When saddle seat teams from Canada, Namibia, South Africa, and the United States converged on Kentucky for the 2018 Saddle Seat World Cup , US Equestrian staff were ready. Hosted this year by US Equestrian, the biennial competition brought 50 horses and 42 team members, coaches, managers, and mentors to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., July 2-6. Among the US Equestrian National Affiliates team members who pitched in at the Saddle Seat World Cup were (front row, l to r) Erin DesNoyers,...

Trying a different discipline, even temporarily, can open your eyes to new possibilities. That’s what 17-year-old eventer Heather Kottwitz is finding since she started taking combined driving lessons in addition to her dressage, stadium, and cross-country riding. Kottwitz, from Ashland, Mo., isn’t planning to hang up her saddle; she competes her Morgan gelding Sidney at Training level and loves it. But her recent foray into combined driving has helped her learn a different language...

Lexington, Ky. - The US Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Joseph Dotoli as the recipient of the 2017 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award and Connor Farley as the recipient of the 2017 Junior Equestrian of the Year Award. USEF will present Dotoli and Farley with these prestigious awards at the Pegasus Awards Dinner on Thursday, January 18, 2018. 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joseph Dotoli and 2017 Junior Equestrian of the Year Connor Farley. Dotoli, of Chepachet, R.I., has...

Shelburne, Vt. — The best of the best in the Morgan breed was celebrated at the 2017 edition of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®, held October 7-14. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world . More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States and Canada met in Oklahoma City, Okla., to compete in over 300 classes for $400,000-plus in prize money. Photo by Howard...

Shelburne, Vt. - The 2017 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® is shaping up to be another monumental event in the show's 44-year history. More than 1,000 of the finest Morgan horses from across the United States and Canada will meet in Oklahoma City, Okla., October 7-14 to compete for more than $250,000 in prize money. Since 1973, the show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world . Matt Kwapich (Bernalillo, N.M.) will once again serve...

Parker, Co. – The Western Dressage Association® of America (WDAA) is pleased to announce that the 2017 Western Dressage World Championship Horse Show will begin tomorrow, September 28, and run through Sunday, October 1, 2017, at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. The 2017 slate of judges includes Debbie Riehl Rodriguez, Dolly Hannon, Donna Longacre, and Lillian Evaniew-Phelan. Joyce Hamblin and Cindy Reid will serve as US Equestrian (USEF) stewards. The show is approved by USEF and...

Lexington, KY. - The nation’s top saddle seat riders will compete at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., on December 2, 2017, in hopes of earning a spot on the 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. The Saddle Seat World Cup consists of a three-gaited and a five-gaited competition, with six team members selected for each section. Selected athletes will represent the United States in July 2018 during the International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup competition. The Saddle Seat World...

When the pony-sized Morgan stallion Forsite Renoir takes to the ring at the Kentucky Horse Park July 7-9 National Dressage Pony Cup , he’ll be gunning for his second consecutive Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Open Championship win at the competition. The 13.3-hand stallion also will be carrying on a great Morgan and pony legacy in the sport of dressage for breeder, owner, and rider Debra M’Gonigle. Forsite Renoir and Deb M'Gonigle at the 2016 National...

Photo by Sarah Bennett Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is now accepting applications for 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Coaches. The team will consist of six athletes for both the three- and five-gaited sections and will compete at the 2018 Saddle Seat World Cup competition scheduled to take place in the United States. Interested parties should complete an application and submit their resume no later than September 1, 2017. The application and job description can be found here:...

Lexington, Ky. - Applications are now being accepted for consideration to participate in the 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Selection Trials. The selection trials will be held at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., December 1-2, 2017. A riders' meeting/draw will be held the evening of Friday, December 1, and the selection trials will take place on Saturday, December 2, with team member announcements that evening. The World Cup is a bi-annual competition that originated in the...

Perry, Ga. - The 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event concluded on Thursday, April 6, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Stripes and Stars Teams delivered strong performances against teams from Canada and South Africa. Under the guidance of coaches Devon Garone (Richmond, N.H.), Kristin Logan (Hampton Falls, N.H.), and Christy Parker (Brunswick, Ga.), the Stripes Three-Gaited section won gold and the Five-Gaited section won...

Lexington, Ky. - Excitement is building for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event getting underway this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. Teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete for gold medals in three- and five-gaited saddle seat equitation. Team practice started on Monday, April 3, with the competition to be held April 5-6. Judges Lewis McKim of Canada, Jaco Jonker of South Africa, and Lisa Cunningham Waller of the...