News from Area 1 and USEA

Hillori Connors is an amateur adult from Topsfield, MA who enjoys competing at the lower levels of eventing in Area 1.  Her horse is Chantilly All Quality (aka Fig), an 8 year old, 17 hh ISH gelding that she has had for almost 1 year.  Shortly after Fig’s arrival, he had several back-to-back minor injuries,… Read More>

Rachel Kiczuk is from Amherst NH and works in Groton, MA at Scarlet Hill Farm.  Her horse Africa is a 15.3 TB/Irish Sport Horse by Formula One, and they compete at the preliminary level.  Rachel is looking forward to creating good memories with her co-workers down in Ocala this winter. Next Wednesday will mark one… Read More>

For those of us without very many jumps, this exercise gives you tons of options using minimal jump standards, and keeps the outside of the arena open. Poles on the ground work great for this exercise as well! The three jumps in the middle can be any type, I chose a skinny and an oxer… Read More>

Last month we talked about the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning and how to utilize those ideas in Eventing. Please click here if you missed it. This month I would like to highlight a key principle and discuss how we can apply it when in the tack. External Focus of Attention How many riders have… Read More>

So while some of us are lucky enough to decamp to warmer climes for the winter, many of us in Area 1 are stuck at home for the winter, circling around and around the indoor.  For intrepid eventers, however, the off season is a great time to hit the beach with our horses. I really… Read More>

Having never attended an organizer meeting, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I sat in on this session at the 2020 Area 1 annual meeting. I had visions of organizers fighting tooth and nail for dates and debating every proposed change. I was pleasantly surprised to find a very supportive environment focused on… Read More>

At this year’s annual meeting, Sorcha Martin, an Area I competitor and physical therapist, gave a terrific talk about applying the science of motor learning to improving our riding.  This talk was so helpful (and validating – did you know all the time you spend coordinating your tack actually helps you to be a better… Read More>

Three dynamic speakers brought laughter and tears during the Area 1 Annual Meeting keynote address.  We were so fortunate to have Arial Grald, Jane Hamlin, and Jessica Halliday, all hailing from Area 1, to share their trials and triumphs from 2019. Ariel thrilled us with her year of successful 5* competitions, placing at both Kentucky… Read More>