Your Guide to the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

One of the most legendary riders in American history, George Washington, will be in good company this week in Boston, with eventers from around the country descending upon the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. Photo via public domain.

The 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is here! Eventers from all across the country are currently flocking to Boston, Massachusetts, for four days of seminars, meetings and open forums — all designed to help USEA members be more involved in governing the sport.

The action kicks off today with committee meetings and the first of the educational sessions on the jam-packed schedule. Curious as to who is speaking? You can read bios on all the speakers in the USEA Convention program.

Many of the meetings and sessions at the USEA Convention will be streamed live. The Open Stream (🐴) will show content that is free and available for all to watch, while the Member Stream (🦄 ) is only available to USEA members who have joined or renewed their membership for the 2020 season.

A few highlights:
🐴 = open livestream
🦄 = member livestream
🐨 = EN don’t-miss pick (apologies for the lack of chinchilla emoji, we’re just working with what we’ve got here)

In addition to the following, there are a number of closed meetings, eventing movie and vintage film showings, social gatherings, don’t-forget-the-trade-fair and more. Click here to view the complete schedule.

THURSDAY, DEC. 12

Legendary eventing supergroom < incoming USEA president Max Corcoran has stated that she wants the health, happiness and well-being of the horses to lead the USEA’s agenda on her watch, and she’s putting her money where her mouth is at the Convention. Thursday kicks off with a four-part horsemanship series from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. moderated by Max herself. The USEA Board of Governors Meeting follows from 2 to 5 p.m. The day caps off with a Board of Governors Welcome Reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

9 – 10 a.m. EST – Horsemanship Series I: Helping Improve the Eventing Athlete (Max Corcoran and Mark Revenaugh, DVM) 🦄 🐨
10 – 11 a.m. EST – Horsemanship Series II: Practical Advice to Optimize Horse Training (Max Corcoran and Tim Worden, PhD) 🦄 🐨
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST – Horsemanship Series III:  Effects of Shoe Modifications on Sport Horses (Max Corcoran and Steve Teichman) 🦄 🐨
12 – 1 p.m. EST – Horsemanship Series IV: Round Table Discussion (Mark Revenaugh, DVM, Tim Worden, PhD, and Steve Teichman) 🦄 🐨
12- 1 p.m. EST – Training: Become a Cross-Country Controller 🐴
1- 2 p.m. EST – Having and Instilling Rider Responsibility (Lesley Grant-Law, Leslie Law and Shannon Lilley) 🐴
2:00 – 5 p.m. EST – USEA Board of Governors Meeting 🦄 🐨
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. EST – Train Your Brain for a Confident Ride (Andrea Waldo) 🐴
5 – 6 p.m. EST – Intercollegiate Open Forum (our girl Leslie Threlkeld!) 🐴
5 – 6 p.m. EST – Membership and Affiliate Open Forum (Dawn Robbins, Janet Gunn, Liz Hoskinson, and Rob Burk) 🦄🐨

FRIDAY, DEC. 13

Friday is a smorgasbord of fascinating sessions, and you may need to clone yourself to catch them all. The ERA of NA Annual Meeting takes place from 6 to 7 a.m.

8 – 9 a.m. EST – Problem Solving: Reason, Response, Recommendation, & Resolution for Officials (Cindy Deporter, JM Durr, Loris Henry, Marilyn Payne, Tim Murray, and Gretchen Butts) 🦄🐨
9- 10 a.m. EST – Volunteer Incentive Program Open Forum (Bonnie Kibbie) 🐴
9 – 10 a.m. EST – Preceptor Training (Cindy Deporter, JM Durr, Tim Murray, and Wayne Quarles) 🦄
10- 11 a.m. EST – Classic Three-Day Open Forum (Gretchen Butts) 🐴🐨
10 – 11 a.m. EST – The New FEI Dressage Tests Demystified (Marilyn Payne) 🦄🐨
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST – Adequan I.M.: Understanding the Facts (Allyn Mann) 🐴
12 – 1 p.m. EST – Future Event Horse Open Forum (Robin Walker) 🐴
12 – 1 p.m. EST – Pan American Games Review (Erik Duvander, Boyd Martin, Doug Payne, Lynn Symansky, and Tamie Smith) 🦄🐨
1 – 2 p.m. EST – Cultivating the Whole Equestrian (Emily Hamel and Tyler Held) 🐴
1 – 2 p.m. EST – ERQI Reports for Officials Explained (Diarm Byrne, Janis Linnan, Carol Kozlowski, and Rob Burk) 🦄🐨
2 – 3:30 p.m. EST – Calendar Planning & Organizers Open Forum (Debra Delacruz and Jonathan Elliott) 🐴🐨
3 – 4 p.m. EST – Why Aren’t U.S. Event Horse Careers Lasting Longer? (Dr. Susan Johns, Matt Brown, Max Corcoran, Erik Duvander, and Sam Watson) 🦄🐨
3:30 – 4 p.m. EST – Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill Update (Jeff Newman) 🐴🐨
4 – 5 p.m. EST – Rider Biomechanics (Hannah Diebold) 🐴
4 – 5 p.m. EST – Course Designer/Builder Open Forum (Morgan Rowsell) 🦄
5 – 6 p.m. EST – Tips for Designing Cross-Country Schooling Fences at Home (Morgan Rowsell) 🐴
5 – 6 p.m. EST – PHC Open Forum (Matt Brown) 🦄🐨

SATURDAY, DEC. 14

The keynote address is always a highlight of the USEA Convention, and the 2019 edition offers a dynamic variation on the theme: Honoring the USEA’s 60th anniversary, this year’s keynote address will be a unique presentation led by moderator Jim Wolf and featuring a panel representing the past (Jimmy Wofford), present (Max Corcoran), and future (Woodge Fulton). Later on, it’s party time! The Awards Cocktail Reception takes place from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., followed by the 60th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Celebration in the evening.

8 – 9 a.m. EST – Safety Committee Open Forum (Jon Holling, Dr. Jennifer Miller, Mary Coldren, and Sarah Broussard) 🦄 🐨
9 – 10 a.m. EST – Feeding Strategies & Nutrition for the Sport Horse (Jaclyn Gagnon) 🐴
10 – 11 a.m. EST – Sports Massage for the Performance Horse (Jo-Ann Wilson) 🦄
10 – 11 a.m. EST – ICP Open Forum (Phyllis Dawson, David O’Connor, Jim Graham, and Robin Walker) 🐴
12 – 2 p.m. EST – USEA Annual Meeting of Members and Keynote Presentation 🦄🐨
2 – 3 p.m. EST – Young Riders Open Forum (Bec Braitling) 🐴
2 – 3 p.m. EST – Riders: Build Your Brand and Earn Sponsorships (Frankie Thieriot Stutes) 🦄
3 – 4 p.m. EST – Amateur & Adult Rider Open Forum (Dawn Robbins, Lou Leslie, and Frankie Thieriot Stutes) 🐴🐨
3 – 4 p.m. EST – Where is the Sport Headed with Frangible Cross-Country Fences (Morgan Rowsell, Dan Michaels, Jon Holling, and Tremaine Cooper) 🦄🐨

SUNDAY

The main goal of Sunday, I think, is to recover from Saturday night. But there are still a few things going on, including a Board of Governors meeting from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.