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.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the addition of the Modified Rider division beginning at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds. The USEA AEC will move back to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky August 29–September 3, 2023.
Are you interested in competing in the sport of eventing but aren’t quite sure how to get started? Do you have a horse that is looking for a new career? Consider participating in a USEA New Event Horse (NEH) competition in 2023! The USEA NEH Program was created to be an introduction to the sport of eventing for both horse and rider, and the 2023 NEH Calendar is now available here.
Will Coleman had a huge 2022 with his string of horses, including a team silver medal at the FEI World Eventing Championship in Italy on Off The Record and top four-star placings with Chin Tonic HS, but it was Dondante whose consistency paid off to earn the Standlee Premium Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year title.
Julie Murray has loved horses since she could breathe, so when her daughters showed an interest in Pony Club and then eventing, she was thrilled to go along for the ride.
Murray started volunteering at the Fallbrook Pony Club near her home in Fallbrook, California, serving as an intermediate district commissioner.