United States Eventing Association

This year a new class will be joining the 47 eventing legends currently in the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Eventing Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded within the sport of eventing in the United States. Those invited to join the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame have truly made a difference in the sport of eventing. Hall of Fame members have included past Association presidents, volunteers, riders, founding fathers, course designers, officials, organizers, horses, horse owners, and coaches.

Typically, a new group is inducted into the Hall of Fame every three years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process was delayed a year. However, the USEA is delighted to be welcoming a new Hall of Fame class this year. These members of the eventing community will be honored for their accomplishments, contributions, and lifelong dedication to the sport of eventing with a formal induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame Gala at the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention taking place this year in Savannah, Georgia from December 7-11.

The USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be announced throughout the year as inductees are presented with their invitation in person at events meaningful to their contributions. The first invitation was given at tonight’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Welcome Party to Janie Atkinson.

After graduating from Rutgers University with a Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Janie began working as a lab tech in the University of Kentucky Veterinary Science Department in 1969. She moved from Lexington in 1970 to accept a position as industry liaison with the newly formed American Horse Council, an equine industry trade association, in Washington, D.C. She returned to Lexington in 1972 to work at The Blood-Horse, a weekly Thoroughbred racing and breeding magazine. In 1974 she accepted a position as Executive Director of the newly formed Kentucky Horse Council, a state government agency created by the Kentucky legislature to promote, preserve, and strengthen the equine industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 1984 she accepted a position as Executive Vice President of Equestrian Events, Inc. and Event Director of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event; previously, she had served as volunteer Chief Dressage Steward from 1976 through 1984. She was appointed Eventing Discipline Director in September 2007 for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games and retired in October 2010. The success and scale of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event are thanks in large part to Janie’s work.

Stay tuned throughout the year to find out the additional members of the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame Class of 2022!

Want to learn more about the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame and read about the current members? Click here.