Thermal, Calif. – The US Equestrian Open Dressage Final will get underway tomorrow evening with the FEI Grand Prix, kicking off a weekend of exciting competition with the inaugural edition of the event hosted at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif. The competition will see 13 combinations contest the qualification class before the highly anticipated FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5* to determine the first-ever US Equestrian Open Dressage Final champion. ©DevynTrethewey/US...

Lexington, Ky. - Earlier this fall, US Equestrian released a series of Horse Welfare Guidelines to members, including those based on the familiar concept of a stoplight guidance recently published by USEF. In addition to this work, the USEF Dressage Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Task Force led by Betsy Juliano and Lisa Gorretta, has been meeting regularly to discuss changes needed nationally within the discipline of dressage. As a result of the Task Force discussions Riding Standard Guidelines...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce a new partnership with major pet care retailer Chewy as an Official Sponsor of US Equestrian. The partnership will enhance Chewy’s brand presence within the equine industry through event activation and support, while offering a convenient and reliable source for US Equestrian members to purchase essential products across Chewy’s wide range of available brands. Chewy also had a notable presence at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce updates to the U.S. Dressage Pathway Programs for 2026, including updated program member lists for the USA Dressage Pre-Elite, Development, Emerging Young Horse and Youth athletes in the United States. These program lists are established based on competition results within the past 12 months and are supported by Christine Traurig, USEF Dressage Technical Advisor & Chef d’Equipe and Development and Young Horse Coach, Assistant...

Horse Care Education Session at the 2025 USEF Dressage Youth Training Session - East (©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian) Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the dates and locations for the 2026 USEF Dressage Youth Training Series, part of the U.S. Dressage Pathway Program. The 2026 East Coast edition, presented by Zen Elite Equestrian Center will be held at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla., from Jan. 1-4, while the West Coast segment of the training...

When Mary Kate Fahy decided to bring home Ruby Slipperz, a then-3-year-old, green broke, Half-Arabian mare, she thought she was taking on a resale project. “I had a coming 2-year-old and a coming 3-year-old in the pipeline, but nothing to ride over the winter,” said Fahy. “So, I went searching for a project, and I found Ruby and bought her. I drove 10 hours to Ohio in the middle of winter to pick her up. She had been lightly started as a 3-year-old, then turned out for the...

Wayne, Ill. - The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions concluded today at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center with five new champions earning national titles. The competition came to a close after crowning champions in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Champion for Six-Year-Olds, USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse Dressage National Championship, Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Children Dressage National Championship, as well as the...

With a barn name of ‘Maverick’, Hussmans Topgun (Totilas x Atterupgaards Demi) was destined to bring a little swagger to the dressage arena. The 2016 Danish Warmblood gelding may not be the first young horse Adrienne Lyle has brought up through the levels, but with his charm, talent, and just the right amount of attitude, he’s earning his call sign. ©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian “On the ground he’s like a puppy dog,” said Lyle. “He’s...

Christian Simonson and Indian Rock, winners of the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship (©Isabelle Whitside/US Equestrian) Wayne, Ill. - Six new champions were crowned on Saturday at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions , highlighting a full day of competition at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center. Titles were awarded in the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, the Adequan®/USEF Brentina Cup National Championship, the Aspen Leaf...

Katie Duerrhammer & Rosebank VH, winners of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Championship for 7-Year-Olds (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian) Wayne, Ill. - The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions continued today at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center with the conclusion of two national championships and competitive classes across several divisions. The first of two Dressage Seat Medal Finals classes, The Adequan ®/USEF Junior National Championship and the Markel/USEF Young and...

Samantha and Candy Crush at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian) For youth athlete Samantha MacDonald, there’s no question who the star of the barn is: her pony, Candy Crush. Known affectionately as “Crush” or “Crushy,” this pint-sized powerhouse has captured hearts with his mix of sweetness, spunk, and undeniable charisma. “He is just the best pony ever,” Samantha said with a laugh. “He is really...

Sabine Schut-Kery and Jojoba de Massa, winners of the USEF Intermediaire I Championship (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian) Wayne, Ill. - The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions continued today with a full slate of competition across multiple divisions, including the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix, the Adequan®/USEF Brentina Cup Championship, and the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships. The USEF Intermediaire I Championship concluded today, while the Adequan®/USEF...