USEA Podcast

Look Behind the Curtain at the Pan American Games with Cesar Hirsch

Cesar Hirsch, the Sports Advisor for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, joins us on the show this week to discuss some of the logistics for the games, including the venue and infrastructure, how many horses will be traveling to Peru, and the organizational structure and volunteers for the games.

Then, Loris Henry comes on the show to continue our series with past USEA Presidents in honor of the 60th anniversary of the USEA. Having served as President from 1999 to 2001, Henry talks about the changes that took place during her presidency, including the switch from the name combined training to the name eventing and the challenges that arose during that transition. She also discusses the greatest successes that came out of the time she served as President. 

Ride Your Best Dressage Test with Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Christian Landolt

This week's episode features USEF "S" and FEI Level II eventing judge Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and FEI and Grand Prix dressage judge Christian Landolt sharing their tips and tricks for how to get the most out of your dressage test, including common mistakes they see and ways to squeeze out a few extra points.

Preparations for the Pan American Games with Erik Duvander and Will Connell

With the 2019 Pan American Games just over one month away, we took some time to catch up with US Equestrian Eventing High Performance Director Erik Duvander and US Equestrian Sports Director Will Connell about the preparations leading up to Lima.

Erik Duvander comes on the show first to talk about the team selection process, including initial scouting all the way through final selection, the selection of the final prep run location, which will take place in the CCI3*-S at the Maryland Horse Trials on July 5-7, 2019, and what final preparations for the team will look like in the month leading up to the Pan American Games.

Next, Will Connell joins us to discuss the logistics of shipping a team to a major competition like the Pan American Games, including the schedule, site visits, horse welfare concerns, transportation, accommodations, and more.

Then, as part of our Past Presidents series in honor of the 60^th anniversary of the Association, former USEA President Kingman Penniman comes on the show to reflect on his time spent at the helm of the USEA.

Reflections From Major General Jonathan R. Burton

Tune into this special episode of the USEA Podcast for an exclusive interview with Major General Jonathan R. Burton. 

Major General Burton passed away on May 29, 2019 at the age of 99. During his time with the U.S. Army, Burton appeared on the 1948 U.S. Olympic show jumping team and 1956 U.S. Olympic three-day eventing team. In 1953, he helped to organize the first continuous horse trial in the U.S. He also wrote the first rulebook for combined training. After his retirement from the U.S. Army, Burton served as Executive Vice President for the U.S. Equestrian Team for 10 years and as President of the U.S. Combined Training Association (now United States Eventing Association) from 1985-1987. He was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame and the US Dressage Federation Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the group that established the North American Young Rider Championships in the 1980s. He worked as an FEI judge, technical delegate, and steward until the age of 92.

Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 2019 USEA AEC

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships, taking place August 27-September 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

First, Tamra Smith, winner of the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final (known going forward as the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final), shares her reflection on the competition and discusses her plans for the fall season.

USEA AEC co-organizer Mary Fike then comes on the show to share details on what attendees can expect this year at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Finally, Mike Huber joins us on the program to continue our series with past Presidents of the USEA in the lead up to the 60th anniversary celebration at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention this December in Boston. Huber reflects on the time he spent as USEA President, including the construction of a permanent office space in Leesburg, Virginia and the restructuring of the Board of Governors.

Reflections on the 2019 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship

Each of the four members of the champion team from the 2019 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship at the Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials reflects on their winning weekend. Auburn University's Team Auburn Orange consisted of Aubrey Wagner and Fernhill Sinatra, Sallie Johnson and Things to Ponder, Dorothy Dreelin and Subtle Dreams Unveiled, and Isabel Franklin and Anchorman. Each team member talks about the partnerships they share with their horses and with each other as well as their plans for the future. Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials’ organizer Hugh Lochore rounds out the episode by looking back on the venue's first time hosting the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships. 

Meet Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L Champion Fylicia Barr and her $500 Craigslist Mare

First up on the show this week is Fylicia Barr, winner of the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event CCI4*-L with her longtime partner Galloway Sunrise. Barr tells the story of how she found “Sunny” in an ad on Craigslist and paid $500 to bring her home as an unbroken, nearly feral 2-year-old. It wasn’t easy to bring her up the levels, but last weekend she and Barr took home their first four-star win. Barr also talks about her riding background, how she got started in eventing, and her budding training and coaching business.

Next, past USEA President Denny Emerson comes on the show to talk about the time he spent at the helm of the USEA, the milestones he oversaw, and some of his personal memories of his time in office. Emerson served as USEA President from 1982-1984 and from 1991-1992.

Contrasting Perspectives: Boyd Martin and Ariel Grald Reflect on #LRK3DE

This week on the USEA Podcast we are joined by the new USEF CCI5*-L National Champion Boyd Martin, who rode Christine Turner's Tsetserleg to an overall second place finish at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, and LRK3DE Rookie Ariel Grald, who finished in 12th place aboard Anne Eldridge's Leamore Master Plan. 

Grald reviews her performance over the course of the weekend, discusses her takeaways as a newbie to the CCI5*-L level, how she handles the nerves of competing at the highest level, and what lies down the road for her and Leamore Master Plan.

Martin talks about how his partnership with "Thomas" has progressed since the World Equestrian Games last fall, how he has prepared this spring to compete at Kentucky, his cross-country round, and his plans for what the rest of the year might look like. 

Your Guide to Show Jumping Time Penalties

In 2019, the FEI lessened the influence of show jumping by changing the time penalties to 0.4 penalties for every one second over the time rather than the one penalty for each second over as has been standard. The USEF then followed suit with a rule change making the new scoring standard for all USEA and FEI events. 

Join preeminent show jumping course designer, Marc Donovan, as well as top eventer and grand prix show jumper, Doug Payne, as they discuss the show jumping changes from their perspectives. 

Making the Sport Safer: The Charles Owen Technical Merit Award with Roy Burek and Cindy Deporter

This week’s USEA Podcast episode is all about the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award. Founded in 2009 by the Professional Horseman’s Council and Charles Owen, the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award is presented to one junior and one adult amateur at the Training level who displays safe and effective cross-country riding technique. Chairman of Charles Owen Roy Burek and Technical Merit Judge Cindy Deporter join us on the show to discuss the history and benefits of the program and the judging process of the award.

Roy Burek discusses the history of the Technical Merit Award and the partnership formed between the award and Charles Owen. Burek examines the benefits that have arisen as a result of the program, including an increased focus on proper coaching and training. Burek also provides information on the changes of safety protocols over the years and advancements in helmet technology to meet increased safety standards. 

Cindy Deporter, a USEF licensed FEI Eventing Judge, Technical Delegate, and Steward, was the judge of the Charles Owen Technical Merit award at the Pine Top Horse Trials in February 2019. She covers some of the salient points about the award, including changes to the award in recent years and the types of officials that can judge the award. Then, she discusses the different judging criteria and what judges are looking to see from riders.

About the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award

In 2009, the Professional Horseman’s Council and Charles Owen founded the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award to reward juniors and adult amateurs for demonstrating safe and appropriate cross-country riding technique and educate riders and trainers as to what constitutes safe cross-country riding.

The Charles Owen Technical Merit Award is presented at one event in each of the 10 USEA Areas at the Training level to one junior rider and one adult amateur rider who have not competed at the Intermediate level or above. Every eligible rider at the Training level is automatically judged during their cross-country round and receives a score sheet with written comments, providing valuable feedback on their cross-country riding technique. ICP Certified Level III and IV Instructors, USEF licensed eventing officials, and USET Senior Team riders are all qualified to judge the Award. Click here to learn more about the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award.

The USEA would like to thank Charles Owen for sponsoring the Technical Merit Award.