Photo by Annan Hepner / USEA.After record-breaking participation at this years event, the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is proud to remind program members that the second annual USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships will take place at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, in 2025. The Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 3-4 will serve as the host event for both championships, yet again offering a year-end goal for students to strive towards that fosters a pipeline for participation in the sport from grade school through college and beyond.Stable View is looking forward to next years USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships, said Barry Olliff, owner of Stable View. In the knowledge that while this years championships were good, we have many plans to make next years significantly better. Over the next few months, well be working on ideas for the Spirit Award contests, as well as improvements to Graze and Gaze. As and when decisions are made, the WhatsApp group will be updated.In its first edition as a joint championship, the USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships boasted incredible participation with a total of 192 entries across both programs, making up almost half of the entries for the event as a whole. For the collegiate program, 150 entries were divided into 39 teams representing 18 college and university affiliates of the USEA, while 42 entries were divided into 12 teams representing 8 IEL Clubs in the inaugural Interscholastic Eventing Championship. While on site, the collegiate and grade school competitors proved time and time again that mingling between programs was a benefit to all involved.College participants were given the opportunity to spread the word about their programs to boost recruitment for future years, while acting as mentors for their younger counterparts by sharing decorating tips or dropping off small goodies to the IEL Clubs throughout the week. While the middle and high school students were experiencing the championship atmosphere for the first time, that didnt stop them from bringing their A game, too! The IEL members took the collegiate competitors lead, showing up full of spirit and excitement to make the most of this team-oriented event.In 2025, the USEA and its organizing partners at Stable View hope to incorporate more opportunities for program members to mix and mingle. The extremely popular hobby horse competition is sure to be returning, and other ice breaker activities are being explored to get interscholastic and collegiate members working together as a team. If you havent already, sign up to join the Stable View WhatsApp group for updates throughout the year.Click hereor scan the QR code to the right to join the group.Both championships will host divisions at the Starter through Intermediate levels, and Spirit Awards will be offered separately for each program. There will be no qualifications necessary to enter the Intercollegiate Eventing Championship or the IEL Championship, however, all schools and teams represented must be registered affiliates of the USEA. Dont forget tosubmit yourCollegiate Team ApplicationsorIEL Application Forms, along with official rosters,to Jennifer Hardwick, USEA Senior Director of Membership Services, atJennifer@useventing.combyFeb. 15, 2025.All collegiate participants must be enrolled as undergraduate students, or with their schools approval, be no more than 6 months past the completion of their undergraduate education, allowing December graduates to compete in the May championship. Collegiate participants are also required to hold an active USEA Membership.All students listed on the Intercollegiate Roster for their respective college or university will be eligible for the USEA Collegiate Membership discounted rate if the roster is submitted on or before February 15. If you attend an accredited university or college that isnt currently listed on theIntercollegiate Eventing Program List, consider starting a new team by reviewing theprogram information hereand submitting aCollegiate Team Application.All IEL participants must be enrolled in 5ththrough 12thgrade at a public school, private school, online school or homeschool program. Unlike the Intercollegiate Eventing Program, IEL Clubs can be made up of any group of junior riders who share a common bond like riding at the same barn, competing with the same trainer, attending the same school or being a part of the same Pony Club. For a list of the current Interscholastic Eventing Clubs, pleaseclick here. If you are interested in starting a new IEL Club,click hereto learn more about the program andsubmit an IEL Application Formtoday.Any questions regarding the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or Interscholastic Eventing League and the upcoming 2025 Championships can be directed to USEA Staff Liaison, Kaleigh Collett, atkcollett@useventing.com.

What is the good life for horses? FEI officials and equine welfare experts weigh in on equine well-being ahead of the Olympic Games.The post Prioritizing Equine Welfare in International Equestrian Sport appeared first on The Horse.

Wilmington, Ohio Thursday afternoon at World Equestrian Center Wilmington proved special for junior rider, Luke Rinehart (USA), as he jumped to his very first welcome stake win in the $7,500 2nd Round Equestrian Welcome Stake of Summer II. Canadas Michael Pegg laid the tracks for 19 horse-and-athlete combinations that saw six move onto the short course, and only three managed to jump double-clear.[...]Read MoreThe post Luke Rinehart Captures $7,500 2nd Round Equestrian Welcome Stake Win at WEC Wilmington Summer II appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Equestrian Australia (@equestrianaus)It doesnt seem like four years since the last Olympics (oh no wait, thats because its only been three, my mistake) and yet here we are, on the cusp of the next ones. This time next week, the Games will be officially open, Paris will be full of sporting superstars and most importantly, the eventing competition will already have commenced, with the first jog taking place exactly a week today (9:30 a.m. local time / 3:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m BST). As excited as I am about all of the action we have ahead (and also weirdly nervous for everyone involved, but what can I say, Im an empath), I also loved seeing all of the posts from years gone by, in celebration of Olympic Day earlier this month. Amongst them was this glorious shot of the Australian Team winning the Gold Medal at their home Olympics in Sydney. 24 years down the line and you still get all of the feels from the elation on their faces and the view from the jam packed stands.I dont know about you, but it makes the hairs on the back of my arms stand up, not just in response to this moment, but in anticipation of all of those we have yet to witness, whether it be in person or through various streaming services. The Olympics truly are one of the greatest competitions there are, and I simply cannot wait to get stuck in. Will the French do what the Ozzies did back in Sydney, and take the Gold? It would be a surprise for sure, but not out of the question, and we all know the power that a home crowd can have!Whatever the outcome, it is going to be a glorious weekend of eventing, and we will bringing you all of the content you could ever possibly want or need, thanks to our superstars on the ground, Tilly Berendt and Sally Spickard, as well as the amazing team working away behind the scenes at home. We hope youre as excited as we all are to watch events unfold; EN will be chock-a-block full every day leading up to the Games, during the Games, and probably for some time after the Games too, so make sure you keep hitting refresh, and make sure you dont miss a thing. Now, don your berets and prepare to Go Eventing, Olympic style!U.S. Weekend PreviewApplewood Farm YEH & Mini Event (Califon, NJ) [Website] [Ride Times]Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (Trevor, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, MT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Friday News and ReadingFancy winning yourself an EPIC prize bundle, including a $200 shopping spree and VIP tickets to Maryland 5*, amongst other, amazing prizes?! The be sure to enter ENs Summer Sweepstake, our biggest giveaway yet! But be quick the entries close July 24, with the winner notified the following week, July 29. An Olympic hangover cure, if you will. Its super simple to enter too, simply fill in the entry form and youre in with a shout. Good luck! All eyes will be trained on the riders and horses in Paris next weekend. But they would be the first ones to acknowledge that none of it would be possible without the the guys and girls behind the scenes who take care on the equine superstars every need, making sure that they and their riders, too, in some cases arrive at the Games in the best possible condition. Now is your chance to get to know a couple of them a little better, courtesy of the latest ESNZ Path to Paris podcast which features Kerryn Edmans and Rosie Thomas, two central figures helping to keep Team Price on the straight and narrow. Marcus Bean is groom for another member of the Kiwi team, Clarke Johnstone, and you can learn more about him here. Three cheers for the unsung heroes behind the scenes none of it would be possible without you, youre all #supergrooms in our eyes!Its no secret around here that I have a deep seated love (obsession?) for all things New Zealand, so #sorrynotsorry for yet more Kiwi content. This time, it is from the Queen of the Kiwis herself, Mrs Jonelle Price. Multiple 5* winner, 4 time Olympian (if you include Paris, that is) and of course, one half of Team Price, this offers a fascinating look back at her previous Olympic experiences, as well as a glimpse into her expectations for Paris, too. If, like me, you cant get enough of Olympic memories from years gone by, then make sure you check out the EquiRatings Eventing Olympic Specials. They released the Story of Atlanta 1996 back in 2021, prior to the Tokyo Olympics, and this year they are spoiling us even more! So far, there has been the Olympics Special: Sydney Part 1 & 2, last week they dropped the Olympics Special: Athens Part 1 & 2 and now this week they have given us Olympic Special: London Part 1 & 2. They all feature incredible special guests, from the riders to the course designers to the technical delegates and many more besides. These are truly fantastic podcasts, giving an incredibly special look behind the scenes at all of these great events from the people who witnessed it first hand. Oh and when youve caught up with all of that, I have an inkling that you wont have to wait long before the Paris Preview drops. Music to my ears, I am sure you will agree!Not got your ticket to the actual Olympics but still fancy a jaunt to Paris to soak up the atmosphere anyway? Well, I have some excellent news. The awesome Tilly Berendt is not just our resident eventing encyclopaedia, she has now launched her own travel guide-esque website, the half passport. Except that clunky little description doesnt really do it justice: as you would expect from Tilly, this is a slick, cool site, full of all sorts of nuggets of information. At the moment, the content is mainly tailored to Paris, because I mean, where else even matters right now? But there is much more to come, beyond Paris, so add it to your favourites tab (alongside EN of course) For now though, check out this post, on all of the best places to watch the Games in Paris, that dont require a ticket. Honestly, if I could afford it, Id be hopping on the next Eurostar, thanks to this guide.Sponsor CornerAs we get closer to the Paris Olympics, get in the Olympic spirit by watching these interviews from Team USAs last outing at Stable View in the end of June. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Stable View (@stableviewaiken) Weekend WatchingAh, so thats how Ros Canter gets her flying changes so damn perfect. Practising on her old 5* campaigner, Zenshera. We all have that one friend who brings out the best in us, I guess!My lovely 20 year old Alfie helping me to nail my flying changes ahead of Paris. How lucky am I to have a horse that still loves his work and can help me out like this with a smile on his face. LeMieuxAgria Equine InsuranceEmerald Green FeedsCharles OwenSelleria EquipeZebra ProductsTop Crop HaylageJump 4 JoyPosted by Ros Canter Eventing on Monday, July 15, 2024

Most owners strive to provide the very best horse care for their equines, despite todays challenging economic circumstances, but sometimes standards fall well short of adequate care. A recent welfare case involving a young filly was such an instance, and staff at World Horse Welfare have highlighted her remarkable recovery.The youngster was discovered emaciated, covered in lice and tied to an old bike, which had been wrapped in barbed wire. She was found by Field Officer Becky Bedson at a site in Hertfordshire and has since been named Pedals.On 28 February, the charitys support team received a report from a concerned member of the public which described the fillys situation as, tethered yearling, no water, no grass on mud patch, no hay, out in all weather, underweight and very depressed.Becky went to investigate and found Pedals in a shockingly poor state.She was in a really poor body condition when we found her. Her hips and spine were protruding, and she was covered in lice, Becky said. She was actually tethered to an old bike that she was dragging around with her. The rest of the tether was attached to a fence, so she couldnt drag it all over the field, but it was a significant hazard and potentially could have caused her some really bad injuries.Tethering isnt illegal, but it must be done safely. And to tether a horse to a bike that it was dragging around behind it, where it could really get significant injuries if it got tangled up or stood on it, its just not acceptable.Despite being so young, Pedals had shoes on all four feet, a concerning sign suggesting she had been used for some form of work, and at such a young age that would have been completely inappropriate, the charity stressed.A new startEfforts to locate Pedals owner proved unsuccessful and abandonment notices yielded no response. With both a vet and police confirming her suffering was of a level for her to be taken in, she was rescued under the Animal Welfare Act. Once deemed fit for travel, she was transported to World Horse Welfares Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre to begin her road to recovery.Pedals has since transformed into a sweet and loving filly, with an incredible temperament and she is now ready to start a new chapter in her life.Pedals has completely transformed, she looks completely different, I wouldnt recognise her if I hadnt been told who she was, she was in really, really poor body condition, said Becky. And, to be honest, I think she was close to not surviving.The best part of my job is to be able to remove these horses and ponies from these terrible situations and then be able to come and look at them fully recovered, with an amazing prospect of a new home and a great life.The pretty skewbald is now ready for rehoming following rehabilitation. She has joined over 70 other horses and ponies who are also seeking forever homes since being rescued by the charity.World Horse Welfare is the largest equine rescue and rehoming charity in the UK, rehabilitating and finding new homes for approximately 300 horses every year. Rehomers receive an honest assessment of their chosen horses capabilities and ongoing support, with the reassurance that the rehomed horse can be returned to the charity if circumstances change.For more information on the rehoming process and to find out more about Pedals, visit World Horse Welfares rehoming website here.Further readingWeight monitoring: The new Body Condition Index and other ways to keep your horses condition in checkHow to tell if a horse is happyHorse field management: essential paddock care to do in the springThe post Video: Very depressed filly found tied to a bike covered in barbed wire appeared first on Your Horse.

Are you concerned about whether you should be trotting on the road and how long you can safely do so when hacking your horse? Road work has long been associated with getting horses fit, but theres far more to it than many riders think.Long slow work is a good basis for increasing bone strength and muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and hacking out is perfect for this, says equine scientist Dr David Marlin. However, given the high prevalence of lameness and arthritic joint injury/disease in horses, there are some key points to consider with respect to roadwork.Research has shown that roadwork results in forces on the hoof around 20 times higher than working on good grass or artificial surfaces, and that is the same for both shod and unshod horses.Barefoot horses are at similar risk from roadwork as shod horses with respect to forces transmitted up the leg the difference between shod and unshod is in how the force travels through the foot, explains David.Weighing up the risksAnother key point is that roadwork does not harden or strengthen tendons.Roadwork does increase bone strength, but you only need a few minutes of trot each day to achieve this, adds David. Horses will adapt to doing roadwork three to four times a week in three to four weeks. Beyond that, the fitness benefit will be negligible, and you need to weigh up the benefits over the negatives as roadwork does contribute to joint and cartilage deterioration, increasing the risk and accelerating the onset of arthritis.There is evidence that increased amounts of controlled exercise can enhance tendon strength in young, musculo-skeletally immature horses (horses less than about two years of age), but this was not done on roads.Although you should be aware of the amount of time spent in trot on the roads, there is no limit to walking on the road.Trotting should be limited to no more than five minutes per day, advises David. I realise many people have limited options of where they can ride, and road work per se is not bad for your horse, but consider limiting the amount of trotting you do on the roads. Most horses will not become lame or be unfit because they have done too little roadwork.Trotting on the road: damage limitationWorking a horse on the road will have some impact on improving bone density through high impact loading on the roads, but it can also have a negative effect on other structures.The problem is, its likely you only need to trot for 50m a day to get that effect on bone density, and once you go past that, the negative effect is concussion, which affects cartilage in the fetlock and also in the knee, says David.It may not be good for the hoof to have that concussion either. Its not hardening the tendons, which is the common belief, and after two or three weeks, it wont be doing anything more for cardio or muscular fitness.Three weeks of road work is probably enough for most horses if they are going out five or more times a week.Road work for horsesEvery horse is an individual and should be treated as such when ridden and trained.Its important to consider the cost benefit of early season road work, says David. If your horse has had concussive laminitis, or has evidence of arthritic changes, consider that long periods of trotting on the road may not actually be beneficial.Symptoms of a horse that has overdone it on the road include:An increase in heat in lower legs that wasnt there beforeFilling around the joints, which suggests inflammation in the jointsLamenessSplints and sore shinsPalpate your horses legs regularly, feeling for heat and swellings and check for lameness, says David. Lookout for the warning signs and maybe back off for a few days or call your vet.Variety is importantEvidence shows us that riding our horses over a variety of different surfaces is the best way to help keep them fit and sound.Variety of surfaces is important, says David. Research shows that using a variety of surfaces reduces the risk of injury, and exclusive use on a single surface is likely to increase the risk of injury, he continues.We also know that extremes of surfaces very deep or very hard increase the risk of injury, and surfaces that change suddenly are a huge risk too, such as riding from soft into sudden hard going. Its about consistency and variety while avoiding extremes and sudden changes.Correct careHow we care for our horses legs before and after exercise is just as important as when we are working them.We know that horses tendons can get very hot, and that heat leads to inflammation which can cause a degradation in the tendon matrix and therefore a loss in strength and integrity, David explains. We know that tendon injuries are usually the result of accumulative damage over months or years rather than single unfortunate events caused by the wrong placement of the foot. The latter does occur, but the majority of the injuries are overuse injuries.In the winter months, low intensity exercise without boots is unlikely to see excessively high temperatures in the tendons.If you are galloping at any time of the year, there is a high risk of the tendons getting very hot, says David. If you do use boots, they should be used on the basis of risk [see below]. Its important to give soft tissue plenty of time to warm up before asking for anything strenuous so as to prevent strains and tears.If its cold, spend more time warming up in walk before trotting, so around 10 to 15 minutes in walk in cold weather to reduce the risk of injury, advises David.Leg protection for road workFor many, a set of boots is an essential part of your horses kit. But, warns David, it is essential that you choose the type that are best-suited for the type and intensity of work you are planning to do.Choose boots that are appropriate for the level of risk, he says. If your horse overreaches or brushes, protective boots are useful, but do you need cross-country boots on the road or would lighter, less insulating boots work?When you are not jumping, open-fronted boots can help keep the leg cooler. If your horses legs do get significantly hot, cold hosing for up to 20 minutes or using cooling (ice) boots after exercise is a good way to reduce the temperature in the tendons.Bandages wont do much for support unless they are put on by a vet or physio you can do more harm than good with over-tight bandages, adds David.Normal stable bandages may help reduce fluid accumulation, but if the legs are filling on a regular basis, you need to understand why and treat the underlying cause. Its something you should discuss with your vet.The truth about tendonsHistorically, people believed that road work would harden tendons, but recent research has shown this is not the case.Exercise of any kind does not strengthen healthy tendons in mature horses over three years of age, says David. However, exercise does result in partial repair of injured tendons.There is nothing special about roads, other than that they normally provide a consistent, level and straight surface for controlled exercise, which is essential for tendon rehabilitation.However, its important to consider that excessive amounts of roadwork may well be damaging your horses joints significantly, especially for horses with pre-existing joint disease.Also, although appropriate rehabilitation exercise promotes tendon repair, the evidence shows that repaired tendon contains scar tissue with an abnormal structure and is stiffer and functions less well than before injury, making the risk of re-injury high.Nine leg care tipsDr David Marlin advises doing the following:Limit the amount of trotting on roads to five minutes a dayWalk as much as you want on roadsUse a variety of surfaces road, arena, tracks, all-weatherDoing three or four sessions per week is sufficient for increasing fitnessIncrease work graduallyTry to avoid uneven or very deep surfaces, or surfaces that change dramatically from hard to soft, or even to unevenBoots and bandages protect they dont support. Dont overtighten as this will do more harm than goodCool hot legs with ice boots or cold hosing for 20 minutesSpend longer warming up in cold weatherDr David Marlin is a scientific and equine consultant with more than 25 years experience in physiology and biochemistry. His main areas include exercise physiology, nutrition, fitness and training. He has worked as a consultant for British equestrian teams since 1994.The members area on Dr Marlins websiteprovides access to science-backed information spanning a wide range of horse-related matters, including webinars, latest research findings, independent product trials and celebrity interviews, with the additional opportunity to join a friendly, supportive private community of fellow horse lovers. Pay-monthly membership is 8.Join here.Lead image: copyright ShutterstockFurther readingEverything you need to know about horse jointsFitness plan for a healthy horseHow to choose the best boots for your horseHow to do interval training with a horse (and why you should)The post How much trotting on the road is safe? Dr David Marlin explores best practice appeared first on Your Horse.

With one week remaining until the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, get ready for the Games with these Olympic equestrian fun facts and trivia. This years Games will tie Paris with London, who has also hosted three times (1908, 1948 and 2012). For the moment, these two cities sit alone at the top in number of times one city has held the Games. But, in four years Los Angeles in the USA will catch up, as they are due to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, having also staged the Games in 1932 and 1984. Two cities have notched two Summer Games on their totem poles, Tokyo, Japan (1964 and 2020/21) and Athens (1896 and 2004). Paris 2024 is the final Olympics in which an equestrian show jumping phase is included in the pentathlon competition. After these Games, it is likely bicycles will replace jumping horses in the pentathlon lineup. The first Olympic equestrian team medal won by the USA was in 1912 in Stockholm when the U.S. Eventing Team, composed of all Army officers, captured bronze. Lt. Ephraim Graham riding Connie, Capt. Guy Henry riding Chiswell, and Lt. Benjamin Lear, Jr., riding Poppy were on that team. The first year that the USA fielded an Olympic Equestrian Team which was not completely made of male military officers was in Helsinki in 1952, when two of the three jumper riders were male civilians at the time (Arthur McCashin on Miss Budweiser, Maj. John Russell on Democrat, and William Steinkraus on Hollandia); they managed to win a team bronze. The U.S. Eventing Team won bronze that year too (Charles Hough on Cassavellanus, Walter Staley, Jr. on Craigswood, and John E.B. Wofford on Benny Grimes). The same year Marjorie Haines competed with two male teammates on the U.S. Dressage Team (Lt. Robert Borg and Hartmann Pauly). Women first competed in the now-traditional three Olympic disciplines in these years: dressage in 1952 [four women competed: Lis Hartel (DEN) who won silver; Elsa Christophersen (NOR); Marjorie Haines (USA) who finished 17th individually and was on the sixth-place team, and Ida von Nagel (GER)]; show jumping in 1956 [Patricia Smythe (GBR) and Brigitte Schockaert (BEL) in 1956; the first U.S. women to compete in show jumping (Mary Mairs and Kathy Kusner) participated in the 1964 Olympics]; and finally eventing in 1964 [Lana DuPont Wright of the USA was the first-ever women to compete in Olympic eventing that year]. The Para in the name Paralympics originates from the idea that the Paralympics are a parallel competition for athletes with disabilities to that of able-bodied athletes in the Olympics, thus the name is not related to the word paraplegic as one might think. The first appearance of Para-equestrian dressage was in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. That year, the riders rode borrowed horses provided by the organizers. Riders began competing on horses that they regularly trained with in the 2000 Paralympics. Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events are among a handful of sports where men and women compete head-to-head in the same competition.Crowned 2022 World Champions in Herning, Denmark, Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale from Great Britain await a much-anticipated head-to-head meeting with von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB in the Paris Olympics. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography Vaulting was included in equestrian Olympic sports once in the 1920 Antwerp Games. Polo was included in the 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 1936 Olympic Games. While not an Olympic sport this year, there is a planned polo match celebrating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France on August 7 at the Chteau de Chantilly between the USA and France. The match is co-organized by the United States Polo Association and the Federation Francaise de Polo. In overall Olympic equestrian medals won, Germany tops the list with 56 total (28 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze). While the USA has the second-most total equestrian medals with 54, only 11 of them are gold, with 23 silver and 20 bronze. Sweden, France and Great Britain have fewer total medals than the USA, but more gold, so they rank higher. Animals in the Winter Olympics well, you might put good money down that it isnt a real thing, but it turns out you would lose the bet. The sport of skijoring (skiing behind a running horse)made an appearance as a demonstration sport in the 1928 St. Moritz (Switzerland) Winter Olympics. Then, dog sledding was a demonstration sport in the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Games in New York, U.S.Skijoring as a demonstration sport at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, SwitzerlandFind all of our coverageon our Paris 2024 Olympic Games main page.The post 2024 Paris Olympics: Olympic Equestrian Trivia and Fun Facts appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.