The halfway point of the 2023 competition year has passed, which offers a great opportunity to review the season thus far. The USEF Eventing Development and Emerging Program participants have recorded impressive competition results in recent weeks, such as the silver medal at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Poland CCIO4*-NC-S in Strzegom, Poland, and top placings at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Mont. USEF Eventing Emerging & Development Coach Leslie Law offered his insights into the success of the program athletes and making plans for the remainder of the competition year.

1. There were several top results from Development and Emerging Program participants in the FEI divisions at The Event at Rebecca Farm. How do these results highlight the progress the program participants have made this year?

“All of these athletes are hard workers and show up every day to improve. I’m not with them everyday, so it is a testament to their home programs that they are putting in the work at home to improve the weaknesses we identified in January and then put the pieces together for targeted competitions.”

2. How does traveling to U.S. competitions with travel logistics and atmosphere, like The Event at Rebecca Farm, help prepare athletes for traveling and competing abroad?

“Rebecca is a great event that the Broussards have, and they have done a fabulous job of creating that very special destination-event atmosphere. It certainly builds a foundation to help prepare them for larger trips. Travel plans rarely happen without at least one small glitch, so being able to handle changes while still being on “home turf” helps to handle future issues. There are still a number of travel logistics and health concerns with a long trip to Montana that gives the athletes scenarios to be aware of as they make their plans that they need to be aware of on larger overseas trips.”

3. 

   What do you and athletes typically review when looking back at the first half of the year as you make plans or goals for the remainder of the year?

“Clearly, we look at the results and see if we have hit the realistic targets. If yes, then we make plans to move those goal posts forward again, and if no, then why not and how can that be put right.”

4. What training progress and/or continued competition success are you hoping to see from Development and Emerging Program participants during the remainder of the year?

“I believe that we have been able to produce several podium positions over the years at Nations Cups and hope to continue to produce those performances for the U.S. We are going the right direction and we need to keep going that way. We want the athletes to stay focused on goals with their individual horses, wondering what more can be done with the various aspects of their programs (stable management, etc.), and doing the homework at home so that they can be competitive at the competition.”