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Apr 06, 2023
Waredaca Farm Riding Surface Strategy and Plan
The Waredaca Farm strategy is to use science and best practices to implement improved riding surfaces that are safe, healthy, and offer appropriate performance for the task, which includes education, training, and competitions. Waredaca Farm has aligned with other venues in the USA which are advancing the state-of-the-art. Waredaca has partnered with Bill Hawe from iEquiTek.
The first step was to make a commitment to use best practices and scientific knowledge to improve outcomes. This happened in the Fall of 2022. This meant Waredaca Farm laid out a vision and was willing to question how that might be accomplished with no preconceived notions.
The second step was to articulate a multi-step plan which would upgrade each of the riding surfaces, starting with their-most used surface, the indoor arena. The selection of the footing material for the surface had several criteria: (a) it must have been successfully laboratory tested, (b) it must have been installed and successfully used in a demanding environment, preferably in Maryland, (c) the technical assessment from the laboratory testing must align with the qualitative assessment of professional equestrian athletes, (d) it must be affordable and maintainable, and (e) the footing material must have a longevity of 15 or more years. Waredaca Farm obtained a quote for engineered footing material, to be acquired in steps, all of which met these criteria.
The third step is the installation of new footing material in all three areas. This step is underway now. The indoor arena was completed in early January. It is being used and receiving great reviews.
These best practices provide longevity while minimizing disruption to the environment. They thus serve to protect open spaces while furthering the educational and land stewardship objectives of Waredaca Farm. Waredaca Farm has embarked on a multi-step strategy to use these best practices and scientific design approaches to improve its performance outcomes. As a result, it is anticipated that horses will be sounder, surfaces will be safer, and performance will be predictable.
Jan 21, 2025
Young Event Horse
First Class of YEH New Judge Education Program Graduates Added to the YEH Judges List
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is proud to announce the first class of USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Judges have completed their certifications through the YEH New Judge Education Program, which was led by YEH faculty member, Marilyn Payne.
Jan 21, 2025
News
Now On Course: Patience Pays Off for Nazila Hejazi & Her 20-Year-Old Missouri Fox Trotter
Nazila Hejazi and her 20-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter mare, Tessa, may have made for an unconventional pair at the USEA Area VI Championships, held in October at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) but they didn’t let that hold them back. It’s uncommon to see a horse in their twenties still competing in eventing, and even more rare for a gaited horse to compete in a jumping sport.
Jan 20, 2025
News
Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing
Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.
Jan 19, 2025
That “Forward” State of Mind
We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.
