Dear USEF Members, Competition Licensees and Managers, In October 2024 we provided you with information regarding the new amendments to the Horse Protection Act (HPA or Act). This is a follow-up to that communication. Since release of the new amendments to the Act, USEF leaders have participated in Zoom meetings and webinars with the American Horse Council (AHC) and with USDA/APHIS to voice our concerns and to gain a better understanding of the upcoming implementation of the HPA changes,...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian congratulates the winners of the 2024 Combined Driving Annual Awards. These awards recognize the top U25 driving athletes from the 2024 calendar year as well as a volunteer who has been nominated for their exemplary service to US Equestrian driving competitions. U25 Driver of the Year - Under 12: Ashton Maye Ashton Maye (Fairfield, Va.) competed with his own horse, Zeizo, a 13-year-old Irish Cob gelding, for the first time during the 2024 season. The duo had major...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the USEF Developing Athlete and Equine Program for Combined Driving participants for 2025. The purpose of the USEF Developing Athlete and Equine Program for Combined Driving is to provide guidance and educational resources to cultivate selected athlete/equine combinations who display the potential to improve the national standard of the sport and eventually contribute to a U.S. Team score at FEI Driving or Para Driving World Championships....

Lexington, Ky. - The FEI Board has approved the suspension of the implementation of Annexes 11 and 12 of the FEI Driving Rules 2025 , pending the full revision of the FEI Driving Rules that will take place in 2025. Although these annexes were approved without objections during the General Assembly, feedback from key stakeholders has highlighted challenges since their approval. The FEI Driving Committee will continue working on a standardized and accurate measurement method, ensuring the rules...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian has published the athlete selection memos for the 2026 FEI Driving World Championships for Four-In-Hand and Single Horse applicants. The 2026 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses is scheduled to take place from August 10 – 23, 2026 in Aachen, Germany. The 2026 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses is scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany with dates TBD. Chester Weber with his horses - First Edition, Julius V, Kadora and...

Allentown, N.J. – Eight new national champions were crowned at the conclusion of combined driving competition hosted at the New Jersey Horse Park in Allentown, N.J., this past weekend, with the Garden State CDE hosting national championship competition for all Preliminary and Training Level divisions. National champion honors were awarded in the VSE, Single Pony, Single Horse, Pony Pairs, and Horse Pairs divisions at both levels. Hilary Mroz-Blythe and Stone Pony Tempest. ©MbDixon...

Tryon, N.C. – The Tryon International Equestrian Center hosted the 2024 USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Ponies last week, welcoming some of the country’s top driving athletes to compete among the full slate of driving classes at the Tryon Fall CDE. Amy Cross and Eulenhof Spencer. ©Shannon Brinkman Photo USEF Combined Driving National Championship – Single Pony Amy Cross (Chestertown, Md.) and Eulenhof Spencer (Arvalon Sion x Carmana’s Summer...

Le Pin au Haras, France – The Defender U.S. Driving Team competed on the sport’s biggest stage last week at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses held at Haras National du Pin in France. The team finished in 10 th place overall. Taylor Bradish and Katydid Duchess. ©Melanie Guillamot Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.) and Jennifer Matheson’s 2009 Welsh Pony Cross mare, Katydid Duchess (Danyloo x Besame) had an outstanding event, finishing in sixth place...

Tryon, N.C. – Competition kicked off on Thursday at the 2024 Tryon International Combined Driving Event. This year, Tryon is hosting the USEF Driving National Championships for Advanced Combined Ponies. The championship entries begin their competition on Friday, Sept. 19, with the dressage phase. In the Advanced Pair Ponies division, Katie Whaley (Paris, Ky.) is aiming for a third consecutive national championship with her own 2015 Welsh Pony gelding, Timmy, and Gail Riley’s 2012...

Le Pin au Haras, France – Competition at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 19, and all three members of the Defender U.S. Driving Team are set to begin after all horses passed inspection on Wednesday morning. ©Melanie Guillamot Leslie Berndl (Lexington, Ky.) with Impressive, Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.) with Katydid Duchess, and Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, Iowa) with Kendro, will represent the U.S. in a field of 19 countries...

Szilvásvárad, Hungary – Chester Weber earned an individual podium finish for the Defender U.S. Driving Team at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses this week, clinching the bronze medal. Chester Weber during the marathon phase of the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses. ©FEI/Martin Dokoupil The competition, held at Hungary’s State Stud Farm at Szilvásvárad Sept. 4-8, 2024, started out with a bang for...

Szilvásvárad, Hungary – Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his team secured the individual bronze medal at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hand Horses, finishing three phases on a final score of 159.13. This is Chester's fifth individual World Championship medal in his storied career. ©FEI Chester and team broke the world record in dressage on Friday with their score of 31.06 and continued their successful week of competition with their overall...