He never finished outside of the top 10 in 2019, he placed third at the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, he won the CCI4*-S division at Stable View, and earned 210 USEA points last year to be named the 2019 Standlee Premium Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year - Z is the January Horse of the Month! Z is an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by the Z partnership and ridden by Phillip Dutton.
A workhorse who is naturally shy and dislikes crowded arenas - learn more about the Zangersheide gelding through his longtime rider, Dutton.
About Z
“Z is a pretty easy name so that sticks.”
“Z is a good eater - he likes most food including carrots, mints, etc.”
“I would say it’s the cross-country. He certainly gets pretty excited about it, but I can tell he’s also proud of himself at the finish and the cool down.”
“He is naturally a bit shy, but as his education has increased so has his confidence and outward personality.”
“He likes to work, so that’s one of the reasons we get along. I do think he likes to compete and perform. He also likes his turnout.”
“He is not a fan of crowded arenas and warmup.”
“I feel lucky to be a part of his career and to watch him grow and mature. Plus, I think the best is ahead of him.”
About the USEA Horse of the Month
The USEA is recognizing an event horse each month on the USEA website and social media. The USEA Horse of the Month is determined based on statistics and event results and announced at the beginning of every month. The January Horse of the Month was selected based on the performance of the 2019 USEA Competition season.
With 2025 just days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the top moments for the USEA across the 2024 season. Take a trip down memory lane with us and relive these high-performing moments from our online news, the USEA Podcast, and our Instagram account!
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.