At the 2021 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, the Adult Riders committee led an open forum featuring guest speakers Asia Vedder and Dr. Kevin Keane, both busy and active eventers. Throughout the forum, Vedder and Keane answer several questions on juggling work, life, and eventing to help fellow adult riders find creative ways to make all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Keane, a high-level veterinarian based in Area II who has previously acted as a Team Veterinarian for three countries and has competed up to the five-star level, put together the acronym DRAFTS for key points of consideration for adult riders which stands for:
Discipline
Riding Program
Ability
Funding
Time Management
Suitability
Vedder, who has a lifelong history in horses from competing in showjumping to working with racehorses and steeplechase horses, now works for her family ranch and competes at the three-star level of eventing. She offered some different perspectives as a California resident: "I am not in a barn or a program, I am doing this on my own most of the time. So all of Kevin's points are amazing and I wish I was in a program where are of those points were dictated for me, but I have to create all of that myself. I go for a lesson probably once a week, if I can do two I will but I have to choose between taking a dressage lesson or a jump lesson so I often am jumping on my own with my father, usually setting for me."
Check out the entire Open Forum replay here and see what practices Keane and Vedder suggest that you can implement into your own program.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Since the mid-’80s, lifelong horsewoman and professional artist Debra Sue Waters has devoted countless hours to the sport of eventing, and last year topped the rankings of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program in Area V. Assisting behind the scenes at an event just comes naturally to the Millsap, Texas, resident.
Have you thanked your competition management team lately? Here’s your spring season reminder to do just that! Whether you’ll be debuting in the Starter division or cruising around at Advanced, competition management has a lot of moving parts to manage that will ensure a great experience for you and your horse. Keep your competition management team happy and help support the future of eventing with these quick tips from STRIDER.
The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program, administered by the USEA Foundation, is pleased to announce that up to 10 grants of up to $2,500 each will once again be available for talented young riders aged 25 and under, who are aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont (Quebec, Canada) U25CCI divisions in June, 2024. Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy, as a guest coach for 2024.