“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This episode marks the debut of our new Go Eventing In Focus format — a series of deeper conversations designed to explore the topics, challenges, and questions shaping eventing beyond the headlines. Alongside our interviews and conversations, we're excited to create more space for thoughtful discussions, expert perspectives, and community-wide issues that affect the future of our sport. This week, we're stepping away from the upper levels and shining a spotlight on the foundation that supports the entire sport: grassroots eventing. From local horse trials and volunteer crews to organizers balancing budgets and competitors deciding where to direct their entry money, this conversation explores the realities shaping eventing at the ground level. To speak plainly, the future of eventing won't be determined by 5* winners or championship medals — it will be shaped by whether local events can continue to run, volunteers continue to show up, and new riders continue to find a place in our sport. This episode takes an honest look at the challenges facing grassroots eventing today and what opportunities we must chase to strengthen it for tomorrow. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 8? Host Sally Spickard welcomes Emily Holmes — event organizer, USEF 'R' Technical Delegate, and eventing advocate — to this Go Eventing Podcast deep-dive into what is happening behind the scenes, in the show office, and out on course at your local events. Drawing on years of experience running horse trials and working within the sport, Emily shares valuable insight into participation trends, the rising costs of hosting events, volunteer recruitment, sponsorship realities, and the regional differences shaping eventing across the country. Sally and Emily open a candid discussion on what it actually takes to put on a horse trial in today's environment. They discuss the financial pressures organizers face, where entry fees really go, and why community involvement remains one of the most important — and often overlooked — factors in keeping events viable. Whether you're a competitor, organizer, volunteer, owner, or passionate supporter of the sport, this reality check and roadmap offers thoughtful ideas on how we can help create a more sustainable future for the sport. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:20 - News & Notes: Bromont, Nations Cup at Bicton, & Upcoming Luhmühlen A quick rundown of some upcoming major events with the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L this week, which will see EN with boots on the ground in Quebec. Sally covers results from the recent FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Bicton, and looks forward to our next 5* in Luhmühlen later this month. [Red, White, & Gold Fundraising Party for the Canadian Eventing Team] [Watch It Live: MARS Bromont on ClipMyHorse.tv] [MARS Bromont on YouTube] [Read It on EN: Defender U.S. Eventing Team Takes Silver at FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Great Britian CCIO4*-NC-S] 14:10 - One Big Thing: Grassroots Eventing in the Wild Emily breaks down the current state of grassroots eventing in the United States, including participation trends, entry numbers, and the regional differences she's seeing across the country. She discusses how event attendance has shifted in recent years and what those trends may indicate for the future of the sport. The conversation then turns to the economics of running horse trials with a behind-the-scenes look at event budgets, including the rising costs associated with officials, facilities, insurance, prizes, equipment, and labor. She explains why many organizers are facing difficult financial realities and how those pressures ultimately affect competitors. Sally and Emily also dive into volunteerism — one of the most critical components of any successful event. They discuss strategies for recruiting and retaining volunteers, why volunteer culture varies regionally, and how event organizers can better engage their communities. Finally, they explore the role of sponsorships, the challenges of attracting new partners, and why grassroots eventing may need to think differently about community engagement, accessibility, and long-term sustainability if the sport is to continue growing from the ground up. [FEI's Key Event Requirements (KERs) System for Competition Venues] [FEI's Eventing Education System for Eventing Officials] [The FEI Event Organizer's Guide] [Watch Jon Holling get dunked by Zach Brandt] 1:39:07 - Finish Flags Follow along with Emily on Facebook. Follow some of Emily's events: Florida Horse Park: Website | Instagram Flora Lea Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Horse Park of New Jersey: Website | Instagram Rocking Horse Stables: Website | Instagram Poplar Place Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Majestic Oaks Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Interested in learning more about grassroots eventing or supporting your local events? Start by volunteering, spectating, or reaching out to organizers in your area — you might be surprised how much impact one person can have. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at podcast@eventingnation.com. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations Honest, unfiltered stories 🧑🤝🧑 A community-driven approach
