Fun at Fresno. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
The USEA Intercollegiate Program is going west. After four successful championships on the East Coast, Fresno County Horse Park has stepped forward to host a West Coast Championship in 2021. But for this effort to take hold, they need your help.
John Marshall and his team have generously stepped forward to offer this opportunity to West Coast riders, and to prepare, he’s hosting an intercollegiate team challenge at his spring event, held April 17-19, 2020. This will serve as a pilot event, and the USEA Board of Governors has requested that six colleges or universities must participate in order for a 2021 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing West Coast Championship to be considered.
So far two schools have shown interest, which means four more colleges or universities are needed to make this dream become a reality.
“The prospect of an Intercollegiate Eventing West Coast Championship has long been on our minds,” said the USEA Intercollegiate Committee Chair, Leslie Threlkeld.
“In order to make the program truly national, we need to expand the participation to the West Coast, and a dedicated Championship will boost that initiative. It’s awesome that John Marshall is interested in supporting a Championship at his horse trials. It will be important now for the students to step up and get it done. The foundation is set for them, but they have to be the catalyst to make it happen. Once it’s off the ground, momentum will carry it, just like we saw on the East Coast.”
Is your school ready to commit? Here’s what you need to do:
Email show secretary Christina Gray at [email protected] and let her know the name of the school and a roster of students planning to participate.
If your school isn’t affiliated with the USEA, have an eventing team representative fill out the Affiliate Application Form. This can be submitted to USEA Senior Director of Membership Services Jennifer Hardwick at [email protected].
Any accredited university or college may register as an affiliate organization of the USEA. Once the institution is registered as an affiliate, all current undergraduate students of that school will be eligible for a discounted USEA Collegiate Membership.
Click here for a list of affiliate schools.
[Here’s Why You Need to Compete in the 2020 Fresno Intercollegiate Team Challenge]
