The American Society of Association Executives defines an association as, "An organization or group of individuals affiliated with one another who share a common purpose, interest, or mission and exist for the mutual enrichment and advancement of their membership". “That’s a very nice concept,” we might say, “It rolls off the tongue easily,” and “We might even use it if we can remember it”.
But what does it really mean when applied to us, the members of the United States Eventing Association? For 59 years, the USEA (formerly USCTA) has existed for each and every one of us and all those who have come before us - all who share the common purpose and mission of making the sport of eventing the greatest equestrian sport in the world. We share our passion for horses, for their care and well-being. We share the common purpose of educating, teaching, and training our horses. We come together to collaborate on ideas to make the sport more enjoyable and safer for each other and for all those we hope will join us in our work to keep the fun in our sport.
The USEA exists to provide:
So, on this #GivingTuesday, please tell us which of our programs means the most to you and consider making a donation to ensure its success in the years to come. In this way, you can help make the USEA the home of excellence in eventing education for every single one of us.
Click the logo below to make a secure tax-deductible donation now!
The USEA Foundation and the entire sport thanks you.
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.