The U.S. Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the host location of the 2024 USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships, which will take place at Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials in Leesburg, Virginia from Oct. 10-13. This national championship will feature two divisions—the first for 6-year-old horses competing at the CCI2*-S level, and the second for 7-year-old horses competing at the CCI3*-S level.
Last year's inaugural edition was held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina.
“For the past three years the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials has offered CCIYH3*-S and CCIYH2*-S divisions, providing an opportunity to support the pipeline of international-level eventing horses in the United States,” said Stacey Metcalfe, Executive Director & CEO of Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Inc./Morven Park. “This year, we are thrilled to be hosting the USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships as a celebration of these athletes’ achievements and the next generation of equestrian sport.”
The aim of the USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships is to further opportunities and recognition for upcoming and developing combinations working towards the highest levels of international eventing. The Championships are intended to encourage the continued development and education of young horses in the U.S., while adding incentive for athletes bringing developing horses through the levels to further their career experience.
“It’s very rewarding for us to add these National Championship divisions, and these championships will continue to drive growth and depth within the U.S. Eventing Program into the future,” said Leslie Law, USEF Emerging Athlete Coach. “We want to recognize the commitment and dedication it takes to develop and invest in the progression of a young sport horse and know this championship will be a great addition to the fall schedule at Morven Park.”
For more information on the 2024 USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships, please contact Christina Vaughn, Director of Eventing Emerging & Development Programs, at [email protected].
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.