USEA Podcast

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. 

Safety First with Rusty Lowe + Better Management for Better Results with Marcia Kulak

This week, on the first episode of the USEA Podcast in 2019, we are joined by retired Fire and EMS Captain Rusty Lowe, who volunteers his time at many events as Safety Coordinator, and Marcia Kulak, an upper-level event rider with over 25 years of international competitive experience.

While there have been many advancements in the safety technology of equipment such as helmets and protective vests and safety protocols for competitions are stronger than ever, are you prepared for an emergency at home? Lowe's focus is on educating people about the different types of safety equipment and training are available so that they are able to provide potentially life-saving aid in the event of an emergency outside of a competition setting. Lowe covers topics including the different types of training that are available, the first steps you can take towards emergency preparedness, and putting together your own plan in case of emergencies.

The start of the new year is a great time to set goals and make plans for the coming year, and that's exactly what Kulak covers in this first segment of her educational series. Sitting down and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the past year is an excellent way to carve out goals for the coming year, and Kulak's first piece of advice for accomplishing those goals is to assemble your team - everyone from your trainer, vet, and farrier to your saddle fitter and equine dentist plays a crucial role in the success of you and your horse. Putting a good team together and establishing strong lines of communication is essential for creating comprehensive ways to help your horse be as happy and healthy as possible, and Kulak shares her wisdom on the different ways to do this.

Looking Back and Looking Forward: Carol Kozlowski and Max Corcoran

On the final USEA Podcast of 2018, USEA President Carol Kozlowski reflects on the past two years of her presidency and what she hopes to accomplish during her third and final year as President in 2019. Then, USEA President Elect Max Corcoran, who will take over from Kozlowski in 2020, talks about her background and her vision for the future of the USEA.

2019 Grant Recipients + 2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

At the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana last weekend, the USEA Foundation awarded the 2019 grants at the 2018 Year End Awards Ceremony, including the $45,000 Wilton Fair Grant, the $10,000 Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant, and the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant. This week on the USEA Podcast, we checked in with the grant winners about their plans for the grants. This year, Savannah Fulton received the $45,000 Wilton Fair Grant, Andrea Baxter received the "Little Becky" $10,000 Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant, and Frankie Thieriot Stutes $50,000 received the "Big Becky" Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant.

Then, stay tuned to hear from the new members of the 2018 USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame who were inducted at the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday night. The 7th USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame honored Karen O'Connor, Dr. A. Martin "Marty" Simensen, Out and About, Howard Simpson, Nina and Tim Gardner, and Captain Mark Phillips. The USEA will also be releasing videos from the induction ceremony on U.S. Eventing TV.

Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Katherine Coleman: Fall 2018 Three-Star Champions

Frankie Thieriot Stutes and The Chatwin Group’s Chatwin (Contendro I x Oktav), a 10-year-old German Warmblood gelding, took home The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Championship title in the Fair Hill International CCI3* in mid-October on their dressage score of 27.3. On this week's USEA Podcast, Thieriot Stutes talks about what it took to travel across the country to compete at Fair Hill, what Chatwin is like in the barn, and hints at their plans for the 2019 season.

Katherine Coleman is originally from New Orleans but has been living and riding abroad in England for the last seven years. This is the second year that Coleman has wintered in Florida, and she kicked off the winter season by winning the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event’s inaugural CCI3* division earlier this month aboard Monte Classico (Monte Bellini x W-Sally), her own 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding, on a final score of 39.5. Coleman discusses how her partnership with “Monte” has progressed during their three years together, her plans for the winter season with Monte and the rest of her string, and what she's looking towards for 2019.

Unpack the New FEI Star System + Preview the 2018 USEA Convention

CEO Rob Burk comes on this episode of the USEA Podcast first to discuss the changes to the FEI star system, which will change from a four-star system to a five-star system. There are several reasons behind this change, including risk management, inclusion in the Olympics, and making it possible for more countries to participate. Burk describes the difference between the new CCI-L and CCI-S designations, the difference between the old long format and the new short and long formats, and more. For more detailed information about the changes to the FEI star system, click here.

Next, Senior Director of Membership Services and Convention Planner Jennifer Hardwick joins us to give us a preview of what’s in store for the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention featuring the USEA’s 7^th Eventing Hall of Fame at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hardwick shares some of the exciting events that attendees have to look forward to, including the Annual Meeting of Members with Keynote Speaker Erik Duvander and the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Gala. If you haven’t registered yet, Hardwick shares all the information you need to get your tickets! Click here for more information.

Young Horse Championship Round-Up

Championship season is upon us, and this week we're speaking with the winners from the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East and West Coast 5-year-old Championships.

But first, we hear from Elizabeth Callahan of Cool Na Grena Sporthorses, who traveled to La Mondial du Lion d'Angers to watch her homebred, Quantum Leap, compete in the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses with rider Doug Payne. Quantum Leap was the recipient of the 2018 Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Prize and Grant as the highest-placed young horse at the 2016 USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old Championships who was willing and qualified as a 7-year-old to compete at the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships. Callahan comes on the show to share her experiences at the Championships, including her impression of the event and her takeaways from watching the best young horses in the world compete.

Next we hear from Tamra Smith, who won the USEA YEH East Coast 5-year-old Championship aboard MB MaiStein (Rocky Lee x High Ovation), the MB Group, LLC's Oldenburg gelding bred by Kai-Steffen Meier and his wife, Lara, at Arville Sporthorses. Smith discusses her decision to travel from California to compete in the East Coast Championship and what it has been like to produce "Rocky" from a 3-year-old. She also shared her advice on producing young horses and how she feels her young horses have benefitted from competing in YEH divisions.

Madison Temkin closes out the program by telling us about her win aboard MVP Madbum (Papa Clem x Dancing Stripes), her own off-the-track Thoroughbred mare bred by E-racing.com, in USEA YEH West Coast 5-year-old Championship. Temkin talks about how she acquired "Madbum" as a 2-year-old and the process of producing the mare herself from the ground up. She also discusses what it was like to compete aboard a full Thoroughbred in the Championship and how Madbum performed in the competition.

 

Update on the Fair Hill Five-Star

In 2017, US Equestrian (USEF) approved a recommendation to award a new CCI4* event to Fair Hill. After the FEI announced the changes to the star system in November of 2017, Fair Hill made the decision to wait until the specifications for the new five-star were finalized before moving forward with improvements to the facility. The Fair Hill four-star in 2019 is equivalent to the existing CCI3* and will be designated as a CCI4*-L. Working in partnership with the State of Maryland, Fair Hill plans to host their inaugural CCI5*-L competition in 2020. 

Ross Peddicord, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, joins us first to discuss how the Fair Hill five-star is situated within the wider equestrian industry in Maryland and what the prospect of hosting a major international equestrian event means for the state of Maryland. Since Peddicord joined us on the podcast last year, he explains that things have really begun to fall into place and are now moving forward rapidly. He also provides a bit of a background on how this plan came together in the first place and all the different groups that have come together to make this new event possible.

Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of Maryland Sports and the Vice President of the Maryland Stadium Authority, comes on the show next to get into the details of the operations that are playing out at Fair Hill to build out the infrastructure necessary for the new five-star. 

Click here for a detailed explanation of the new FEI star system.