United States Eventing Association

Wow, what an amazing experience and well worth the time, pressure, and nerves! As I sit down to write this article, I have just watched Kentucky with a new lens on rider, horse, position, questions, and quality of canter. I have also since coached at several events, and as I walked the courses with my students and watched riders go, I was doing so with a new perspective. I was reminded that I am more educated and better informed thanks to the Eventing Coaches Program (ECP).

Putting 70-plus eventing coaches and instructors in a room and asking them to share their opinions and experiences could be considered the definition of organized chaos. But at the 2022 and 2023 Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Educational Symposiums, the resulting thoughtful and creative discussion has become a popular educational segment of the symposium, the fruits of which will be helpful to coaches and students alike.

As complex as eventing can be through the various lines and tracks presented to horses and riders in the jumping phases, gridwork can help make things simpler when in the heat of the moment of a competition, clinic, or lesson. Regardless of the level, gridwork teaches horses and riders to establish the rhythm they will need and the feeling they get from successfully riding a line of jumps.

For seasoned and novice riders alike, it is always good to revisit the basics. Serving as the foundation for any eventer, the positions used on the cross-country course differ from those in the dressage or show jumping ring. The USEA tuned into five-time Olympian, three-time World Equestrian Games rider, two Pan-American Games rider, and USEA ECP certified coach Karen O'Connor as she walked coaches and students at the USEA ECP Symposium through the basic positions for effective cross-country riding.

Daniel Stewart is coming to Area III, January 22-23, 2022! Registration closes January 11, 2022.

This year, Barnstaple South invites riders to their Fall Jackpot Schooling Show Series. At each schooling show, riders have the opportunity to clinic with our dressage judge on Day One and perform your test in front of them the following day in the show. Each dressage test is videoed with judge’s commentary thanks to Richard Equine Video. Jackpot!

Join Eric Dierks in a Livestream interview with Doug Payne.

Doug might be best known in the discipline of eventing as a member of the 2019 Pan American Games Eventing Gold Medal Team, where he also placed 4th individually. He has countless wins and top placings at all levels including a reserve national championship at the Kentucky CCI-5 Star.

A stalwart member of the U.S. Eventing squad since he was named USEA Young Rider of the Year in 2002, Faudree’s impressive resume has provided him the experiences to become asuccessful rider, trainer, and coach.

We have the cure for the wintertime COVID-19 blues . . . join us for a virtual show series! Ride from the comfort of home or your training stable. Use a smartphone or camera to capture your ride and submit it for judging.

Join Mary D'Arcy at Pine Hill in Bellville, Texas for a two-day clinic on November 21-22, 2020. Mary D'Arcy-O'Connell is a coach/trainer producing horses and riders for dressage, jumping, and eventing from Beginner Novice to the highest levels of international competition.