Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The USEA Board of Governors convened Aug. 4–5 to review the association’s finances, approve committee recommendations, and discuss the upcoming USEF Lite transition, among other business. Here’s a quick summary (you can read a more extensive summary of the meeting here):
Finances & Membership: USEA operating income more than doubled year-over-year to $384,000 while expenses dropped 7.7%, and cost-saving initiatives are projected to save over $323,000 annually. Starter numbers are down just 2.9% compared to roughly 8% at this point last year.
Key Dates: Starting in 2027, both horse and rider will need USEA memberships at the Starter level. The 2026 Annual Meeting & Convention runs Dec. 11–13 in the D.C. area (and it looks like 2027’s Convention may take place in Boston, MA), and the inaugural USEA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Eventing League West Coast Championships will be held Nov. 4–7, 2027, at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA.
USEF Lite: With USEF discontinuing its Endorsed status for Beginner Novice through Training levels, USEA hopes to provide organizers with more flexibility to shape a new “Lite” model aimed at lowering entry barriers without compromising safety. A member communication campaign is expected in the coming weeks.
Also on our radar: A draft Code of Conduct was presented for the first time, and four equine medical research projects were funded this year covering pain assessment, EHV-1, cardiac performance, and gastric health.
[Read the full USEA Board of Governors Meeting Summary]
US Events This Weekend
GMHA Festival of Eventing August HT (VT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Otter Creek Summer HT (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
WindRidge Farm Summer HT (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Fair Hill International Recognized HT (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Woodside Summer HT (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Masterson Equestrian Trust YEH/OEH Qualifier (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Stone Gate Farm Summer Mini Trials (OH): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Links & Reading
- Road to the AEC: Adilyn Cartwright is Chasing Her AEC Dreams with Chasing Gold
- Former winner Vanir Kamira to make special Burghley appearance with owner’s granddaughter
- Equine Facial Expressions Offer New Clues
- Managing Horses With Anhidrosis
- Meet The Mustang Making His Mark At Pony Finals
Training Tip of the Day
Dr Gemma Pearson, Specialist in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine, talks about seeing things from the horse’s perspective in the latest content from British Eventing’s BE Prepared program:
Go Eventing
Take a walk down the World Championships memory lane via Phillip Dutton’s career:
