This year, the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention went virtual! All week from Tuesday, December 8 through Friday, December 11, we brought you live interactive webinars and on demand educational content that you were able to enjoy from the comfort of your home, culminating with the USEA Annual Meeting & Keynote Address on Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The 2020 Year-End Awards Ceremony was also held virtually on Friday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET. All of that content is now available on demand to watch on the USEA website.
The USEA Year-End Awards Ceremony is held annually during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December. This year, with the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention being held virtually, the decision was made to host a special virtual Year-End Awards Ceremony as well. At 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 8, the eventing community gathered virtually to celebrate the accomplishments of its members in 2020. For the first time ever, the Year-End Awards Ceremony is available to view on demand!
Led by Master of Ceremonies James Wofford, we recognized the great achievements that USEA members accomplished in 2020. The awards presented during the ceremony included the USEA leaderboard of champions presented by Nunn Finer, the overall leaderboard champions, grants, and a variety of appreciation awards.
To catch up on all the coverage from the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, click here.
The USEA would like to thank the leaderboard sponsors: Nunn Finer - sponsor of the overall leaderboards, World Equestrian Brands – sponsor of the USEA Rider of the Year, Bates Saddles – sponsor of the Lady Rider of the Year and the Mare of the Year, Standlee Premium Western Forage – sponsor of the Horse of the Year, SmartPak Equine – sponsor of the Stallion of the Year and Pony of the Year, RevitaVet – sponsor of the Young Rider of the Year, Sunsprite Warmbloods – sponsor of the Volunteer of the Year, and D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis – sponsor of the Classic Series Training Three-Day year-end Champion.
The USEA would also like to thank the USEA Corporate Partners and Annual Meeting Sponsors for making this year's virtual Annual Meeting possible: Nutrena Feeds, Standlee Hay, SmartPak Equine, Mountain Horse, Bates Saddles, Parker Equine Insurance, Adequan, and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Since the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was founded in 2014, it has grown in popularity and participation each year. The USEA is excited to have 23 intercollegiate team challenges on the calendar in 2021 in addition to the 2021 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, which will be held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia on May 27-30.
In 2000 and with the support of Joan Iversen Goswell, the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships were established to provide financial assistance to amateurs to pursue their education in eventing. The funds from the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships may be used for training opportunities such as clinics, working student positions, and private or group instruction, or to learn from an official, course designer, technical delegate, judge, veterinarian, or organizer.
The Linda Moore Trophy was introduced in 1979 and awarded to the leading Young Rider in the country. After a strong showing during the 2020 season, 16-year-old Benjamin Noonan of Ballwin, Missouri was named the 2020 RevitaVet Young Rider of the Year.
The USEA is sorry to announce that there will be no USEA Educational Symposium held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USEA Educational Symposium is hosted annually each February as a week of learning for participants and auditors.