Your Guide to the 2015 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

This year's USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is in Washington, D.C. Photo by Wally Gobetz/Creative Commons. This year's USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is in Washington, D.C. Photo by Wally Gobetz/Creative Commons.

With the U.S. eventing season winding down, it’s time to gear up for the 2015 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, which this year will be hosted by Area II in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2-6. That’s just one month away, so now is the time to make your travel arrangements to take advantage of the early-bird booking discounts.

Why should you go to the convention? This is a Hall of Fame year, and the Hall of Fame Dinner is always a special time as worthy names are honored for their contributions to the sport. The convention schedule is also packed full of special seminars, important meetings and open forums, all of which are designed to help you be more involved with U.S. eventing.

What’s on the agenda? This year all eyes will be on the USEA’s Eventing 2016-2026 Summit meeting, which will be held the Saturday morning of the convention. The summit will seek to address critical questions that have emerged as eventing has evolved and undergone major changes in the last 10 to 15 years. There is still time to submit questions you’d like to see addressed at the summit to [email protected].

What special sessions will be held? In addition to all the committee meetings, you’ll see sessions on the schedule like From Toronto to Rio, Professional Grooming Tips with Cat Hill, the ever popular Equestrian Sports Psychology Seminar with Daniel Stewart, plus a meeting to discuss the late Seema Sonnad’s vision for volunteering. Click here to see the full convention schedule.

Who is getting inducted into the Hall of Fame? The USEA announced this year’s Hall of Fame inductees in April: Rebecca Broussard, Mike Huber, Jacqueline Mars, Richard and Vita Thompson, Margaret Lindsley Warden, Jo Whitehouse, McKinlaigh, Molokai and Winsome Adante. Click here to read about all the inductees.

What are the parties like? Since it’s the end of the season, everyone always cuts loose and has a great time at the convention. The fun kicks off with the Board of Governors reception on Thursday night, then Area II will host a “Taste of D.C.” party for all on Friday night. The Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night will be the highlight of the weekend and is something you don’t want to miss.

Where do I stay? The convention is at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW (at Connectivut Ave.) in Washington, D.C. The discounted hotel rates are available at the following prices: single and double rooms at $169 per night, triple rooms at $189 per night, and quad rooms at $209 per night. Rates will go up after next Friday, Nov. 13, so book now to save!

How do I register? Log in to your USEA account via the Online Services portal to register. See below for pricing, and notice that the registration rates go up after Nov. 30. There are two special events at the convention that require separate tickets. The Year-End Awards Luncheon on Dec. 4 is $75, and the Hall of Fame Dinner on Dec. 5 is $105. You can register for both through the Online Services portal.

annual_meeting_pricing_matrix_2015

As always, EN will be in the grounds at the convention to bring you reports from the key meetings and sessions. We hope to see you there so you can take selfies with Chinch and enjoy everything Washington, D.C., has to offer (click here for TripAdvisor’s guide to the city). Click here for everything you need to know about the 2015 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

2015 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Links: Website, Schedule, Register