Aug 04, 2024

Woodside Horse Trials Jumps on Board with ShowConnect

By Kaleigh Collett - USEA Staff
Photos courtesy of The Horse Park at Woodside.

Nestled on just over 270 acres of land leased from Stanford University, The Horse Park at Woodside is an equestrian paradise. The park, which has been a staple competition venue in Woodside, California, for over 40 years, not only offers three recognized events a year, with divisions from the Starter to Advanced levels, but they also host A-rated hunter/jumper shows, dressage competitions, FEI-recognized vaulting, reining competitions, and polo tournaments. With all the activity constantly buzzing through the park, Executive Director Steve Roon knows how to keep himself busy!

Roon, an eventer himself, had been on the Board for The Horse Park at Woodside for several years when in 2020, he was approached to take on the role as Executive Director. Roon had retired from his career in sales and marketing for medical devices and diagnostics and was ready to start a new chapter, as he reconnected with his childhood passion for horses.

“I failed retirement,” he said. “Running the Horse Park is certainly more than a full-time job, but it’s a whole lot of fun as well!”

Since taking over the role, Roon has jumped in headfirst to support all the equestrian activities that happen on-site. He is passionate about expanding the park’s offerings, and with that, improving the way that they do business. That passion for innovation is what pushed Roon and his team to move to utilizing ShowConnect for their events.

ShowConnect is a community-based event management system that serves as a hub for all professionals involved in running both recognized and unrecognized events. The program was launched by the USEA in an effort to provide a user-friendly, cost-effective way to manage events, and it continues to grow year after year as more event supporters, like The Horse Park at Woodside, utilize it.

When asked about the catalyst that made Roon switch systems, he explained that, “Rob [Burk] and I talked about this a while ago, and I just thought it was really important. Christina [Gray, of Gray Area Events] has been really supportive of the project as well, so it felt like a great fit.”

Gray, who serves as secretary for the park’s recognized events, has been a long-time supporter of ShowConnect and uses the platform at several other events that she manages as well, including Twin Rivers Ranch and Caber Farm.

The Woodside Spring H.T. in May this year was the first time that the team was able to utilize the program, and USEA Event Technology Operations Manager, Margaret Marcus, was on-site to assist with the transition. “Margaret is delightful; she pitched right in at the front desk at the show and gave us a real hands-on view of how the software stitches everything together.”

In the lead up to and during the event, Roon’s team and the competitors had the opportunity to use ShowConnect in real time and experience many of the updates that the USEA has been working diligently to enact this year. “We got a lot of feedback from people, and for the most part, it was very positive,” he explained. “The only real challenge was just getting them used to a new platform. People are just used to Start Box, but the cost of these things keeps increasing, and that ends up impacting everyone, so we need a better solution.”

With the positive experience this spring, The Horse Park at Woodside has committed to using ShowConnect for the Summer H.T. as well, which kicks off this Friday, Aug. 9. The USEA is proud to partner with the team at Woodside for another successful event! Best of luck to all the competitors this weekend. For more information and to view the entries and results throughout the event, visit showconnect.org/calendar.

About ShowConnect

ShowConnect has been designed with the future in mind. The system provides the critical features event organizers need to register, schedule, and score an event, but also provides many additional features to all sized events that would not be cost-effective by any other means. It’s designed to allow the flow of information, and in the future, transactions securely in real-time to and from the people and organizations who interact with your event.

ShowConnect facilitates the management of event entries by accepting manual entries and imports from Xentry, the USEA’s online entry system. Additionally, import options into ShowConnect are set to expand, enhancing its flexibility and ease of use.

ShowConnect provides one location with everything needed to run an event, state-of-the-art technology, enhanced scoring systems, real-time updates, easy accessibility, and support for organizers and secretaries when you need it most. Click here to learn more about ShowConnect.

Feb 06, 2025 Intercollegiate

From Campus to Cross-Country: Meet the Top Intercollegiate Riders of 2024

As USEA members strive to set new goals and start gearing up for another exciting year of eventing, the Intercollegiate Eventing Program is taking one more chance to celebrate the successes of 2024. Last year, the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship was hosted alongside the inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing Championship, and the Auburn University War Eagles showed the next generation how it’s done by securing the school’s fourth National Championship.

Feb 05, 2025 Emerging Athletes U21

2025 USEA EA21 Applications Are Open!

Applications for the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program in 2025 are now available for those who meet the requirements to apply. The purpose of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 program (EA21) is to identify and provide consistent quality instruction to the next generation of elite event riders. The aim is to create a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and developing young talent, providing them with training and development.

Feb 04, 2025 Sponsor

ARMA, “The Official Horse Boot of the USEA,” Renews Corporate Sponsorship

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is excited to announce Shires Equestrian Incorporation, specifically their brand, ARMA, has renewed their corporate sponsorship with the USEA for the next three years.

Feb 04, 2025 Education

5 Ways to Make Your Farrier Happy this International Hoof Care Month

A skilled farrier is an essential part of a horse's success in and out of the show ring. No matter if your horse is shod all the way around or happy barefoot, as the old adage goes, a horse is only as healthy as his/her hoof. With February being International Hoof Care Month, we thought it was a great time to reach out to some top grooms and farriers in the industry for some tips and tricks on how you can keep your horse's hooves in tip-top shape, all while making your farrier very happy!

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA