The following grants have been retired by the USEA Foundation

EQUINE CARDIOPULMONARY STUDY

The Equine Cardiopulmonary Research Study concentrates on how efficiently a horse’s cardiovascular and pulmonary systems function when galloping and jumping on cross-country and seeks answers to questions such as: Are our horses hearts working harder now than in the past? Does the short format increase pressures in the lung vessels?

While equine fatalities during competition are uncommon, the sudden death of an equine athlete during competition is distressing. The goal of the current study is to describe heart rhythm in healthy event horses during the cross-country phase of competition. Results will provide us with an understanding of the spectrum of cardiac responses of healthy horses to this unique and intense exercise and will document the frequency of occurrence of transient, potentially performance-limiting arrhythmias in the sample population. Heart health is of paramount importance to safe and successful competition and the goal of our team of internationally renowned veterinarians and cardiologists is to apply scientific principles to understanding the risks of competition for event horses.

Click here for the most recent update on the Equine Cardiopulmonary Study.

Eventing USA Archive

Since the founding of the United States Eventing Association, one of the central parts of the Association’s mission has been education. Along those lines, Winston Churchill once said “those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”

In 2013 in order to better enable the USEA membership to learn from our past, the USEA Foundation undertook a project to digitize every issue of the USCTA News and Eventing USA magazines.

Today that effort continues to benefit all USEA members. To access the archive members need simply log on to their Online Services page at www.useventing.com.

GPS SPEED STUDY

Spearheaded by former international event rider, John Staples, and Dr. Reed Ayers, an upper level event rider and a research assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines (Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science), this study monitored horses and riders on the cross-country course to determine the speeds at which the courses are being negotiated. Some surprising data came to light as to the excessive speeds some riders have achieved in order to complete courses inside the time. Thanks to the research done by Staples and Ayers, many coaches were able to use the data to educate students on the importance of pace. A copy of the GPS Speed Study presentation made at the 2009 Annual Meeting and Convention can be found here.