United States Eventing Association

What Will be Discussed? The Keynote Presentation at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The past, present, and future of U.S. eventing will be the topic of conversation during the keynote presentation on Saturday, December 14 at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. For the first time in USEA history, the keynote presentation will have a panel of speakers that represent the different stages of the sport.

None other than living legend Jim Wofford will be the keynote speaker representing the history of U.S. eventing. The incoming USEA president Max Corcoran will be the keynote speaker representing the current state of U.S. eventing. The 24-year-old five-star rider Savannah "Woodge" Fulton will be the keynote speaker representing the future of U.S. eventing. Honoring the USEA’s 60^th anniversary, this unique presentation will be led by moderator Jim Wolf.

“My hope is that we can celebrate Boston as the place where eventing started in the U.S. - home of the USCTA and the USEF eventing training center and Flying Horse that hosted the first multi-disciplined Young Rider Championships,” said Max Corcoran. “We can be proud of where we are now - a healthy active organization that promotes and enhances the sport through many facets.”

“I know people like to have a ‘famous rider’ speak - but I think we really need to be proud of our Association and it should be about that this year!”

Celebrate the sport and everyone in it on December 12-15 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel!

About Jim Wolf

Jim Wolf is the President of Wolf Sports Group, LLC (WSG), whose clients have included organizations including the United States Equestrian Federation, Equestrian Sports Productions, International Equestrian Group, Tryon International Equestrian Center, Jet Set Sports, the National Steeplechase Association, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. WSG specializes in sponsorship, business development, and event management and has been responsible for assisting in the organization of top-tier equestrian events including the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, the Wellington Eventing Showcase, Festival of Champions, and the USEA American Eventing Championships. WSG’s comprehensive sponsorship portfolio includes Rolex Watch, Land Rover, Hermes, Mars, Inc., Cannon, JetBlue, JW Marriot, Coca-Cola, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ariat, and Adequan, among many others.

Most recently, Wolf served as Discipline Director for the Olympic Discipline of Eventing at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, in Tryon, North Carolina, where he managed all technical aspects of the competition as well as the staff and officials. Wolf was also responsible for the sponsor branding on the eventing cross-country driving marathon courses at this competition.

About James C. Wofford

James C. "Jim" Wofford, was born and raised on a horse farm in Milford, Kansas. He is a graduate of Culver Military Academy and the School of Business at the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Business Administration. Wofford, a three-time Olympian, has spent his life with horses, and is one of the best-known eventing trainers in the world today. In 2000, Wofford was listed by The Chronicle of the Horse as one of the “50 Most Influential Horseman” of the 20th century, and in January of 2012, he was awarded the United States Equestrian Federation Trophy for Lifetime Achievement, horse sports’ highest honor. A Hall of Fame member of both the United States Eventing Association and Culver Military Academy, Wofford trains at his farm in Upperville, Virginia, and travels extensively teaching and giving clinics.

Wofford has had at least one student on every U.S. Olympic, World Championship, and Pan American team since 1978. All four members of the U.S. Bronze medal team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, including David O’Connor, the individual gold medal winner, were graduates of Wofford’s program. In addition, three out of the four members of the 2002 gold medal team at the World Equestrian Games were his former students. Kim Severson, the individual silver medal winner at the Athens Olympics, and Gina Miles, the individual silver medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, are both graduates of Wofford’s program.

Wofford was named USOC Developmental Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 1999. Widely sought after as a clinician and coach, Wofford is equally well known as an author and television commentator. Wofford has maintained a lifelong involvement in the administration of his sport, both nationally and internationally. This continues a family tradition; his father was a founding member and the first President of the U.S. Equestrian Team. He has served as president of the United States Equestrian Federation, 1st vice-president of the United States Equestrian Team, and secretary of the U.S. Eventing Association. He served two terms as a member of the International Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Committee, including four years as vice chairman. In addition, he has served on numerous other committees during his career.

About Max Corcoran

Max Corcoran grew up in Manchester, Massachusetts. She started foxhunting with Myopia Hunt out of Pine Grove Stables in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. While attending Proctor Academy and Northeastern University, she competed at the Novice and Training levels. After finishing college, she worked in downtown Boston in the financial district for five years, but the horses kept drawing her back, and she soon found herself managing eventer Jim Stamets’ farm in Massachusetts. She began working for the O’Connor Event Team after Jim’s untimely death. Corcoran managed Karen’s competition horses and youngsters for over 10 years and enjoyed the opportunity for exposure to the sport’s top vets and farriers, as well as the opportunity for continuing education that being an OCET groom afforded her. Corcoran gives back to the sport by serving on the USEA Board of Governors, the Eventing Riders Association of North America, and the Equine Safety Committee. In 2019 she was named President-Elect of the USEA. She organizes Middleburg Horse Trials and helps organize Great Meadow International, The Event at Rebecca Farm, The Fork, Ocala Horse Trials, Ocala Jockey Club, the Ocala Eventing Prix Invitational, and many others.

About Savannah Fulton

Savannah Fulton grew up in Finksburg, Maryland. As a teenager, Fulton started working for Buck Davidson. It was while she was working for Buck when she found her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Captain Jack. At just 23, Fulton and Captain Jack have conquered some of the toughest tracks in the world – the Kentucky Three-Day Event, Burghley, and Badminton. Fulton was the recipient of the 2018 USEA Foundation Wilton Fair Grant and used the funds to bring her CCI5*-L mount, Captain Jack, to Europe for a year. Now, she is building her business, FMF Equestrian, with Grand Prix dressage rider David Ziegler at Full Moon Farm in Finksburg, Maryland.

Each Convention attendee will receive one ticket for the USEA Annual Meeting of Members and Keynote Presentation. Additional tickets can be purchased for $78.50 each. Registration is now open! Click here to register and view the full schedule.

Still need to book your hotel room? Today is the last day to book your room as part of the USEA room block. Click here to reserve your room at the special USEA rate.

For more information about the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, contact Jennifer Hardwick at [email protected].

About the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is taking place at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, December 12-15, 2019. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.