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USEF Equestrians in Action tracks youth volunteer hours that are aimed at improving the welfare of the horse or positively promoting equestrian sport. Sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation, the program encourages youth to give back to equestrian sport - at horse shows, equine promotional events, equine businesses or organizations, trade fairs, therapeutic riding clinics, horse rescue, and 4-H events.
As the participant with the most volunteer hours in 2012, Conover earned a $1,500 grant for her academic or equestrian educational pursuits. A Hunter exhibitor, Conover volunteered her time at Straight Forward Farm, helping care for and train the farm's rescue horses. She also spent time at St. Andrews University Therapeutic Horsemanship program, Thoroughbred Rescue of Tampa Bay and Odessa Equine Clinic.
As a freshman at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC, and a member of the Equestrian Team, Conover balances her horse involvement with academics. She has completed two stars of the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program and is a member of the National Honor and Merit Scholars Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Science Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America.
The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) have established a new volunteer recognition program through the EQUUS Foundation's carrots4acause network. The USEF Champion of Equine Service Scholarship is part of the EQUUS Foundation's Champions program sponsored by Ariat International. It is an incentive-based, equine-service volunteer program that recognizes and rewards individuals and organizations on their carrots4acause network. CHAMPIONS are individuals who volunteer a minimum of 24 hours for an organization or organizations on the EQUUS Foundations carrots4acause network. All eligible applicants for the USEF scholarship are also automatically eligible for the EQUUS Foundation Champion of Equine Service Scholarships. To learn how to participate in the Champions program visit their website at www.equusfoundation.org.