Classic Eventing Nation

Through the collaborative and generous commitments of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), the U.S. Eventing Association (USEA), and a major matching grant from Jacqueline Mars, more than $425,000 has been committed in just a few short months to further the safety of equestrian athletes across all breeds and disciplines. The USET Foundation has provided their enthusiastic endorsement of the program via education and awareness with their constituents as well. These critical funds will support further research into U.S. helmet safety standards and the creation of an equestrian-specific rating system, providing riders insight into how helmet models compare when looking at safety and protection. One hundred percent of funds raised will support independent research at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab to develop this important sport-specific rating system. In addition to the financial fundraising component of the program, USEF has shared important data on falls and injuries from USEF competitions, which will be used in the research and development of the Equestrian STAR rating project at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.

“Fundraising and awareness efforts accelerated quickly for the project following a presentation I gave one year ago at the USHJA Annual Meeting on the VT Helmet Lab STAR Ratings,” said Dr. Barry Miller, Director of Outreach and Business Development for the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. “We were asked what it would take to develop the system for equestrian sport: $450,000 to have the system available in 18-24 months. The USHJA jumped on board immediately with a generous commitment, then Jacqueline Mars stepped up with her own matching donation, which the USEF Board of Directors and USEA Board of Governors matched dollar for dollar. We are ready now to get the initiative underway.

“It was great to work with the leaders from all the organizations, together with Jacqueline Mars, to quickly and collectively pull this together on behalf of all members across all breeds and disciplines to benefit improved safety for all.”

To date, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has developed STAR helmet ratings for sports including football, youth football, soccer, flag football, cycling, and hockey. Since 2011, Virginia Tech researchers have been providing unbiased helmet ratings that allow consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing helmets. The helmet ratings are the culmination of over 10 years of injury biomechanics research with special attention to concussions and which helmets best reduce concussion risk (www.vt.edu/helmet).

With $425,000 committed, work will begin on the rating system, but the fund will remain open for donations. Any additional money raised will go towards accelerating the development timeline. Your tax-deductible donation can be made directly to the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, with 100% of all funds going directly to this research.

[Helmet Research Fundraising Hits Milestone … Research will Begin]

Kyle Carter teaches a clinic in Kentucky. Photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

As the eventing competition season winds down for the winter, many professionals will hit the road to teach clinics to fill their open weekends. We’re lucky in this sport that most professionals can be found teaching clinics throughout the year (shout-out to those bills that constantly need to be paid), and it can be tempting to want to send in an entry to every clinic that pops up in your area. While the clinic organizer and clinician very much appreciate your support, there can be such a thing as “over-clinic-ing”. What should you take into account when selecting a clinic this winter?

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

First things first, do an honest assessment of where you and your horse are in your training and fitness. It is not fair to ask a horse that has done very little to suddenly step up and do a full-blown two- or three-day clinic with little prep. On the flip side, you may be winding down your own competition season. Does your horse need some downtime?

In addition to fitness, factor in the level you’ve been competing and training at (which can differ sometimes). Perhaps you’re eyeing a move up to Intermediate next year, or maybe you just completed your first Novice. Don’t be afraid to push yourself in a clinic, but also remember that there is absolutely no shame in signing up for a lower level. Chances are, the clinician will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone regardless of the level you’ve signed up for. Don’t put yourself in an unsafe situation just to feel like you’re in the right group. Overfacing yourself or your horse can be disastrous for confidence.

2. What is the clinician’s teaching style?

Every coach has their own way of doing things. I’ve audited and participated in several clinics through the years, and each pro has their own take. For example, William Fox-Pitt is a man of few words – he expects riders to have their own plans and to ask their own questions. Laine Ashker, who can often be found teaching all over the country, will push you outside of your comfort zone and ask you to challenge yourself and put your insecurities to the side. Some clinicians will do a day of flatwork, others will only do show jumping lessons. Take some time to research the clinician before signing up. Could you see yourself learning from this person? An additional benefit of this due diligence is that you’ll have a better idea of what to expect from the clinic, even if the exercises taught vary.

Lisa Hickey thanking Irish Olympic eventer Joseph Murphy after riding in his Ocala clinic at Horsepower Equestrian. Photo by Jenni Autry.

3. What is your learning style?

Some riders thrive in group environments, while others prefer to go at their own pace and have more individualized teaching. Clinics tend to be taught in small or medium-sized groups. Some riders need to ask a lot of questions, others prefer to watch others and learn from them. Understand what helps you learn the best, and also factor in how your horse learns. Your green Thoroughbred might need some extra time to understand a question, while a more experienced horse may have less trouble adjusting to new challenges. Confidence is key; a clinic should leave you with a few new tools and a sense of accomplishment. Ask yourself how you can best maximize the learning opportunity according to how you and your horse prefer to learn.

4. Is there such a thing as too much?

This really depends entirely on you and your horse. Every coach will have their own philosophy, and while the base material may be the same, the methodology may vary. This can be confusing! If you attend a different clinic twice this month, and each coach has a different method of accomplishing the same task, this can be overwhelming. Of course, there is the argument that exposure to different ways of doing things helps riders create their own individual training philosophies. But before you sign up for every clinic on the calendar, take a moment to assess the similarities or differences between each coach and how that may transfer to your horse.

William Fox-Pitt teaching a clinic at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It can be tempting to sign up for a clinic with a well-known rider, and the probability of you learning some valuable lessons is high no matter what. However, there must still be a level of personal responsibility when it comes to choosing the right clinician and the right frequency of these learning opportunities. After a clinic, put the concepts you learned into practice. Allow them to absorb and integrate into your training routine before you venture out for more. After all, you’ve invested good money into the opportunity to ride in the clinic! If you skip off to a new clinic the following weekend, how much time will you have to actually practice what you’ve learned?

Clinics serve an invaluable purpose in every rider’s education, and they’re also a great way to support professionals’ careers. At the end of the day, we as riders should be striving to become more confident in our individual abilities. Riding in a clinic can do a lot to improve confidence, if they’re selected properly.

Want to find a clinic near you? We love using Strider to find and enter these great learning opportunities! You can also check out our running list, “What’s Happening”, for more.