Photo by Annan Hepner / USEA.
After record-breaking participation at this year’s event, the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is proud to remind program members that the second annual USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships will take place at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, in 2025. The Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 3-4 will serve as the host event for both championships, yet again offering a year-end goal for students to strive towards that fosters a pipeline for participation in the sport from grade school through college and beyond.
“Stable View is looking forward to next year’s USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships,” said Barry Olliff, owner of Stable View. “In the knowledge that while this year’s championships were good, we have many plans to make next year’s significantly better. Over the next few months, we’ll be working on ideas for the Spirit Award contests, as well as improvements to Graze and Gaze. As and when decisions are made, the WhatsApp group will be updated.”
In its first edition as a joint championship, the USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships boasted incredible participation with a total of 192 entries across both programs, making up almost half of the entries for the event as a whole. For the collegiate program, 150 entries were divided into 39 teams representing 18 college and university affiliates of the USEA, while 42 entries were divided into 12 teams representing 8 IEL Clubs in the inaugural Interscholastic Eventing Championship. While on site, the collegiate and grade school competitors proved time and time again that mingling between programs was a benefit to all involved.
College participants were given the opportunity to spread the word about their programs to boost recruitment for future years, while acting as mentors for their younger counterparts by sharing decorating tips or dropping off small goodies to the IEL Clubs throughout the week. While the middle and high school students were experiencing the championship atmosphere for the first time, that didn’t stop them from bringing their A game, too! The IEL members took the collegiate competitors’ lead, showing up full of spirit and excitement to make the most of this team-oriented event.
In 2025, the USEA and its organizing partners at Stable View hope to incorporate more opportunities for program members to mix and mingle. The extremely popular hobby horse competition is sure to be returning, and other ice breaker activities are being explored to get interscholastic and collegiate members working together as a team. If you haven’t already, sign up to join the Stable View WhatsApp group for updates throughout the year. Click here or scan the QR code to the right to join the group.
Both championships will host divisions at the Starter through Intermediate levels, and Spirit Awards will be offered separately for each program. There will be no qualifications necessary to enter the Intercollegiate Eventing Championship or the IEL Championship, however, all schools and teams represented must be registered affiliates of the USEA. Don’t forget to submit your Collegiate Team Applications or IEL Application Forms, along with official rosters, to Jennifer Hardwick, USEA Senior Director of Membership Services, at [email protected] by Feb. 15, 2025.
All collegiate participants must be enrolled as undergraduate students, or with their school’s approval, be no more than 6 months past the completion of their undergraduate education, allowing December graduates to compete in the May championship. Collegiate participants are also required to hold an active USEA Membership.
All students listed on the Intercollegiate Roster for their respective college or university will be eligible for the USEA Collegiate Membership discounted rate if the roster is submitted on or before February 15. If you attend an accredited university or college that isn’t currently listed on the Intercollegiate Eventing Program List, consider starting a new team by reviewing the program information here and submitting a Collegiate Team Application.
All IEL participants must be enrolled in 5th through 12th grade at a public school, private school, online school or homeschool program. Unlike the Intercollegiate Eventing Program, IEL Clubs can be made up of any group of junior riders who share a common bond – like riding at the same barn, competing with the same trainer, attending the same school or being a part of the same Pony Club. For a list of the current Interscholastic Eventing Clubs, please click here. If you are interested in starting a new IEL Club, click here to learn more about the program and submit an IEL Application Form today.
Any questions regarding the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or Interscholastic Eventing League and the upcoming 2025 Championships can be directed to USEA Staff Liaison, Kaleigh Collett, at [email protected].
