Performance and Soundness”
It was evident from the minute Steve began his talk that he was not a man given to vague references or
uncertain opinions. He believes that by understanding conformation we can select and manage our performance
horses to have a long and sound career.
He provided photographic examples of conformational defects and how those defects manifest in the hoof. His
explanations left more than a few of us picturing the hooves of our own horses, trying to determine how they fit
the photos shown. Steve methodically gave us an overview of how conformational problems could be managed
through proper shoeing.
Ultimately, by knowing more about its effects on performance, a buyer may be more prudent in selecting good
conformation in their future event horse.
Be sure to check the upcoming Optimum Minutes for more Annual Meeting notes!
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.