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2023 FEI Nations Cup Series Enjoys Early Start at March’s Montelibretti

By on Mar 9, 2023 2:30 pm -

The British are back on top in the 2022 Nations Cup finale. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This weekend the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ will return in full force, with the opening event to be held at Montelibretti in Italy from 9-12 March. This prestigious venue in the province of Rome is expected to host leading riders from various European nations.

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is open to all nations around the world, and is held at CCIO4* Short and Long format levels. The final classification of the Series will be made by accumulation of the points obtained by teams in each competition. Riders can gain FEI points for the world rankings, and also this year the Series offers valuable qualifying spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 2023 FEI Nations Cup™ season will run a slightly longer season than last year, which previously started in May. This year it runs from March to October. Once again there are eight legs, all of which are held around Europe with the Series culminating at Boekelo (NED) from 5-9 October, where the overall winners of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ will be crowned.

The 2022 Series attracted some of the world’s leading riders, including New Zealand riders Tim and Jonelle Price and Tokyo gold medalists Laura Collett and Tom McEwen from the UK, as well as some exciting rising stars. Germany finished as overall winners of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series on a final point score of 450, with Italy in overall second on 415 points, and Sweden in third place on 375.

Phillip Surl was Team GB’s Nations Cup Chef d’Equipe last season. He argues the importance of the series, as a valuable opportunity in offering riders and horses match-practice in being part of a team, and the extra pressure that comes with that. Speaking at Boekelo last year, he said:  “If you take it back to its early years, there are a lot of riders who have cut their teeth in the Series. It will be a golden-ticket year as it was in 2019, so there will be a lot of teams chasing qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“A lot of nations use the Series in different ways. We are lucky with the strength and depth (in Britain) that we are able to be fairly competitive at every one we go to, but over the years there are riders and also horses now at top level know who have started out competing internationally through this system. We have certainly used it for the young horses coming through and if they cope with this and grow from the experience, it’s always going to be useful later on in their careers.”

Team Switzerland take the win for the CCIO4*-S FEI Nations Cup Eventing – Switzerland in 2022.
Copyright ©FEI/Libby Law

The season will run as follows:

Montelibretti (ITA) –    09-12 March

Chatsworth (GBR) – 13- 14 May

Millstreet (IRL) – 01- 06 June

Strzegom (POL) –  21- 25 June

Haras de Jardy (FRA) – 13- 16 July

Avenches (SUI) – 20- 23 July

Arville (BEL) – 17- 20 August

Boekelo (NED) – 05- 10 October

Attention Intercollegiate Eventers! Your Championship will be Held at Tryon, May 26-28

By on Mar 7, 2023 11:30 am -

Auburn University’s mascot “Aubie” was out cheering on the team. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Exciting news for all you Intercollegiate eventers reading this! The Intercollegiate Eventing Championships have become a popular destination for teams to gather; last year’s Championships were held at Bouckaert Farm. This year, the USEA has announced the Intercollegiate Eventing Championships will be held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC, May 26-28.

Entries for the Championship will open April 11 and close on May 9. There are no qualifications necessary to enter, but schools represented must be registered Affiliates of the USEA.

Here is some more information on the upcoming event:

All participants must be enrolled as undergraduate students or be no more than six months past the completion of their undergraduate education, allowing December graduates to compete in the May championship. The USEA will no longer offer the Graduate division at the Intercollegiate Championship due to lack of participation in recent years.

TIEC offers an expansive selection of on-site accommodations, which can be viewed and booked here. For further information on the venue, local accommodations, travel and things to do, view TIEC’s Visitor’s Guide here. Any remaining questions regarding the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship can be directed to USEA Staff Liaison, Kaleigh Collett, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 669-9994.

About the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program

The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was established in 2014 to provide a framework within which eventing teams and individual competitors could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. The USEA offers a discount of $25 on annual USEA memberships for current students of universities and colleges registered as Affiliates with the USEA. Many events across the country now offer Intercollegiate Team Challenges where collegiate eventers can compete individually as well as on teams with their fellow students. In Intercollegiate Team Challenges, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level to account for differences in level difficulty, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. Click here to learn more about the Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

British Eventing’s Howden Way Reveals Talent Pathway Tiers

By on Mar 2, 2023 2:00 pm -

British Eventing and The Howden Way are committed to nurturing talent for the future. Photo courtesy of British Eventing.

British Eventing is delighted to share The Howden Way Talent Pathway, an update to its current Youth Performance programme which will help nurture and develop the next generation of talent in our sport. With athlete and horse welfare at the forefront, the new Howden Way Talent Pathway will encourage riders to stay engaged with the sport and enable them to be independent, well-educated riders who take responsibility for their own performances. The programme will support riders as they transition through the age groups, including those moving into senior levels.

The Howden Way Talent Pathway comprises five tiers, each of which focuses on a different rider demographic:

Tier 1 – Supporting riders U28 transitioning out of Young Riders and competing at 4* and beyond.

Young Horse Academy – sitting alongside the Talent Pathway tiers, The Howden Way Young Horse Academy identifies young quality horses produced by young athletes who are not currently supported by any other talent programmes.

Tier 2 – Supporting athletes aged 12-21 aiming for success at the European Championships for Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders in the current year.

Tier 3 – Supporting the Youth riders transitioning out of age groups along with developing those Pony, Junior and Young Rider combinations who are aiming for European Championships either in the current or following year/s.

Tier 4 – Developing riders competing in their respective age groups but not eligible for Tiers 2 or 3.

There is a clear performance criterion for combinations to be eligible for each of the tiers of the pathway, with full details are available here. Eligible combinations have been invited onto the Talent Pathway, with another intake for those who reach these criteria during the year.

“We are absolutely delighted to be launching the Talent Pathway and to be able to expand and develop the support that we are able to offer our younger riders,” says Justine Parker, BE head of training and development. “By providing the right training and guidance during these formative years we can help shape riders into all-round athletes and provide them with the skills and toolkit required to enable riders to fulfil their potential and provide foundations for a lifelong engagement in the sport.”

Darrell Scaife, BE Youth Performance Manager, adds, “The Howden Way Talent Pathway offers a clear and objective performance-based recognition of ability, and will provide help and support in developing the key skills attached to potential. I am grateful to Talent Pathway and to British Eventing for providing this opportunity which will further enable our younger athletes to grow.”

STRIDER Partners with StartBox Online Scoring for Eventing & Dressage

By on Mar 1, 2023 5:00 pm -

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

STRIDER, the leading bookings platform for the equestrian industry, today announced an integration with Startbox Online Scoring, the premier system for horse show management and online scoring, to provide expanded functionality to over 200,000 Strider users.

Strider is a unique provider in the industry as its innovative mobile-friendly entry platform is designed not only to support guest users, but also to offer venues visibility in front of an audience of over 1.2M equestrians around the world.  As a certified United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) entry provider,  Strider enables venues to collect digital entries for competitions and educational events across all 29 USEF breeds and disciplines.

The partnership will initially support venues that host recognized and schooling competitions in eventing & dressage.  In addition, the partnership will enable direct entry-scoring integration for United States Pony Club rallies.

“Our user growth has been phenomenal over the last year.  When we evaluated potential digital scoring partners to support this growth, we found that StartBox’s ease of use and proven functionality aligned perfectly with our vision of creating a seamless integrated show management experience for our customers,” says Tara Swersie, CEO of STRIDER.

StartBox is the industry leader in online scoring across recognized eventing, dressage, and Pony Club competitions. In addition, StartBox’s software is routinely favored by venues that host schooling events that need scoring.  Launched in 2008, StartBox supports hundreds of competitions from the grassroots to FEI level across North America.

“In support of our mission to support the wider equestrian community, we’re proud to offer this integration with Strider.   Venues that use Strider are increasingly broadening the disciplines they work with and those venues are looking for an integrated solution….this partnership is a natural decision,” says Scott Weber, Partner at StartBox Online Scoring.

With the Strider + Startbox integration, event organizers using Strider can:

  • Collect digital entries from riders with SafeSport and membership data included
  • View uploaded Coggins and signature pages in real time
  • Offer digital release signing to riders, trainers, and coaches
  • Send entries + rider membership information to Startbox for scheduling
  • Brand show entry with their logo, company name and more

The added features will be part of Strider new Gold member level, a subscription based service launching Spring 2023.  This integration enables organizers of all disciplines to directly sync with Startbox — all from their Strider organizer dashboard. This complements STRIDER’s integration of the USEF Membership API and compatibility with Event Entries in an effort to expand access to equestrian sport across disciplines, from the grass roots through FEI-sanctioned competitions.

FEI Solidarity Relief Fund Continues Support to War-Torn Ukraine One Year On

By on Feb 25, 2023 2:00 pm -

Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas incorporates a nod to Ukraine in his trot-up presentation at Luhmühlen in 2022. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The 25th of February 2023 marks one year since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces began with the support of Belarus.

“This has been a tragic year in which the equestrian community, and indeed the entire population of Ukraine, have suffered tremendously,” says FEI President Ingmar De Vos. “Almost immediately after the start of the war, the FEI set aside a CHF 1 Million Solidarity Relief Fund to aid the equestrian community in the country as well as those who have left the embattled nation. In the months that followed, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) also joined forces with the FEI Solidarity Relief Fund, establishing the USEF Ukraine Relief Fund to support Ukraine horses and equestrians, with 100% of funds raised going to the FEI Solidarity Relief Fund to be distributed by the FEI for projects approved by the USEF.”

“Our general approach has been about supporting and leading initiatives to provide relief to the Ukrainian equestrian community rather than distributing money. A key area that required immediate action was assistance in the relocation of horses from conflict zones. We initially set up a logistical hub in Granat, located in western Ukraine between the city of Lviv and the Polish border, to prepare horses for transfer into the European Union. However, as time went on, we quickly realised we could provide greater relief to horse owners by helping them keep their horses in safer regions within Ukraine, and for this, we purchased a total of 120 boxes, which have been set up in strategic hubs around the country.”

“We worked closely with various European companies to purchase 7,400 kg of veterinary supplies and equipment and transport them into Ukraine from the neighbouring countries for use by 22 local veterinarians to treat common conditions such as colic, infections, and lameness in 5,700 horses. We purchased and transported large quantities of premix of vitamins, minerals and nutritional additives, which were enough to prepare hundreds of tons of horse feed on the ground in Ukraine.”

Sonia Shulga, 14, during training with the Ukrainian Vaulting team in Bernolákovo (SVK) on 18 May 2022. (c) FEI/Richard Juilliart.

Furthermore, he explains, “The FEI Solidarity Relief Fund supplied scholarships and training support to two Jumping and two Dressage athletes, who took part in the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders 2022 held in Hartpury (GBR). Assistance was also provided to five Vaulting Athletes, aged between 11 and 15, who became the first team to ever represent Ukraine in an international Vaulting Event when they participated in CVI1* in Kaposvár (HUN) from 20 to 22 May 2022. Funds covering the staff salaries were provided to the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation.”

The FEI’s contribution is set to continue on in 2023, as is their restriction on any FEI events taking place in Russia or Belarus in 2023. No competitions will be added to the calendar in these countries for this year; planned officials’ courses in the countries will be relocated elsewhere, and Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials, and horses will remain unable to take part in FEI events and courses indefinitely.

“So far, we have used half of the sum available in the Fund and we are committed to continuing our support in 2023 by providing additional athlete scholarships and training assistance, purchasing veterinary equipment and nutritional supplies, and financially supporting the Ukrainian National Federation staff,” President De Vos concludes.

“We would like to thank FEI Solidarity for the financial support of the young Ukrainian riders,” Mykhaylo Parkhomchuk, Secretary General of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation (UEF) and Founder and CEO of the Ukrainian Equestrian Charity Foundation (UECF), says. “Unfortunately, many equestrian centres that were built with great love for our beautiful sport are standing in ruins. Equestrian sport in Ukraine will need a long-term recovery plan. Currently, we are discussing with the FEI Solidarity possibilities of support for equestrian equipment that would help boost the sports development in our country. The UECF is immensely grateful to the FEI for the ongoing support and remains committed to working together to support the equestrian community’s development and future recovery.”

STRIDER and EN Are Going Steady, Baby: 2023 Brings Another Year of Partnership

By on Feb 24, 2023 2:00 pm -

Tamie with some happy clinic participants. This could be you – if you get yourself over to STRIDER to sign up for your next clinic! Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

We’re truly chuffed to bits to announce that our partnership with STRIDER will continue on throughout 2023, with a shared aim of increased visibility for equestrian events while enabling equestrian organizers one of the biggest audiences possible to successfully promote their events worldwide.

Strider has become a real giant in our industry, and is the leading bookings platform for equestrians, with over 200,000 annual users. We hope you’re already pretty familiar with us here at EN, but if not, we like to think we’re also pretty good at what we do, with a global readership of over 1.2 million horse enthusiasts. Together, we’re jointly committed to expanding access and engagement throughout equestrian sport.  

Throughout the 2023 partnership, equestrian organizers will be able to easily reach Eventing Nation’s thousands of readers to successfully generate media buzz and community awareness about their events, regardless of discipline.

Key features of the partnership will include:

  • The ability for equestrian organizers to offer a full range of activities for online entry – everything from recognized horse shows, to clinics, to camps –on the popular STRIDER booking platform, and then immediately receive free publicity in front of Eventing Nation’s 1.2M readership.
  • Automatic cross promotion on Eventing Nation’s “What’s Happening” page, a popular resource for thousands of riders each month seeking competitive and educational opportunities.
  • Preferred rates for EN readership on Strider Gold plans, which enables venues to easily send digital entries in recognized eventing and dressage competitions to StartBox online scoring.
  • Immediate access to USEF database results for horse & rider via Strider’s FastEntry product, the only USEF certified entry software capable of supporting across all breeds and disciplines
  • Preferred rates for Strider Members on Eventing Nation’s elite Media Promotion service, scheduled to launch Summer 2023.

“Enabling cross-promotion between Strider and Eventing Nation audiences is a win-win. When we broaden the awareness of what’s happening across equestrian sport, we enable wider participation and ultimately the growth of the sport, says Tara Swersie, CEO of STRIDER.

“Events are a huge part of the equestrian industry, but most horse show and clinic organizers don’t have the marketing resources to get their event seen by thousands of riders,” agrees our own boss lady, EN editor Sally Spickard. “With this collaboration, Eventing Nation is able to offer our 1.2m readership direct access to one of the biggest audiences possible for equestrian promotion, all with a simple click of a button.” 

Under the new editorial leadership, Eventing Nation is fast becoming a resource where the entire eventing community can easily access both global news and educational resources in addition to competitions, clinics and other opportunities. 

Eventing Nation joins the team of STRIDER partners who are committed to connecting equestrians to the very best in opportunities, products, and services available, including ProElite Feed, Horse & Country, Horse & Rider Books, the United States Eventing Association (USEA), Dressage4Kids, United States Equestrian Federation, Morven Park International Equestrian Center, AHT Insurance, Horse & Rider Books, and Dressage Today.

 

 

We’re delighted to continue on with our overall M.O. of helping eventing become the best it can be, and get the worldwide positive attention it deserves. To learn more about STRIDER, which operates the only digital provider certified by the United States Equestrian Federation to support entries across all disciplines and breeds, click here – and as always, Go Eventing!



British Eventing Adds a Spate of Events to the 2023 Calendar

By on Feb 23, 2023 2:34 pm -

Heidi Coy and Russal Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Great news for British-based eventers: just one week ahead of the start of the 2023 season, British Eventing has announced the addition of several events to the calendar, giving riders across the country even more opportunities to enjoy their sport of choice. Here’s what’s been added:

South East – Regional Championships
The South East region will now see a Regional Championship scheduled to take place on 12 & 13 August 2023 at Blindley Heath, Lingfield. This will give members an additional Regional Championship to aim for alongside the five that are already scheduled. Qualification to compete at the Regional Championships is achievable for many with two double clears required during the qualifying period. The top 10% finishers will then pick up the highly coveted qualification tickets for the NAF Five Star BE80 Championships at Bramham and the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships at Badminton at BE90 & BE100 level. As well as the Regional Championship pathway there will also be the opportunity to qualify directly from the OBP Grassroots Leagues. Further information on the Regional Championships and all they have to offer can be found here.

Little Gatcombe
The highly popular event that was known as ‘Little Gatcombe’ is back in the calendar with two dates for 2023. The first of the two will run on the weekend of 17 & 18 June 2023 and the second on the weekend of 16 & 17 September 2023. Classes on offer span BE80, BE90 and BE100. We know this will be an extremely welcome fixture back in the BE calendar and we are delighted to be able to offer these two dates to the membership once again giving them the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious venue.

Oxstalls
We will now see Oxstalls, Gloucestershire running on the weekend of 15 & 16 April which will replace Ascott-Under-Wychwood (1) which has unfortunately had to cancel. However, Ascott-Under-Wychwood (2) will go ahead as scheduled on 3 & 4 June 2023. Moving the fixture to Oxstalls will see the same classes run at BE80, BE90 & BE100 level alongside Under 18 classes at each of these levels. In addition, Oxstalls will be running a BE105 class as well as GoBE classes at 80, 90 & 100 level.

“We welcome Little Gatcombe back into the BE calendar and know that this will be well received by our members,” says Helen West, Chief Executive for British Eventing. “We are confident that Charles Etherington-Smith and his team will deliver a gold standard product for our membership to benefit from, which will initially be at the BE80, BE90 and BE100 levels, but looking to the future, we know the site has the capacity to run at higher levels also.

“Blindley Heath was a new site in 2022 and proved very popular with the South East membership. BE have listened to feedback received from the membership about the geographical spread of Regional Championships and, having gone out inviting expressions of interest to host a Southeast Regional Championships, are thrilled to announce this addition which we hope will be welcomed by the membership.”

To visit the 2023 fixtures calendar, click here.

Meg Pellegrini Receives the USET Foundation’s 2023 Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant

By on Feb 17, 2023 2:00 pm -

Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Up-and-coming eventing athlete Meg Pellegrini of Wayne, Pennsylvania, was named the recipient of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation’s Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant for 2023. A current competitor in the Under 25 (U25) division, Pellegrini is progressing along the US Equestrian (USEF) High Performance Pathway with aspirations of representing the United States internationally.

The Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant is awarded annually through the USET Foundation’s Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. Pirie’s family established the fund in her memory to provide financial assistance to an eventing athlete identified as having the talent and ability to represent the United States in the future. It is intended for a recipient that will benefit most from the opportunity to continue their training with top coaches and to compete against the world’s best in eventing, one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines. As the recipient of the grant, Pellegrini will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with her training throughout 2023.

“I definitely want to thank the USET Foundation, my coaches at home, my family, and everyone who keeps my career running,” said Pellegrini, 19. “I feel very fortunate to be chosen for the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant this year. I think that it’s vital for younger riders to be given an extra boost and level of support through the grant. I’m very, very thankful.”

Pellegrini grew up eventing in California before relocating to Pennsylvania with her family in 2020. In Pellegrini’s eyes, the move was a critical component to further her training.

“Once we arrived in Pennsylvania, I got started with my coach Lillian Heard and she polished me up immediately,” Pellegrini explained. “She helped me find my next couple of horses and has really been my guiding hand during the past few years.

“The initial move was overwhelming, with all of the big events on the East Coast and competing with people I’d only watched from afar,” she continued. “I knew I wanted to compete at the highest levels, so I had to push myself to get better and keep learning. All of the opportunities since the move have been incredible, and I’m very lucky to be here.”

Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Pellegrini has made the most of her recent opportunities, earning a number of top placings in Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) two- and three-star competitions in 2022. Competing in the CCI3*-L division at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, in July of 2022, she placed second riding RF Eloquence, her 18-year-old Holsteiner gelding. In October of 2022, she won the CCIYJ2*-L division at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, with Global Naxos, her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding.

In addition to the support she has received since moving to Pennsylvania, Pellegrini also credits her experiences along the USEF High Performance Pathway for preparing her to one day compete at an elite level.

“Being a part of the U25 Pathway Program has acted like a jump start to my career,” she explained. “Being able to work closely with [USEF’s Eventing Emerging and Developing Athlete Coach] Leslie Law and other coaches that USEF has introduced me to has been huge for my riding. I definitely have the long view in mind in terms of competing on the big international stages.”

Thanks to the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant, Pellegrini can continue to focus on her training to help reach her goal of representing the United States around the world.

Blenheim International Secures New Organizer and Confirms 2023 Dates

By on Feb 17, 2023 10:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Blenheim Palace International.

We’re delighted to report that the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials will continue on as planned this year, despite having unexpectedly lost its organiser, the Jockey Club, in November after just two iterations.

Now, the event will go forth under the banner of Stable Events Ltd, who are best known for putting on a host of successful Game Fairs across the UK. Blenheim will run from September 14-17, 2023, with both the popular CCI4*-L and the prestigious CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds back on the calendar. In even more exciting news for grassroots riders, there are murmurings that much-loved classes such as the arena eventing competition may be on the way back, too.

“The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials have a rich history and we’re committed to upholding that tradition and making this year’s event even more special,” says James Gower, Managing Director of Stable Events.

Roy Cox, Blenheim Estates Managing Director, concurs: “We are delighted to announce these dates, which continue over 30 years of this World Heritage Site providing a platform to our gold medal winning athletes, aspiring competitors and amateurs alike, all in front of the many tens of thousands who come to enjoy such a great sport in such a great setting making such special memories. We look forward to working with Stable Events – a company who know Blenheim Palace well and there is lots more news to come, including members from all areas of the eventing community who will help make sure BPIHT is the first date in your calendar every year.”

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Lour, winners of Blenheim’s CCI4*-L in 2021. Photo courtesy of Blenheim Palace International.

“British Eventing are delighted that Stable Events has been appointed to run The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and excited that the event will go ahead in 2023. The Blenheim Palace event is a key date in the British Eventing calendar, providing a pathway event to the 5* level of the sport,” says Helen West, CEO of British Eventing. “We are particularly encouraged by initial conversations with the organisers around reinstating opportunities at Blenheim Palace for our Grassroots members. There is real appetite from Stable Events to add value to the BE membership, with indications that free member parking will be provided, along with other membership discounts being explored. This means that Blenheim Palace will be a showcase for the whole sport, benefitting as many of our members as possible.”

Laura Collett, who won the eight- and nine-year-old class in 2018 with her Badminton and Pau winner and Olympic gold medallist London 52, is delighted to see Blenheim’s place in the calendar secured.

“I am very pleased to hear someone has taken over the trials and excited to know it will be on the calendar again,” she says. “It was a worrying time with the Jockey Club pulling out that we might lose a very significant event from the calendar[…] Blenheim is a fantastic event and one that has been a stepping stone for many future 5* winners ,particularly from the 8/9yo champs.”

512 Trainers Accepted to 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Feb 15, 2023 11:42 am -

Warlander and Haylie at their Training Test 2 at the Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo by Bethany P Photography.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced today that 512 trainers have been accepted to the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The world’s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses takes place on October 11-14, 2023 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, awarding over $100,000 in prize money.

The flagship event of the RRP, the Thoroughbred Makeover is open to professionals, juniors, amateurs and teams, all of whom compete with Thoroughbreds who raced or trained to race within the past two years and who have no more than 10 months of retraining. With the horses serving as the equalizing factor, all trainers compete on even footing, with juniors, amateurs and teams enjoying great success at the Makeover. (Last year’s Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, She’s a Bold One, was trained by junior Jenna Denver, the second junior in the event’s history to win top honors.) New for 2023, the Former Broodmare Division, sponsored by Claiborne Farm, will include former broodmares who recently retired from the breeding industry as well.

“On behalf of TCA, we congratulate all of the trainers accepted into the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover,” said Erin Halliwell, executive director of TCA. “We appreciate the time and resources trainers dedicate to transitioning Thoroughbreds into their next careers, and we appreciate the impact that the RRP and the Thoroughbred Makeover has made on the lives of thousands of Thoroughbreds over the years.”

Competition at the Thoroughbred Makeover is available in ten disciplines, and trainers can choose to compete in up to two: barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, polo, ranch work, show hunter, show jumper, and freestyle (a free-form discipline to demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice).

While trainers did not need to declare their entry intentions for their individual horses on their applications, they did need to provide a horseman’s resume that detailed their training and competition experience, including riding video in their disciplines of declared expertise. Applicants also furnished letters from their veterinarians starting that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to appropriately care for a horse transitioning from the track. An application committee considered each applicant’s ability as described in their application to bring along a recently-retired Thoroughbred and compete at a national venue in a big environment.

Photo courtesy of Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

Accepted trainers are encouraged to register their horses with the RRP as soon as they acquire them; horse registration closes on July 28, 2023. As horses are registered and approved, they will appear on the entry list at TheRRP.org/entries. Trainers have signed up bring a total of 536 horses. (Late applications will also be considered through June 30, 2023.)

“The 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover marks ten years since the event’s pilot, a showcase of 23 horses on the homestretch of Pimlico Racecourse in 2013,” said Kirsten Green, executive director of the RRP. “While the Makeover still serves as a showcase for the breed, it has evolved to become an integral part of the aftercare industry, driving demand for Thoroughbreds who are completing their racing careers and offering participants the community and support needed to ensure they’re successful with their horses.”

The 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover will once again include The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Western and Central Region Dressage Championships, adding more opportunities for Thoroughbred enthusiasts to enjoy the week at the Kentucky Horse Park. The ASPCA Makeover Marketplace and ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn will also return, offering horse shoppers the unique opportunity to watch a horse compete, trial ride, and complete a pre-purchase exam all in one location. Other opportunities at the Thoroughbred Makeover will include a vibrant Vendor Fair running all week long, plus interactive educational seminars.

The Thoroughbred Makeover is the flagship event of the RRP, a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to increasing the demand for and value of Thoroughbreds in careers after racing. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover: contact [email protected] for more information.

4th Annual Tom Bass Seminar on Diversity in Equestrian Sport to be Streamed Globally

By on Feb 14, 2023 10:49 am -

 

Mimi Gochman rides Merino Van de Achterhoek at Aachen. Her achievements will be among those celebrated in this year’s Tom Bass Seminar. © FEI/ Richard Juilliart

The 4th Tom Bass Seminar on Diversity in Equestrian Sports will be held as an online webinar on Saturday, February 25th from 12:00 noon (UTC 17.00.00) to 2:30 p.m. (UTC 19.30.00) Eastern Standard Time. The virtual meeting will examine issues relating to diversity in domestic and international sport.

A live feed of the meeting will be available worldwide via YouTube and SQITV, the digital content delivery service of SportsQuest International, LLC, powered by YouTube.

First launched in 2019, as part of the annual Day of the African Equestrian (DOTAE) celebrations, the seminar takes place in a climate of political, commercial and societal disruption highlighted by questions over migration, police brutality, reparations, cultural and economic imperialism, ‘wokeness’ and a widening gap between ‘the haves’ and the ‘have nots’ in the United States and other countries.

The first portion of the seminar will honor recent achievements of note. Victories celebrated will include (but are certainly not be limited to) those of:

Mimi Gochman — USA representative in the 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games (Team Gold Medalist and Individual Bronze Medalist) – selected to the U.S. Nations Cup Team (Jumping) for Vejer de la Frontera CSIO3* (Spain) and Vilamoura CSIO3* (Portugal)

Jefferson ‘Tot’ Goodwin MFH — Champion – 2022 MFHA National Foxhound Performance Trials Championship

Jad Guerraoui (Morocco) — Silver Medalist – 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games Individual Competition Muthoni Kimani (Kenya) – Winner, 2022 FEI Against All Odds Award

Mia Rodier-Dawallo — Champion – 2022 U.S. Para Dressage Championship

Pape Seck (Senegal) — Chef d’ Equipe – Team Africa – 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games

Mavis Spencer — selected to the U.S. Nations Cup Team (Jumping) for the 2022 Vejer de la Frontera CSIO3* (Spain) and Vilamoura CSIO3* (Portugal)

Thomas van Rijckevorsel (South Africa) — Gold Medalist – 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games Individual Competition

Dressage South Africa Solidarity Stars Project – Winners of the 2022 FEI Solidarity Award Team Africa – Bronze Medalists in 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games Team Competition

The webinar will also highlight several significant initiatives towards diversity.

Nonprofit organizations and equestrian sports federations from throughout the world are invited to submit a short (3–5 minute) video or PowerPoint presentation outlining highlights of their efforts towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). No commercial messages please! All materials should be submitted to: [email protected] and must be received by Thursday, February 23rd. Melvin Cox, Managing Director of SportsQuest International, LLC and a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz will serve as moderator of the seminar.

Screenshot from the 2020 Tom Bass Seminar.

Topics to be explored during the 4th Tom Bass Seminar on Diversity in Equestrian Sport include:

  • Demystifying horse sport — not for rich kids only… Reviving equestrian heritage in lower and middle income communities
  • Developing broad-based community support for equestrian activities at all levels
  • Building sustainable programs that support diversity in the horse industry
  • Incorporating the lessons gleaned from social activism into the ways in which we do business
  • Leveraging (new and traditional) media in horse focused education and promotion
  • Developing stories that more accurately reflect the life experiences of equestrians of color
  • Incorporating the rich equestrian heritages of non-white, non-European communities (including

    African, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native-American, Romani, South Asian and others) into

    our shared equestrian narrative

  • Supporting entrepreneurship within the equestrian marketplace

Free on-line registration for persons wishing to interactively participate in the 4th Tom Bass Seminar on Diversity in Equestrian Sports is available here.

Tom Bass riding his famous Saddlebred partner, Belle Beach. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

A legendary American Saddlebred trainer, Tom Bass (1859–1934) was born enslaved in Columbia, Missouri. He played a prominent role both in the establishment of the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City and in the promotion of the city of Mexico, Missouri as the ‘Saddle Horse Capital of the World’.

Highlights of his extraordinary career include championships at two World’s Fairs and more than 2,000 blue ribbons. For many years he was the only African-American permitted to compete at the American Royal.

 

US Equestrian Now Accepting 2023 Grant Applications for Licensed Official Development

By on Feb 7, 2023 9:10 am -

Valerie Pride and Favian. Photo by Shelby Allen.

If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of becoming a licensed official as a way of continuing your involvement with eventing/equestrian sports, you’re in luck! US Equestrian has announced they are now accepting applications for 2023 licensed official development grants.

These grants are intended to reduce financial barriers for USEF or U.S. Féderation Équestre Internationale (FEI) officials to complete application requirements, such as traveling to apprentice at a competition or attend a licensed official clinic. In 2022, 19 individuals were approved to receive a USEF Licensed Official Grant amounting to a total of $11,700.

The 2023 grants will be offered in two categories: general and U35. General grants will be considered based on the competition environment’s need for more officials or higher-level officials. The U35 grants provide an opportunity to support individuals under the age of 35 to become a licensed official or apply for a promotion — a way to grow the official pool from the bottom up by encouraging younger prospective officials to enter the pipeline.

“Encouraging and mentoring the next generation of individuals to become licensed officials is key for the vitality of our sport. You can’t have a competition without officials,” said Alina Brazzil, Director of Licensed Officials.

“Development of the official’s pathway is an important facet of the competition environment,” said Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer. “This program was quite successful in its inaugural year. The Federation plans to again support individuals who have the drive to develop their education and become leaders in the officiating field in 2023. We encourage you to apply.”

Applicants are encouraged to think creatively and apply for competition and clinic experiences that would not normally be available to them due to financial barriers.

How to Apply

The complete list of grant requirements and application is available through the new LO Grant Application tile on the LO Dashboard here. All 2023 applicants must apply online through the LO Grant Application tile on or before March 1, 2023; emailed and mailed hard copy applications will not be accepted this year.

All portions of the online application must be completed for the application to be processed and reviewed. The 2023 applications may be considered on a rolling basis after the initial deadline if grant funds are still available, but all funds awarded must be claimed and utilized within the 2023 competition year, which ends November 30, 2023.

Questions may be directed to the Licensed Officials Department at [email protected].

British Eventing Organizer to Trial New Entries System in 2023

By on Feb 4, 2023 10:12 am -

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In a bid to circumvent some of the issues faced in the 2022 British Eventing season, which saw a number of events across the country cancelled in the wake of low entries, BEDE Events will be the first British Eventing fixture to remove the ballot system from their entry policy and instead will accept entries in the order in which they are received.

BEDE, which runs popular events including the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, the first British four-star of the season, Osberton International Horse Trials, and a roster of national events, will use the new entry policy at its first event of the year, Oasby (1).

Oasby, which takes place from March 9-12 in Lincolnshire, is one of the best-attended early-season fixtures, and as such will serve as an excellent indicative trial run, with terms in place to protect the best interests of riders and encourage a robust field of entries. Running unopposed in the calendar in 2023, it’s guaranteed to be a choice run for professionals and amateurs alike.

The entry system itself will open for full members on Wednesday, February 8th at midday, and entries will be accepted in the order in which they arrive – each class will close when it has reached 90% capacity, with the remaining 10% being taken from the waitlist, rather than relying on a lottery system or ballot stickers. Should space allow, entries will open for PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go — British Eventing’s new version of a day ticket) members, on Wednesday 15th February, at midday.  In the event of a shortfall of entries, the system will remain open beyond the closing date, though a late entry surcharge will be applied from 23rd February.

Oasby has long been the season-opening event of choice for many of Britain’s professional event riders, who often have a number of horses to take into consideration at every event. In an effort to accommodate their unique needs, BEDE will waive the substitution fee for horses, allowing riders to confidently enter up to five horses per day for the event and swap their intended mounts at a later date without incurring a financial penalty.

Of the decision, Stuart Buntine says, “Oasby is an event that has always been keen to try new ideas and initiatives, whilst also staying true to its key role of being an early season event that is used by riders to get horses out competing at the start of the season on good going. As the only British Eventing fixture running on this weekend we can foresee a significant entry to an already busy fixture, and would therefore urge riders to enter as soon as entries open.”

“By operating this system, we hope that everybody will have an equal chance of competing at our events. As with any new system there will be some lessons to learn, however we hope that this will enable riders to confidently enter early to ensure they get a run. We aim to be as flexible as possible, and will endeavour to work with riders to ensure we develop a fair and easy system.

For organisers, receiving the entries as early as possible will greatly assist with our financial planning and should reduce the risks of events cancelling, due to lack of financial viability, at the last minute.”

 

US Equestrian Releases Updated Qualification Requirements for National Levels

By on Feb 1, 2023 9:55 am -

Kaylawna Smith-Cook and MB MaiBlume. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

As the 2023 season gears up, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the new Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) for national levels. All MER specifications can be found in Appendix 3 of the USEF Rulebook.

All Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER), except Classic Three-day Events, must be obtained within a 4-year period. One MER must be obtained within 12 weeks of the event for which it is needed when moving from one level to the next. E.g., when moving from Intermediate to Advanced, one MER at Intermediate is required within 12 weeks of the event.

2.2.1 When achieved at a national horse trials, an MER is achieved by completing the entire horse trial and scoring:

  • Not more than 45 penalty points in the dressage test, and
  • No jumping penalties at obstacles on the cross country test unless specified otherwise, and not more than 75 seconds (30 penalty points) exceeding the optimum time, and
  • Not more than 16 penalties at obstacles in the jumping test.
  • 25 penalty points received for dangerous riding will not achieve a national qualifying result.

3.5 PRELIMINARY (P) – Open to competitors from the beginning of the calendar year of their 14th birthday, on horses five years of age or older. The competitor must have obtained an MER at six horse trials at the training level or higher. The horse must have obtained an MER at four horse trials at the Training Level or higher: One of the four MERs must be as a combination. Athletes with more than 10 MERs at the Preliminary Level or higher are exempt from one MER in combination.  

3.9 INTERMEDIATE (I) – Open to competitors from the beginning of the calendar year of their 16th birthday, on horses six years of age or older. The athlete must have obtained an MER at six horse trials at the Preliminary Level or higher. The horse must have obtained an MER at four horse trials at the Preliminary Level or higher: One of the four MERs must be as a combination. Competitors with more than 10 MERs at the Intermediate Level or higher are exempt from one MER in combination.  

3.10 ADVANCED (A) – Open to competitors from the beginning of the calendar year of their 18th birthday, on horses six years of age or older. The athlete must have obtained an MER at six horse trials at the Intermediate Level or higher. The horse must have obtained an MER at four horse trials at the Intermediate Level or higher: One of the four MERs must be as a combination. Athletes with more than 10 MERs at the Advanced Level or higher are exempt from one MER in combination.

Questions regarding qualifications can be sent to Alison Lloyd at [email protected]. Click here for more information regarding checking your qualifications.

Competing an OTTB This Year? Check Out the 2023 T.I.P Calendar

By on Jan 31, 2023 11:30 am -

Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) has announced that it has approved more than 6,700 awards and classes at more than 1,400 shows in 43 states and six Canadian provinces for 2023.

Awards are available for multiple disciplines, including eventing, dressage, Western and English pleasure, ranch riding, hunter/jumper, endurance, barrel racing, polo, and polocrosse. A full calendar of shows offering awards is available at tjctip.com/CalendarOfEvents and will be updated as show dates are confirmed.

In addition, T.I.P. will offer two T.I.P. Championship horse shows again in 2023.

T.I.P. Championships in hunters, jumpers, combined test, dressage, English pleasure, and English in-hand will return this year to Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina. The show will commence the evening of Thursday, October 5, and will continue through Sunday, October 8. In addition, T.I.P. will be offering a Thoroughbred bonus to Thoroughbreds competing in the Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* Horse Trial the weekend before the T.I.P. Championships, extending the celebration of the Thoroughbred at Stable View into an additional weekend.

“Stable View is very pleased, for the third year, to welcome back T.I.P. Championship riders,” said Barry and Cyndy Olliff, owners of Stable View. “We wish all participants a successful year and look forward to great competition in October.”

T.I.P. Western & Central Dressage Championships will once again be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington during the Retired Racehorse Project’s (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The show will kick off Wednesday, October 11, and will run through Saturday, October 14. The Western Championships will include divisions in barrel racing, Western pleasure, Western halter, ranch riding, Western dressage, and competitive trail. Dressage Championships will be offered in levels from Introductory through FEI Test of Choice.

Graphic courtesy of the Jockey Club.

Qualifying information for the championships is available on the T.I.P. website at tjctip.com/About/CSI. Prize lists will be made available for both events in the spring.

“The RRP is pleased to welcome the T.I.P. Championships back to the Thoroughbred Makeover,” said Kirsten Green, executive director of the RRP. “Our programs naturally complement each other, and we’re proud to support T.I.P.’s effort to expand recognition of Thoroughbreds’ competing in all disciplines at all levels.”

In addition, T.I.P. will be offering year-end or championship awards in association with the American Endurance Ride Conference, Equine Trail Sports, Interscholastic Equestrian Association, United States Eventing Association, United States Pony Club, and United States Dressage Federation.

“The Jockey Club is proud of the expansive number of T.I.P.-approved awards, classes, and championships that showcase the diversity Thoroughbreds have in their second careers,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and coordinator of T.I.P. “Our partnership with organizations like Stable View and the Retired Racehorse Project further expand opportunities for Thoroughbreds to excel in multiple disciplines beyond the track, and we are proud to see the continued growth and success of T.I.P in 2023.”

Created and announced in October 2011, T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high-point awards at sanctioned horse shows, performance awards, and non-competition awards. In addition to the complete schedule of T.I.P.-sponsored shows, other information about the program is available on the T.I.P. website.

Virginia Horse Center to Remain Hub of National and International Eventing

By on Jan 26, 2023 2:26 pm -

Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon, winners of the 2019 USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championship at Virginia Horse Trials. Crystal Crescent Moon, owned and bred by Nancy Winter, a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse program. Photo by Brant Gamma.
Media Contact:

The Virginia Horse Center Foundation is pleased to announce that national and FEI level eventing continues at the VHC under the name of Virginia Horse Center Eventing (VHC Eventing) May 25-28th, 2023. Through the leadership efforts of VHCF Board President Roxanne Booth and CEO Glenn Petty, VHC Eventing has received unanimous approval from the USEF to hold Beginner Novice through Intermediate level horse trials plus CCI 1*L, CCI2-S, CCI3-S and CCI2-L.

“After months of proceedings with the USEA and the USEF, we are delighted to announce that we have received unanimous approval by vote from the USEF Hearing Panel for horse trials to be held May 25-28th at the Virginia Horse Center,” stated VHC Foundation CEO Glenn Petty. “In addition, we are thrilled about the newly formed VHC Eventing Organizational committee and the improvements which are currently underway to the cross-country course.”

Leading the team of industry experts is Event Organizer Joanie Morris and the course building team of Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert, who are busy constructing over 100 new cross-country jumps.

Rementer was the recipient of the 2022 USEF Posthole Digger award, presented to a builder who has exhibited exceptional ability and dedication to the sport through their work. He and his crew are well known for their course building talents at the Kentucky 3 Day Event, The Carolina International CCI and Red Hills International Horse Trials.  Rementer was also instrumental in helping CEO Glenn Petty lead the acquisition of over 80 FEI level jumps, that Rementer built for Red Hills International, to be delivered to VHC Eventing in early February.

Morris’ resume in horse sport includes leadership positions for multiple US Olympic teams and World Championships, Managing Director of Eventing and Press Officer for all FEI Sports for the USEF, sponsorship activation at the 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event as well as Event Director for the $50,000 Grand Prix Eventing Showcase in Aiken, SC.

Morris is quickly assembling a top-shelf team for VHC Eventing. “I feel grateful for the opportunity to be involved with such a wonderful group of people at this venue steeped in eventing tradition. We are focused on creating a quality competition with top-quality courses and officials.”

In addition to the leadership mentioned above, confirmed members of the VHC Eventing staff and committee include: FEI Course Designer Jay Hambly, National Course Designer John Wells, Show Jumping Course Designer Michel Vaillancourt, Event Secretary Heather Petersen and Volunteer Coordinator Emily Kolakowsky. Brian Ross, the original visionary and organizer of the Virginia Horse Trials 1989 to 2014, is the Honorary Organizing Committee Chair.  The Organizing Committee members are Mark Combs, Kim Severson, Jerry Schurink and Carrie Camp.

The committee for VHC Eventing plans to elevate every aspect of the 2023 event to delight competitors and spectators through improvements to the footing and re-design of the cross-country and show jumping courses. In addition, the committee will strive to honor Brian and Penny Ross’s original vision of the event atmosphere by bringing back several fun traditions for this beautiful destination event, such as the opening party and bonfire.

During the initial organizational committee meeting for VHC Eventing Ross noted, “Penny and I couldn’t be any more excited with the formation of this new committee at Virginia Horse Center Eventing and we are confident that they will continue with the well-loved traditions that we founded in 1989.”

Stay tuned! Website and social media for Virginia Horse Center Eventing coming soon!

Contact Lisa Davis Engel for sponsorship and vending opportunities.

Will Coleman Named 2023 Recipient of the USET Foundation’s Whitney Stone Cup

By on Jan 25, 2023 9:00 am -

Will Coleman received the USET Foundation’s 2023 Whitney Stone Cup from the USET Foundation’s Chairman, President, and CEO W. James McNerney, Jr. (left), and the USET Foundation’s Vice President of the Board of Trustees William H. Weeks (right) at a special ceremony in Wellington, Florida. Photo by Jump Media.

Eventing Olympian Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Virginia, was awarded the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation’s Whitney Stone Cup for 2023 at a special ceremony held during the USET Foundation’s Gold Medal Club Reception on January 22, 2023, at The Wanderer’s Club in Wellington, FL.

The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded annually by the USET Foundation to an active competitor whose consistent excellence in international competition and whose standard for sportsmanlike conduct and contributions as an ambassador for the sport and for the USET Foundation exemplify the Team’s highest ideals and traditions.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Whitney Stone Cup,” said Coleman, who was ranked fifth on the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) World Eventing Athlete Rankings at the end of 2022. “The competitors that have received this award are and were some of the greatest horse people in the world — many of whom I’ve looked up to my entire life. Some of the people I most admire in our sport have won it, so to be that person and to be given this award is humbling. I’ve never thought of myself as being the type of person to receive this award, so it’s really gratifying.

“Success in eventing is often at the end of a very long and challenging road,” continued Coleman. “For every great experience and achievement, there are many disappointing and formative moments. You go through these ups and downs many times and at many different levels throughout your career. It is thanks to the support from organizations like the USET Foundation, and from your owners and sponsors, that you can continue to climb the ladder and reach your fullest potential. Hopefully that is at an event like CHIO Aachen or the FEI World Championships, but wherever you have success on an international level, the USET Foundation certainly helps you to get there.”

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

An athlete on the USEF High Performance Training List since the age of 18, Coleman has taken advantage of the opportunities presented to him in order to reach his greatest potential. He was a member of the U.S. eventing team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, with Twizzel and at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, with Tight Lines.

More recently, Coleman has produced top results with Off The Record, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off The Record Syndicate. The pair won the 2018 Great Meadow International CCIO4*-S; the 2019 Jersey Fresh International CCI4*-S; and the 2021 Carolina International CCI4*-S. In September of 2021, the pair made history as the first American combination to win the CCIO4*-S division at CHIO Aachen, Germany.

In September of 2022, Coleman and Off The Record were part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team that claimed the silver medal at the FEI Eventing World Championship held at Pratoni del Vivaro in Rome, Italy, and qualified the U.S. team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Going forward, Coleman hopes to continue to successfully represent the U.S. on the international stage.

“We have another big year in front of us,” he stated. “The horses will hopefully head to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event; that is our first big goal of the year. If the opportunity is there, I’d always want to go to CHIO Aachen again. We also have the Pan American Games at the end of the year, and I have a couple of younger horses who might be in the running for selection for that championship.”

The Whitney Stone Cup, which was presented to the Team by the Officers and Directors of the USET Foundation, is given in honor of the late Whitney Stone. Stone served as President and Chairman of the Board of the USET and was instrumental in the creation of a civilian team when the Army retired from competitive horse sports after 1948.

Previous Whitney Stone Cup Recipients:

1980 – Michael Matz

1981 – James C. Wofford

1982 – Norman Dello Joio

1983 – Melanie Smith (Taylor)

1984 – Carole Grant

1985 – Joe Fargis

1986 – Conrad Homfeld

1987 – Katie Monahan Prudent

1988 – Bruce O. Davidson

1989 – Gregory A. Best

1990 – William Long

1991 – Hap Hansen

1992 – Lana DuPont Wright

1993 – Carol Lavell

1994 – J. Michael Plumb

1995 – Robert Dover

1996 – Anne Kursinski

1997 – Leslie Burr Howard

1998 – David O’Connor

1999 – Valerie Kanavy

2000 – Karen O’Connor

2001 – Tucker Johnson

2002 – Guenter Seidel

2003 – Peter Wylde

2004 – Debbie McDonald

2005 – Chris Kappler

2006 – Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden

2007 – Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden

2008 – Miranda (Randy) Caldwell

2009 – Steffen Peters

2010 – McLain Ward

2011 – Tucker S. Johnson

2012 – Christine McCrea

2013 – Rich Fellers

2014 – Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden

2015 – Chester Weber

2016 – Phillip Dutton

2017 – Laura Graves

2018 – McLain Ward

2019 – Laura Graves

2020 – Boyd Martin

2021 – Roxanne Trunnell

2022 – Laura Kraut

US Equestrian Announces Bid Allocations for the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar for Area VI

By on Jan 24, 2023 9:00 am -

2021 Galway Downs International CCI4*-L winner Alexandra MacLeod & Newmarket Jack (PC: Tina Fitch Photography)

Following a review of Area VI community feedback, modifications to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar were recommended by the Eventing Strategic Calendar Task Force to the Eventing Sport Committee, who in turn recommended the modifications to an Ad Hoc of the Board of Directors.

Due to hardships demonstrated for qualification under the current structure and criteria, and to limit the travel to achieve those qualifications in the interest of horse welfare, the following modifications were approved to offer the best preparation for high-performance athletes and horses. More on those modifications can be found here.

Due to the criteria changes, bid processes were opened for Week 15, 21, 40, and 42. Competitors preparing horses for the 3*-L, 4*-L, and 5* level will now have a better-structured calendar through which to prepare, with the addition of a 4*-S, Advanced, and 3*-L at Twin Rivers in Week 15 as well as a 4*-S/Advanced at Woodside (week 40) and an Advanced at Ram Tap in week 42. In total, Area VI will offer two 3*-L events, one at Twin Rivers in the spring and one at Galway Downs in the fall.

Week 15
Twin Rivers Spring International
Bid Levels: CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, & Advanced
Non-bid Levels: BN, N, T, M, P, I, CCI1*, CCI2*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S
Dates: Apr. 13-16, 2023; Apr 11-14, 2024; Apr. 10-13, 2025; Apr. 9-12, 2026; Apr. 8-11, 2027

Week 21
Woodside Horse Trials
Bid Level: Advanced
Non-bid Levels: BN, N, T, P, I
Dates: May 26-28, 2023; May 24-26, 2024; May 23-25, 2025; May 22-24, 2026; May 21-23, 2027

Week 40
Woodside Fall Horse Trials
Bid Levels: CCI4*-S & Advanced
Non-bid Levels: BN, N, T, P, I, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S
Dates: Oct. 6-8, 2023; Oct. 4-6, 2024; Oct. 3-5, 2025; Oct. 2-4, 2026; Oct. 1-3, 2027

Week 42
Ram Tap National Horse Trials
Bid Level: Advanced
Non-bid Levels: BN, N, T, M, P, I
Dates: Oct. 20-22, 2023; Oct. 18-20, 2024; Oct. 17-19, 2025; Oct. 16-18, 2026; Oct. 15-17, 2027

Remaining vacant weeks on the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar HERE.

View the full 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar HERE.

International Collaboration on Safety Innovations: Updates from the FEI Eventing Forum in Jardy

By on Jan 23, 2023 2:00 pm -

Lively discussions, presentations and proposals provided a vibrant atmosphere at the FEI Eventing Forum & National Safety Officers Seminar 2023 hosted by the French Equestrian Federation (FFE) which concluded at Haras de Jardy (FRA) today.

American Olympian, FEI Board Member, FEI Eventing Committee Chair and USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor presenting at the FEI Eventing Forum & National Safety Officers Seminar 2023 at the Haras de Jardy (FRA). Photo ©FEI

A total of 108 delegates from 24 National Federations (NF) attended, and once again the Forum was moderated by decorated American Olympian, FEI Board Member, Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor, alongside Geoff Sinclair, Chair of the FEI Eventing Risk Management Steering Group (RMSG).

Business

The busy three-day programme was preceded by a one-day course led by frangible device MIM’s founder Mats Björnetun and course builder James Willis on Thursday 19 January which was attended by 72 NF representatives. This included the latest technology updates on the fitting of frangible devices correctly, and advice on adapting currently-used devices to the new standard.

Friday morning began with a tour of the spectacular Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games venue in Versailles, with representatives from the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, namely Anne Murac; a delegation from GL events Equestrian Sport including Sylvie Robert, Jean Morel and members of the team responsible for the design, planning, installation and management at the site on behalf of Paris 2024; FFE’s Head of International Relations Quentin Simonet and Technical Director Sophie Dubourg; and finally, footing specialist Paul Jacques Tanvez (FRA) and Laurent Bousquet (FRA), a member of the FEI Eventing Risk Management Steering Group, acting as guides.

Photo ©FEI

Topics

Social License and Media Training were the first topics to be tackled following the visit in Versailles, followed by a discussion on sanctions to help improve safety and the future development of 5* events with detailed feedback from the Organisers of Badminton, Burghley, Lexington and Pau.

The remainder of the first day was dedicated to discussions around Risk Management statistics and trends based on comprehensive data collected since 2004, and also highlighting 2022 had recorded the lowest number of rotational falls at FEI level since reporting had started. The delegates also discussed standards for cross-country courses; the potential to make safety stirrups mandatory; as well as the use of the Horse Form Index within the community. Throughout the Forum, the delegates were also presented a number of technology and design related innovations to increase safety from enhanced biometric data to boot design.

Among the breakthroughs from the weekend, a proposal made by Sweden’s Staffan Lidbeck regarding cross-country flag rules and the addition of penalties for displacing a flag was met with overwhelming support.

Lidbeck referred to the system currently used at national level in Sweden, where at present the rule is zero penalties for jumping clear through the flags, 7 penalties when a flag loses its upper attachment, and 20 penalties for a run-out or when a horse jumps the fence with no part of the hind end going through the flag. A show of hands confirmed the majority of the delegates agreed to the concept, with consensus that further discussion needed to take place regarding the proposed number of penalties to be applied.

Talking about the effect of the new rule on the sport in Sweden, Lidbeck’s fellow-countryman and leading Eventing Technical Delegate and Course Designer Lars Christensson said, “I think it has made riders respect fences more, and they ride more correctly. We will be going the right way if we introduce this in the sport”.

Breakout groups

A range of subjects covered during the Forum were also discussed in seven different Breakout Groups (refer to the agenda here) on the Saturday, with the findings and different solutions and ideas presented to the entire delegation. The final day focused on Risk Management statistics and programmes being conducted by National Federations with National Safety Officers from eleven countries – Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and USA – making individual presentations and sharing their safety initiatives at a national level.

The Forum came to a close with Risk Management Group Chair, Australia’s Geoff Sinclair, thanking David O’Connor and members Laurent Bousquet (FRA), Jonathan Holling and Dave Vos (USA), Great Britain’s Mike Etherington-Smith for driving much of the work of the group in previous years, Stuart Buntine (AUS) who has now replaced him, Rob Stevenson (CAN) and Staffan Lidbeck (SWE). “They are a great group of people and of course we are also very grateful to the FEI Eventing team for all the hard work”, he said.

David O’Connor was pleased with the outcome of this year’s Forum and thanked the delegates for their positive involvement. “All the topics we have covered have been raised in the spirit of consultation so that we can make the right decisions for the future of the sport”, he said.

“By working together and in the same direction at both national and international level, we become increasingly effective from an educational, communications, procedural and standards perspective, and we know just how important this is to minimise risk within the sport, and increase engagement and appreciation for Eventing.”

“It’s been a great few days with great conversation, interacting and exchange of ideas, we now have a lot of action items and discussion points going forward and I’d like to thank you for your help, your participation and your contributions”, he concluded.

Video recordings from the 2023 Forum and Seminar will be available here in the coming days and a fully detailed report will be published within the next fortnight.

About FEI Eventing Risk Management

Since 2004, the FEI has embraced a holistic approach to risk management, with thorough data collection and analysis in order to have a detailed overview of what is happening in the sport to understand the trends, and to monitor the effects of the different actions put in place to mitigate and minimise risk. Part of the holistic approach also requires having a broad view on the different risk factors, including data analysis on fences and the use of frangible technology but also other mitigating factors.

For more details on the FEI Eventing Risk Management Policy, Action Plan, Seminars, Statistics, the Horse Form Index, National Safety Officers and other related topics, click here.

Opening the Doors: When Cool Ridings Met with the Howden Way

By on Jan 19, 2023 2:00 pm -

Cool Ridings members were given a great educational opportunity subsidised by the Howden Way programme. Photo by Mia Benton.

British Eventing delivered The Howden Way regional academy to a group of Cool Ridings members at the weekend, giving its riders a fantastic taster of the superb training on offer via its national training syllabus.

Cool Ridings was founded in 2020 by event rider Lydia Heywood, who represents Jamaica. The organisation addresses an array of factors to improve diversity and ensure long-term sustainability of equestrian sport. The Howden Way ethos and that of Cool Ridings have perfect synergy in that both have a core objective of ensuring that everyone has access to the tools they need to succeed and overcome obstacles associated with riding competitively, whilst also ensuring equine welfare is at the centre of everything they do.

The academy was hosted purely for Cool Ridings members and saw a diverse group of riders hosted at the National Training Centre at Hothorpe, Leicestershire. The group had a broad range of experience, from those who had been riding competitively and already enjoying success, through to those who have been riding for a relatively short time, and some were on borrowed horses.

British Eventing Level 4 coach Michael Paveley delivered the riding sessions throughout the day, focusing on flatwork, a practice trot-up and then showjumping training within a replicated competition scenario. Riders also had the opportunity to benefit from a feeding and nutrition session delivered by British Eventing’s official feed partner, Baileys Horse Feeds, who focused on feeding the sport horse and answering any specific questions they had individually.

Eighteen-year-old Fabian Williams was one of those riders who attended.

“I come from a deprived area in London and I haven’t had many opportunities with horses, but I have a passion which has enabled me to create opportunities,” he says. “To have the chance to ride with a BE Level 4 coach feels surreal because coming from inner London, where there are absolutely no opportunities like this — it felt unreachable, unreal and unimaginable. These are the things I pray for and being able to attend last weekend felt like my dreams were becoming a reality.”

Justine Parker, Head of Training and Development at British Eventing, says, “This has been such an inspiring day and the talent and commitment of the riders, across all levels, has been exceptional. This is the first academy day of its kind that we have run, and it has been an absolute success on so many levels. Today absolutely reinforces why we should be delivering days like this for riders, who may not normally have had access to our academies which run across the country for our members. By creating a bespoke day to cater for those who were borrowing horses and were perhaps coming to their first ever training day, it allowed them to take on the day confidently.

“One of the core messages when we announced the launch of The Howden Way training structure was that it was to be a vehicle to deliver an accessible holistic education syllabus for everyone and to create a welcoming and nurturing environment, growing camaraderie and mutual support, which today epitomized. The Academies are open to non-members for their first two sessions, and we trust that today’s riders will feel it has given them a stepping-stone to move into our national The Howden Way regional academies with confidence.”

Lydia Heywood summed up the success of the day: “Cool Ridings recognise that bringing underrepresented riders together for training creates an enormous amount of camaraderie and confidence which is vital when it comes to progressing in equestrian sport. I had high expectations for this alignment however the experience certainly went above and beyond them. Michael Paveley made the perfect coach with his kind, wise and well-informed approach. I am overjoyed to witness these academies in action and the spectacular syllabus that was distributed. We are truly very grateful for the opportunities that have been made available to us by British Eventing and The Howden Way.”

New in 2023: USEF Network Moves to ClipMyHorse.TV

By on Jan 10, 2023 12:00 pm -

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event finds a sort-of-new home in 2023 with the announcement of US Equestrian’s partnership with ClipMyHorse.TV. Photo by Shelby Allen.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with ClipMyHorse.TV (CMH.TV) to host the USEF Network on the CMH.TV platform.

As the Official USEF Network Partner, CMH.TV will expand the reach of the USEF Network and provide an improved viewer experience for USEF Network events, including the extensive USEF Learning Center library, with easily searchable content and accessibility to view clipped rides. The new USEF Network powered by CMH.TV experience is scheduled to launch January 17, 2023 with featured events from Desert Circuit, Wellington Equestrian Festival, and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

“By joining forces with CMH.TV, US Equestrian will reach more viewers worldwide, introducing a broader audience to USEF-licensed competitions featured on the USEF Network and to our incredible range of breeds and disciplines,” said Bill Moroney, US Equestrian’s CEO.

USEF competing members, subscribers, and fans will continue to have free access to all USEF Network live events annually. USEF competing members and subscribers enjoy the added benefit of access to USEF Network on-demand content.

CMH.TV will offer an exclusive 10% discount to all USEF competing members, subscribers, and USEF fans on annual CMH.TV premium subscriptions. Existing CMH.TV premium subscribers worldwide will now have full access to USEF Network content, which will also be available on the CMH.TV mobile app and smart TVs. The USEF Network will continue to offer a robust schedule of competitions such as the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event, the Devon Horse Show, and numerous USEF Championships.

Established in 2007, CMH.TV joined forces with FEI.TV in 2020 and is the world’s premier equestrian streaming and on-demand content platform with more than 2,500 events and millions of users around the globe. ClipMyHorse.TV hosts many of the top equestrian events in the world, including the FEI World Championships, FEI World Cup Finals, the Longines FEI Nations Cup Finals, and CHIO Aachen, to name just a few. The company combines its streaming service with a unique equestrian database, consisting of information on horses, pedigrees, results, and more.

This strategic partnership is part of US Equestrian’s multi-faceted strategy to increase the visibility and reach of U.S. equestrian sport, to diversify and grow revenue, and to keep costs down for members.

While US Equestrian has successfully grown the USEF Network to 50+ events with an audience of over 440,000 competing members, subscribers, and USEF fans, our goal is to showcase our events to a global equestrian audience through ClipMyHorse.TV and to engage mainstream sport fans through channels such as ESPN and NBC. Social media and original video content will continue to fuel US Equestrian audience growth as well. With more than 1.2 million followers across US Equestrian’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts and more than 250,000 followers on TikTok, U.S. equestrian sport is fast proving its broad audience appeal across multiple digital platforms.

Revamped Youth Programme Set to Help British Eventing’s Young Stars Shine

By on Jan 6, 2023 2:03 pm -

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The British Eventing Youth Programme has been reworked for 2023 to include a brand new BE80 u18 offering, two Championship opportunities and Regional Leagues. The changes will help to deliver a progressive pathway for younger riders to follow that is fun and fulfilling for all.

The addition of the new BE80 u18 Championship and Leagues will enable more young riders to be part of the programme, benefiting from the support and guidance that it provides. The new height category means more riders will have access to U18 Regional Training, which is invaluable for building camaraderie and mutual encouragement amongst younger riders, provides essential support for parents, and delivers an all-round, holistic education for the youth members enrolled on the programme.

Also new for 2023 will be the introduction of two Youth National Championships – with the inaugural Youth BE80 Championship and the BE90 Youth Championship now taking place at Chillington Hall in Staffordshire between 9-10 September; and the Youth BE100 and 2*-L Youth Novice Championships running at Bishop Burton in East Yorkshire between 27-30 July. Splitting these Championships will give riders two unique Championship experiences and will help set new progressive goals to work towards and achieve. 

The final, and perhaps most exciting, addition to the programme will be the introduction of Regional Leagues, powered by Equiratings. The new leagues will provide a transparency of Youth Regional Rankings – not only enabling riders to chart their progress against their fellow competitors, but also providing a clear qualification route for the National Youth Championships.

The Regional Leagues will be introduced into each of the eight regions of Scotland, North, East Midlands, Wales and West Midlands, East, Central, South East and South West. Each region will have their own leagues across each of the height categories – including BE80 and will reflect the Power Based Average (PBA) score of each combination.

The PBA is calculated from the best three finishing scores* of each combination achieved across any of the qualifying classes contested. The Top 10 eligible combinations in each height category, at the end of the qualification period, will be invited to represent their region at the National Youth Championships. Only one qualifying score must be within the rider’s own region (this has previously been two), giving riders and their families greater flexibility in choosing event locations that suit them.

To be eligible for the Leagues and to benefit from the opportunity to qualify for the Youth Championship classes, riders need to register for the Youth Programme. The cost for inclusion is £30 for the year and it also provides Youth Riders aiming for the Youth National Championships with access to course walks with U18 coaches and support at designated qualifiers in each of the regions.

These new changes to the Youth Programme together with the recent introduction of The Howden Way Regional Academies ensures that each BE region has a fully aligned support system in place for riders of all ages. It should enable every rider to train like the best, to feel part of a positive and inspiring eventing community, and to get the most out of their sport.

*At least one counting score must be achieved within the members designated region and two of these scores must have been obtained within the current calendar year.

US Equestrian Announces Modifications to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar for Area VI

By on Dec 20, 2022 10:00 am -

Lauren Billys and Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Following a review of Area VI community feedback, modifications to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar were recommended by the Eventing Strategic Calendar Task Force to the Eventing Sport Committee, who in turn recommended the modifications to an Ad Hoc of the Board of Directors.

Due to hardships demonstrated for qualification under the current structure and criteria, and to limit the travel to achieve those qualifications in the interest of horse welfare, the following modifications were approved to offer the best preparation for high-performance athlete and horses.

Week 16

  • Current criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI3*-L levels in Area 6
  • Modification: withdraw Week 16 from the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar
  • Modification: add Week 15 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L levels with the option to add the Advanced level in Area 6

Week 21

  • Current criteria: one event to host the Advanced level in Area 6
  • Modification: one event to host the Advanced level with the option to add the CCI4*-S level in Area 6
  • Note: this will re-open for bidding as the criteria has changed

Week 41

  • Current criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S level with the option to add the Advanced level if desired in Area 6
  • Modification: withdraw Week 41 from the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar
  • Modification: add Week 40 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S level with the option to add the Advanced level in Area 6
  • Modification: add Week 42 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the Advanced level with the option to add the CCI4*-S level in Area 6

Week 11 was allocated to Ram Tap National Horse Trials as a result of the bid process.

[View the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar here]