November 20, 2006

Early Bird Registration Discount Extended

Two weeks and counting to go to the USEA’s Annual Meeting and Convention! Presented by Nutrena, the Convention will take place December 7-10th at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis, Missouri.

We hope you get to the Convention early so you don’t miss the Board of Governors’ Welcome Reception, sponsored by Bit of Britain, on Thursday, December 7. Everyone is invited, so plan to kick off the convention in style, enjoying tasty hors d' oeuvres and drinks in the historic Union Station Grand Hall, where Tiffany stained glass windows adorn the stunning 60-foot barrel vaulted ceiling. Meet members of the USEA's Board of Governors, catch up with friends, talk shop, and of course talk horses. In addition, Bit of Britain will host a short auction including a $4,500 Stackhouse saddle.

Then, after you’ve done the meet and greet, you can get down to business and attend a variety of seminars throughout the Convention that cover a long list of eventing-related topics. Track IV of our Event College covers Event Horse Management and includes the following:

- Pre & Post Cross-Country Care
- Standing MRI for Horses
- Fabric & Fit for Blankets and Saddle Pads
- Equine Melanomas
- Facility Design and Master Planning/All Shapes and Sizes
- Drug and Medication Rules for your Equine Partner
- Synthetic Riding Surfaces & their place in the Equestrian World
- Equine Dentistry
- Young Event Horse Part III, Conformation Phase

Anyone who competes in USEA-recognized events, or who coaches riders at those levels, needs to attend the Drug and Medication Rules for your Equine Partner seminar. We’ve all heard of Olympic gold medals being lost because a horse tested positive for an illegal drug. How does this happen? Your veterinarian has prescribed Surpass cream for your horse. Is it legal? Will it show up in a drug test? Your horse has to be tranquilized to be body clipped. How many days does it take for the medication to withdraw from your horse’s bloodstream? Dr. Kent Allen, chair of the USEF Veterinary and Drug and Medications Committee, will help you find your way through the maze of the modern equine drugs and medications market and help you avoid elimination or worse.

Are you considering buying a new farm, or remodeling your existing facility? Then you’ll want to make time to hear the top-notch panels of two related seminars: Synthetic Riding Surfaces and Their Place in the Equestrian World and Facility Design and Master Planning: All Shapes and Sizes. Synthetic riding surfaces are getting a lot of attention, and this seminar will cover the surface characteristics, turf versus synthetic, how a riding surface not only affects the locomotion of the horse, but also how it affects the environment. The requirements of synthetic surfaces, installation, water management and maintenance will also be discussed.

In the Facility Design seminar, with moderator Holly Matt, a panel that includes Linda Dreher, Derek di Grazia, Richard Jeffery, David O’Connor and Ritch Temple will discuss planning, design and architectural experience from all angles, providing information and dialogue pertaining to various aspects of vital design for stabling, critical dimensions and organizational planning for arenas, show facilities, cross-country venues and home training areas. Bring your best questions to discuss with the talented group of panelists.

Thanks to our convention sponsors: Nutrena, Bit of Britain, Area IV, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Rebecca Farm, Lamplight Equestrian Center, Adequan, Amerigo, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Stackhouse saddles, the FEI World Cup, Practical Horseman, SmartPak Equine, Wellpride Omega-3 for horses, and Hi-Tech Horse Jumps. Their generosity has made many of the Convention’s programs possible.

For more information on the Convention, including a complete schedule and registration information, click on the Convention logo on the USEA website homepage.