Boyd Martin, Tsetserleg TSF, and supergroom Steph Simpson. Photo by Abby Powell.
Back by popular demand this winter is the Shapley’s USEA Grooms Program Education Series, an annual lecture and demonstration series hosted in Aiken at Bruce’s Field designed to further horse care and horsemanship among all equestrians.
On the schedule for 2024 include sessions arranged by Emma Ford and led by Stephanie Simpson, Boyd Martin, Saxon Alexandra, Anna Pesta Dunaway, PhD, and more.
The cost for attending each lecture is $5 + a small processing fee, all proceeds from which will be used to benefit the USEA Grooms Program. You can anticipate each lecture/session to last about 90 minutes, and you should also plan to bring your own chair.
The 2024 schedule is as follows:
January 23: Interactive lecture about fascia and functional anatomy with Saxon Alexandra (They/Them) from Actuality Equine (ActualityEquine.org)
January 30: Getting horses fit for the occasion with current World #3 FEI rider Boyd Martin
February 6: Traveling with horses with Stephanie Simpson, Olympic head Groom to World Team silver medalist Boyd Martin
February 13: Nutrition for Equine Athletes at any Level with Anna Pesta Dunaway, PhD.
February 20: All about Gastric health with Kate Echeverria, DVM,MS, DACVIM from KE Equine of Norton, MA.
February 27: From Problem to Partnership: Three Easy Steps to Solving Equine Behavior with Aiken local, Equine Behavior Specialist Julie Robins of The Horsemanship Academy.
You can sign up for any or all of the above sessions by clicking here.
The USEA Grooms Program was formed in December 2021 by USEA President, Max Corcoran, and top-level eventers Lauren Nicholson and Shannon Lilley. This program is being designed to create a holistic approach for ensuring current and future eventing grooms, the sport’s unsung heroes, receive the development and training to be top-class performers in the role. The program aims for grooms to be acknowledged and rewarded for their accomplishments, as well as to gain access to the resources for expanding their career opportunities. The program aims to provide education and resources for educating U.S. eventing grooms, with a pipeline for future candidates.
