Donations Still Needed to Help USEA Collapsible Fence Study Get the Green Light
The proposed USEA Collapsible Fence Study to be conducted by Dr. Suzanne Smith of the University of Kentucky and her team of graduate and undergraduate engineering students has captured the attention of many lovers of Eventing. The proposal is for a multi-task study which will be undertaken over a two-year period, 2016 and 2017 with the total cost estimated at $162,000. The USEA is delighted to report that it is getting closer to attaining the fundraising goal of $81,000 for year one of the study, but the goal still needs to be reached. Thank you to all who took the time to make a donation to this important endeavor, your generosity is so very much appreciated.
Once the study is underway the USEA plans to keep the membership regularly informed to see your dollars at work. Research done over the past few years has resulted in technological developments that have helped to lessen the risk of rotational falls on the types of fences that meet the specifications for reverse frangible pins and the MIMs system. The goal of the new study is to explore and develop other technologies that could expand the type of fences that can be made collapsible. In addition, work will take place on developing tools and methodologies for testing and verifying the safety features of new concepts and designs.
The fundraising, however, still goes on. Phase II will cost another $81,000 and the USEA will continue to ask for your help to cover that cost. Without you none of this could be done and again, our sincerest thanks to all who have shown us that you believe a safer sport is an enduring sport.
Other Donation Opportunities
If you are looking for other ways to support the Association and you haven’t had an opportunity to make your tax-deductible donation yet, there are many vital USEA educational programs that need assistance too, like the Instructor’s Certification Program, Officials’ Education and Equine Welfare, all with important objectives scheduled for this year. Your donation to the USEA General Fund will help to cover some of these costs.
If you are more interested in securing the long-term future of the sport through a donation to the new USEA Foundation where your dollars will be wisely invested by a team of experts with the sole aim of protecting and preserving the sport in the decades to come, then please consider going online at www.useventing.com and clicking on the donate button at the very top left-hand corner.
Whatever your passion, whether you can spare $10 or $100 (or more) please know how important your support of Eventing is to the USEA. You and your horses are the reason for everything we do.
Click here to donate online. Make sure to check the box for which you would like your funds to support.
We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.
The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!
Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.
Day 3 of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium at Galway Downs was all about correct cross-country position after an informative discussion from sports psychologist Natalie Hummel.