Over the course of the last few weeks, we’ve been inundated by horrific images of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Horse people all share a common bond, and that sense of community extends beyond Area II. In light of this, Eileen Pritchard-Bryan has generously offered to partner with us on a USEF/USEA & FEI Eventing rules refresher webinar as a fundraiser for those affected by the recent hurricanes.
Eileen is an FEI Eventing Steward, Level 4, FEI Eventing Judge, USEF Eventing Technical Delegate and Judge, as well as a USEA Young Event Horse Judge. Eileen was an Assistant Steward in 2010, 2014, and 2018 at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) and the FEI Eventing Chief Steward at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. In addition to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Eileen has been the Chief Steward for the MARS Maryland Five Star at Fair Hill, Bromont Three-Day Event CCI, Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event and CCI, Plantation International CCI, and Carolina International, among others.
When: Monday, November 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Cost: Donate $20 or more to one of three non-profit organizations: Fleet of Angels, the Humane Society of the United States, or United Way of North Carolina
Details: This webinar is open to everyone. Please send a screenshot of your donation confirmation or forward your donation receipt to [email protected]. Please title your email “Area 2 Hurricane Relief Fundraiser.” Once your submission has been received, you will get an email with the link to the Zoom webinar. Please include in your email any questions you’d like Eileen to consider in her presentation
About the non-profit organizations:
Fleet of Angels. Fleet of Angels has been called “the most responsive national go-to organization in the country” for helping horse owners and small rescues when they need urgent assistance after being devastated by a natural disaster or other major emergency. Their goal is to keep horses safe and in good care so that they can stay with their loving families and equine friends. By providing a combination of grants and services, Fleet of Angels provides qualified applicants with whatever is needed to provide a solution to temporary challenges to give owners more time to find long-term solutions. No other equine-centric nonprofit in the country laser-focuses its resources on the mission of providing grants and critical services to both private owners and small rescues to help their horses through crisis. www.fleetofangels.org
Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society is the nation’s most effective animal protection and animal welfare organization working to end suffering for all animals. Through the Humane Society’s rescue, response, and sanctuary work, as well as other hands-on animal care services, they help thousands of animals every year. The Humane Society currently has teams on the ground in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and other states devasted by the recent hurricanes. They are helping communities and animals by transporting cats and dogs to safety, helping devastated animal shelters, and providing food, resources, and veterinary care. www.humanesociety.org
United Way of North Carolina. The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund will help provide for immediate unmet needs through reimbursements to nonprofits working with disaster survivors. For immediate, unmet needs, the United Way of North Carolina will provide grants to nonprofits or reimburse nonprofits working in impacted communities. If sufficient donations are collected to support long-term recovery work, the North Carolina Community Foundation’s affiliate foundations and statewide grants committee will work to ensure that all donations are distributed to nonprofits that can best serve the unmet needs in affected communities. www.unitedwaync.org
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.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.