United States Eventing Association

USEA Welcomes Kerrits as the Official Competition and Training Apparel of the USEA

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is delighted to announce the new partnership with Kerrits, the Official Competition and Training Apparel of the USEA. Kerrits will also join as a Silver Sponsor of the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) Program, Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program, Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, and a Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

“Kerrits is thrilled to be partnering with USEA as the Official Competition and Training Apparel provider. It is very important to us that we are supporting equestrian sports in this country from the grassroots level up to develop well-rounded and well-educated horse people. Our partnership with USEA will help to support their mission of providing continuous training opportunities for riders, event organizers, and officials wishing to participate in eventing,” said CEO of Kerrits, Melissa Hubbard.

Kerrits sprouted from humble roots. The journey began when founder Kerri Kent took $50 and her passion for windsurfing to the fabric store in hopes of designing a swimsuit for women that would stay in place. With no money to spare, her patterns were made from paper bags and her fit models were local windsurfing friends. Once sewn, Kerri took her suits to the beach and sold them out of her gear bag. As Kerrits grew, so did their reputation. In 1991 The Oregonian wrote a feature on Kerri and the unique windsurfing inspired designs by Kerrits. Shortly after, a similar article appeared in The New York Times, mentioning Kerri’s wish to expand into another of her passions - creating a performance apparel line for women who rode horses. The article intrigued the CEO of Eisers, a well-known equestrian company. He called and asked Kerri to design a line for their On Course brand. A simple pack of carrot seeds for the hangtag and Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel was born.

Just like the swimwear line, the equestrian line gave women something they craved: functional clothing that looked great too. Up until then, equestrian wear was traditional in fabric and styling. Kerrits featured performance fabrics, brighter colors, and new styles never seen in equestrian fashion. We used our database of women’s measurements for a guide in finding the perfect fit that not only performed, but also flattered. It started out as a small line of just five coordinating pieces. From there, the brand took root. Kerrits offers hundreds of items, but you can still find our signature Houndstooth Performance Tight in retail stores today.

“We are honored to welcome this new partnership with Kerrits,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “Kerrits is a very popular brand among eventers nationwide. Their items are made for performance, comfort, and fashion, and it was a natural fit to have them join as the Official Competition and Training Apparel. The USEA is lucky to have their support.”

For more information, please visit their website, kerrits.com.

About the United States Eventing Association

The USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization committed to providing eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skills. By assisting and educating competitors, event organizers, and officials; maintaining responsible safety standards; and registering qualified competitions and clinics, the USEA offers a strong and continuous training opportunity for an ever-expanding field of world-class competitors. Just as importantly, the USEA provides a means for all riders, regardless of age or ability, to experience the thrill of eventing. To learn more, visit www.useventing.com.