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Aug 17, 2020
USEA Podcast #264: Preview the 2020 MARS Great Meadow International
We’ve been waiting all season for the opportunity to do a preview episode and the chance is finally here – this week on the USEA Podcast we’re bringing you a preview of the field for the CCI4*-S at the 2020 MARS Great Meadow International (GMI)! Set to take place this week beginning on Wednesday, the 2020 MARS GMI is offering CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-S, and Preliminary divisions and has received more than 200 entries. Nicole Brown is joined by USEA CEO Rob Burk, USEA President Max Corcoran, and two-time GMI four-star winner Jennie Brannigan to discuss the field entered to compete in this year's CCI4*-S which has a whopping 75 entrants.
- Before this week’s show got started, Rob took a moment to touch on the cancellation of the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC), which was set to take place at the end of August at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. With competitors from 41 states entered to compete and additional cancellations at the Horse Park due to concerns over COVID-19, the USEA Board of Governors ultimately made the decision to cancel the event.
- Five-star eventer Jennie Brannigan is the only competitor to have won the CCI4*-S at Great Meadow International twice, first in 2015 when the competition was being used at the final prep event for the Pan American Games, and second in 2017 when she was a member of the FEI Nations Cup team. Both years she rode her longtime partner, Nina Gardner's Irish Sport Horse gelding Cambalda (Balda Beau x Cathy's Lady), who incidentally is back this year to compete at GMI in the CCI2*-S division with his current rider, Maddie McElduff.
- Brannigan has four entries in the CCI4*-S this year: the Stella Artois Syndicate's 12-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare Stella Artois, Alyssa Phillips' 14-year-old KWPN mare Bliss III (Corland x Lenja), Nina Gardner's 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Holsteiner mare I Bella (Indoctro x Southern Girl), and Nina Gardner's 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Twilightslastgleam (National Anthem x Royal Child).
- Time at GMI is notoriously difficult to make – Brannigan observed that, in the past, it's been tricky because the cross-country course really uses the terrain to the best possible advantage. GMI is also typically the first big event back for the fall season, so not all riders to choose to go for time.
- With a field of 75, there are certainly some heavy hitters that will be traveling to The Plains, Va. later this week to compete. Who did we choose as our favorites? You’ll have to listen in to see who everyone’s final podium picks are!
- As no spectators are currently allowed at events per the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan, viewers will want to follow along from home with the live stream, which is being provided by Horse & Country TV, or with the live scores, provided by Live Scoring by CourseWalk App.
Subscribe to the USEA Official Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodBean, or Stitcher, or click below to listen in!
Jan 26, 2022
Instructors
Position, Balance, and Aids: Three Core Topics Covered in the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels
Whether you are a rider preparing for a move-up or a trainer looking to ensure your training program is well-rounded, the soon-to-be released USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels is the go-to guide to assist you in navigating key decisions. Lucky enough, attendees of the 2022 USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) Symposium at Barnstaple South Farm in Ocala, Florida on February 8-9 will be the first people outside of the those involved in its creation to access this passion project that the ICP Committee has put two years of research and hard work into developing.
Jan 25, 2022
Volunteers
2021 USEA Volunteer of the Year: Cynthia Smith and Her Record-Breaking Year
In 2021 Cynthia Smith recorded 536 hours and 59 minutes of volunteer time, setting the standard with the most amount of volunteer hours recorded in a single year since the creation of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program in 2016. The record-breaking number of volunteer time earned Smith the 2021 USEA Volunteer of the Year title.
Jan 24, 2022
Leaderboard
The USEA Lady Rider of 2021 is Leading the Charge in Elevating Eventing Competition on the West Coast
Tamie Smith’s year has been nothing short of action-packed as she packed up all 25 of her competition horses and made her way to the East Coast for the first part of the year before hopping on a jet to Tokyo where she served as the U.S. team reserve for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She then stayed overseas and competed abroad for a little while before returning home to the West Coast. While this year has been full of opportunities to show, her aspirations are bigger than just competition. The 2021 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year has been full steam ahead chasing goals in both her riding career as well as in her impact on the sport’s future.
Jan 23, 2022
Area Resources
Meet the USEA Areas: Area I
Get to know each United States Eventing Association (USEA) Areas a little better in this new series, Meet the Areas! This month’s feature is USEA Area I which is comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Founded in the 1960s, Area I was the birthplace of the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA) which was founded in 1959 and would later evolve into the USEA in 2001. In 2021 just under 800 members made up the membership count in Area I.
