USEA Podcast

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.

FEH Symposium Round-Up with Robin Walker, Peter Gray, and Christian Schacht

On the last episode of the USEA Podcast, Maxime Livio and Marilyn Payne talked about the Instructors' Certification Program (ICP) and Young Event Horse (YEH) Symposia, part of the USEA Educational Symposium that took place in February at the Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Florida. This week, Robin Walker, Peter Gray, and Christian Schacht join us on the show to discuss the Future Event Horse (FEH) Symposium.

First, Robin Walker speaks about the future of the FEH Program, in particular the need for more and quality judges to support the number of FEH competitions that are now taking place across the country. 

Peter Gray joins us then to talk about what he looks for as a judge, both in-hand and over fences, remarking that the quality of the horses he sees come through the FEH Program has improved steadily every year. 

Finally, Christian Schacht comes on the show to discuss different aspects of conformation and how they will affect the horse as an athlete, from the hoof to the topline and everything in between.

Unpack the ICP and YEH Symposia with Marilyn Payne and Maxime Livio

This week on the USEA Podcast, Marilyn Payne and Maxime Livio come on the show to discuss the Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) and Young Event Horse (YEH) Program Symposia that took place last month at the Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Florida.

First, Payne joins us to talk about what took place during the YEH Symposium. This year, much of the focus for the judges in attendance was on the slight change to the jumping scoring system taking place in 2019. Now, each fence will be judges on a 0-5 point scale versus the 0-3 point scale in place last year. She also discussed the evolution of the Young Event Horse Program over the last 10 years and how the scoring system has been refined over time. She stressed that the YEH committee is always open to feedback and aims to keep constant communication with the members of the YEH community.

Next, Maxime shares his general impressions of the Educational Symposium as a whole, which he had not attended in the past. He discusses specific examples from his two days of teaching during the ICP Symposium – dressage on day one and show jumping on day two.

To check out coverage from the USEA Educational Symposium, click here.

The Thrill of the 'Chase

This week on the USEA Podcast, USEA Classic Series Task Force member Mary Fike comes on the show to talk about the history of the USEA Classic Series and the work the Task Force has done over the last year.

Fike expressed her excitement about the partnership with Hylofit, who came on board as the title sponsor of the USEA Classic Series in 2018. Their technology is a perfect fit for the Classic Series as the Hylofit heart rate monitoring system is designed to help target fitness for equine and human athletes alike. 

Next, Fike highlighted the Classic Series Guidelines that were published by the Task Force last year, designed to help competitors, organizers, and officials alike prepare for a long format Classic Series event. She also talked about the history behind the long format events and how the Classic Series came into being, ending with the benefits of competing in a Classic Series event for both horse and rider.

Marcia Kulak returns this week to follow Fike's segment with detailed information on how to prepare your horse for the physical challenges of a long format Classic Series event from your very first day of fitness work all the way up to the competition. 

Preparing for Your First Event

Whether it’s your first event of the season or your first event ever, this week’s USEA Podcast some top tips from professionals on how to make sure you are prepared for your next event. Andrea Davidson, Sharon White, and Marcia Kulak join us on the show this week to discuss a wide range of topics about preparing for an event – everything from making sure your truck and trailer are ready to go the week before all the way to the best way to cool your horse out after cross-country.

Updates from the Volunteer Committee with Irene Doo + Planning Your Season with Marcia Kulak

Volunteer Committee member Irene Doo joins us on the USEA Podcast this week to discuss the jump judge instructional videos that were released last fall, and Marcia Kulak is back with a segment on planning your upcoming season.

In 2017, the Volunteer Committee was awarded an educational grant from the USEA to produce training videos for jump judge volunteers. The videos were released in the fall of 2018 and are available for free through the USEA website. 

Doo also outlines some of the goals the Volunteer Committee will be working on during the coming year. The Volunteer Committee was awarded funds to continue to produce instructional videos for other volunteer positions. The budget will allow for 2-3 new videos a year, and the Committee is in the process of selecting which positions to create videos for this year - stewards and bit check are high on the list. The Volunteer Committee is also working on producing a Volunteer Coordinator Guide with instructions and resources for volunteer coordinators. Finally, the Volunteer Committee hopes to continue to move forward with plans for a Volunteer Rewards Program.

In the last edition of the USEA Podcast, Marcia Kulak discussed putting together your team - everyone from your trainer, vet, and farrier on down to your horse's bodyworker and saddle fitter - to set yourself and your horse up for success for the upcoming season. In this week's episode, Kulak delves into the importance of mental and physical preparations and how to incorporate those preparations into your schedule for the upcoming season. She stresses the importance of setting realistic, attainable goals for your season.