Dressage

Practically raised in the dressage saddle, Cassie Benson grew up riding alongside her family members at Hilltop Dressage, located in Heber City, Utah. Eventually, Benson took over her grandmother’s role in the business as a trainer alongside her aunt, Margo Gogan. As a child, the farm was a haven for Benson. Whether she was frustrated or sad, horses were her safe space, and you could always find her down at the barn. ©Impulsion Images “Being with them, hearing them eat, their...

An impromptu shopping trip for a student turned into Tillie Jones finding her now up-and-coming Grand Prix partner, Cilla Franchesca. “Coco,” as she’s known in the barn, came into Jones’ life when she least expected it, and the pair has blossomed into serious competitors and partners. Finding her way to the saddle at 7, Jones became enamored with the sport after her family surprised her with a horseback riding lesson. “They blindfolded me, took me out to a barn, I...

Wayne, Ill. – The 2026 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions opened Monday at HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center, with the first tests underway for the Brentina Cup, Intermediaire I, and Adequan®/USEF U.S. Para Dressage National Championships. Competition follows a clean bill of health for the combinations. Every horse entered across the three championship divisions passed the veterinary inspection held Sunday afternoon in the Grand Prix Arena, clearing the way for this week's...

In June, the US Equestrian Board approved changes to DR121 Saddlery and Equipment, tracking 144.25, which removes the option to use double bridles at Third Level, beginning Dec. 1, 2026. (You can find all rule changes approved in June, including this one here .) It’s a change that’s garnered a lot of conversation, and you may be wondering how it came about. “This discussion has been in the committees for at least 15 years, so it’s not a knee-jerk reaction,” said...

Wayne, Ill. — The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (FOC), the annual showcase of American dressage talent, returns to HITS Lamplight Equestrian Center in Northern Illinois for seven days of competition, August 24-30, 2026. Horse inspections begin on Sunday, August 23, ahead of a full slate of championships spanning para dressage, young and developing horses, and youth divisions, alongside the sport's top senior competitors. ©US Equestrian The following national championships...

Aachen, Germany – Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) bid farewell to the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen, riding Fleau de Baian in the Grand Prix Special for The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team. The FEI Dressage World Championships are hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-15, 2026. ©US Equestrian Simonson, 23, posted a score of 68.456 percent after a mistake in the order of the Grand Prix Special movements resulted in an error mark. Despite the score, Simonson...

For Meghan Laffin, a much-needed gap year in her career trajectory turned into a seven-year long adventure making lifelong memories. After completing her graduate degree, Laffin took a year to get back into horses. While scrolling through Facebook, an opportunity arose to groom for Olympian and U.S. Dressage stalwart Kasey Perry-Glass. Laffin took the job in 2019 and never looked back. “I thought, well, I’ll just go have one year experiencing the elite side of things, and then...

Aachen, Germany – Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) riding Fleau de Baian led The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team with a personal best FEI Grand Prix score of 71.304 percent to advance individually to the Grand Prix Special test at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-15, 2026. © US Equestrian Simonson, 23, piloted his 2010 KWPN stallion (Broere Jazz x Ulft), owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Georgia Morgan....

For Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center, the driving motivation behind her involvement across the equestrian disciplines is her deep and unrelenting love of horses. At her core, it’s who she is, and what she’s built at Zen Elite is a direct reflection of her philosophy and passion. “I wanted to build a place where the horses always come first, and where the people surrounding the horses felt supported, appreciated, and inspired,” said Humphries, as she...

Aachen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team currently sits eighth after an FEI Grand Prix high score of 70.606 percent from Kasey Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) riding Heartbeat W.P. on day one at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-15, 2026. ©US Equestrian Perry-Glass, a team silver medalist from the 2018 World Championships, concluded opening day in the electric main stadium on Diane Perry’s 2011 KWPN gelding...

When Ashley Holzer got the call about a “must have” championship quality mare from her good friend and mentor Carl Hester, she knew to trust his instinct, even if she may not have been quite as sure herself. On a rainy November day in the U.K., Holzer drove to Hester’s yard to see for herself the horse “meant for her.” ©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography Hawtins San Floriana , also known as “Flo,” immediately impressed with her power and presence, with...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has announced a substitution for the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team ahead of the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships, hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-16, 2026. Genay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Gino, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Haarlem) owned by Michele Vaughn, and cared for by Alex Levine-Nevel, will be replaced by Meagan Davis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Toronto Lightfoot, a 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Totilas x Onassis) owned by Scott...