Five-star eventer Kim Severson taught a show jumping clinic in January at Milestone Sport Horses in Lovettsville, Virginia where she instructed riders on the importance of forward riding for successful jumping. In this exercise, which Severson progressively adds additional pieces to, riders are instructed to focus on the quality of their canter. For one pair, Severson encourages the rider to add more leg to help the horse maintain his impulsion to the fences and focus on riding accurate lines for straightness. For a second pair, Severson instructs the rider to use a half-halt or transition to trot between the fences to reestablish control and balance.
Kim Severson grew up in Arizona where she competed first in pure dressage before switching to eventing. In 1993, she moved to the East Coast to train with Jack LeGoff and Jim Wofford and joined Plain Dealing Farm in 1996. Severson won the Kentucky Three-Day Event three times in 2002, 2004, and 2005 with Winsome Adante, and was also part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games and took home individual silver and team bronze at the 2004 Olympics. They also competed together at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games and finished third at Badminton Horse Trials in 2007. Today, Severson continues to ride, train, and teach, and travels to give lessons and clinics.
Thank you to Milestone Sport Horses for hosting the clinic and thank you to Strider for connecting riders and organizers by simplifying the registration and payment processes for equestrian activities. To learn more about Kim Severson, please visit her website.
Growing up as a self-proclaimed “free-range child” on her family’s Dragonfire Farm in California, Taylor McFall beelined her way toward horses from the time she could walk. That idyllic childhood helped cement Taylor’s love for horses at an early age.
Whether competing on a U25 team or riding in a senior division, an exciting weekend of sport was had by all at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square. With over 450 riders flocking to the historic venue, all three phases ran concurrently with both sides of the cross country course in use and multiple rings in session. This weekend’s winners rose above the fray to take home well-earned blue ribbons.
On this Veteran's Day, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and honor members of our USEA family who have previously served or are actively serving in the various branches of our U.S. military. Meet some of them below and please join us in thanking them for their service.
In just one month, USEA members from near and far will converge on Seattle, Washington for the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention at The Westin Seattle on December 12-15. The Convention Schedule is already overflowing with exciting educational sessions and thought-provoking presentations, there is still more to come in the weeks ahead. Don’t miss your chance to register for this can’t-miss end-of-year event!