In this video break from the USEA Vault, originally provided in partnership with Eventing Training Online, David O’Connor coaches a group of riders through the ditch portion of a ditch and rail combination, providing essential tips on how to be successful with this difficult jump.
David O'Connor has represented the United States in the sport eventing at two Olympic Games, winning team silver at the 1996 Summer Olympics and individual gold and team bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at the 1999 Pan American Games, where he earned individual silver and team gold, and at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, where he was on the gold medal-winning team. After his retirement from competition in 2004, he held top coaching roles for the U.S. and Canadian eventing teams and served as president of the USEF from 2004 to 2012. O'Connor was inducted in the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Chants of “War Eagle” were heard from end to end of the White Oak cross-country course as the overnight leaders and defending champions from Auburn University tore between the red and white flags Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard of the 2023 Intercollegiate Eventing Championship at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).
The last three years have been a time of great change throughout the country for homes, businesses and industries. Rising costs of living, shrinking of assistance and changes in demographics have affected so much of our world, and that includes the equine industry. However, not all of the changes are easy to identify. This is why the American Horse Council (AHC), together with the U.S. Equestrian Federation, has kicked off what could be one of the biggest studies in more than 50 years with the 2023 National Economic Impact Study (EIS) for the equine industry.
Twenty-three teams from 13 colleges and universities have traveled far and wide for the seventh annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
If you have been involved at a higher level with the USEA, you probably recognize the names of the two ladies that spearhead all of the efforts of the USEA’s Programs, Partnerships, and Marketing department: Kate Lokey, Director of Programs and Marketing, and Kaleigh Collett, Marketing Coordinator, but a new member of this team has also joined the USEA staff in Heather Johnson, Programs and Inventory Assistant. If you have considered advertising with the USEA or are involved in the USEA’s Young Event Horse, Emerging Athletes U21, New Event Horse, Adult Riders, Young Riders, Classic Series, or Grooms programs, you probably have or most likely will interact with one of these staff members.