Hunter Seat Equitation

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce Valencia Saddlery as the title sponsor of the USEF/Valencia Saddlery Hunter Seat Medal Final and an Official Sponsor of US Equestrian. Valencia Sport Saddlery, a leading West Coast equestrian retailer established in 2003, continues to elevate the riding experience by offering top-tier tack, apparel, and industry-leading customer service. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., the flagship retailer curates an exclusive inventory tailored to...

Lexington, Ky. – An exciting 2026 edition of the USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling came to a close on Sunday afternoon with the Marshall+Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Final, taking place in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The highly anticipated finale featured 203 combinations showcasing their skills during the first round of competition. The field eventually narrowed down to the top 20 for the final round. In the end, Gabrielle Pitts (East Hampton,...

It takes a certain type of pony to help regain lost confidence, and for Nora Petrey, Mr. Freckles did just that. This former eventing pony brought his little girl from the cross rails all the way to the Regular Pony division in less than a year. The pair is now attending the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling for the first time in the Medium Green Pony Hunter division. Owned by Fox Ridge Farm, the 2009 Pony of the Americas gelding (Plaudits Snowman TE x Special N Often) once...

Lexington, Ky. – Ten new National Champions will be crowned at the HITS Del Mar Horse Park for the 2026 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West (JHNC), hosted by HITS Horse Show. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the championships, established in 2001 as a showcase of the best junior hunters in the nation. Competitors at JHNC will complete three phases: a classic round, under saddle, and a handy hunter round. Each jumping phase counts for 40% of the total...

Lexington, Ky. – Ten National Champions will be crowned this week at the Kentucky Horse Park. More than 400 junior athletes and horse entries are set to compete in the 2026 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East (JHNC), hosted by Split Rock Jumping Tour. This year marks the 25th anniversary of championships, established in 2001 as a showcase of the best junior hunters in the nation while also providing riders the opportunity to meet and spend time with...

From the moment she could talk, Savanna McMichael had one request for anyone who would listen: a real pony. Not a stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear, a real one. Now at 17, the O'Fallon, Missouri, junior hunter rider has turned the early obsession into a decorated competitive career, a Division I college commitment, and a partnership with one very special horse named Latido. A Childhood Dream Becomes Reality Savanna's love of horses was apparent almost from birth. By age three, she was...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Grants, generously provided by Split Rock Jumping Tour. ©US Equestrian The grants are awarded to ten participants competing at the 2026 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East at the Kentucky Horse Park from June 17-21, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. They will cover the costs associated with one stall fee, division...

Nabisco and Elise Iafrate | ©US Equestrian Founded in 1896 in Devon, Pa., the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair began as a one-day event featuring approximately thirty classes. Now, 130 years later, it stands as the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed show in North America. Taking place May 20 – 31, 2026, this historic event draws equestrians from across the country, as well as local fans, for 12 days of world-class competition, exhibitions, and cherished traditions. Designated a...

It has been proven that athletes improve fastest when they can see what happened, analyze the truth of their performance, reflect on it, and measure their progress over time. While professional athletes can watch replays of their game or competition, amateurs—especially equestrians—haven’t had the benefit of being able to watch themselves perform … until now. Pivo Equestrian features 360-degree rotation that tracks your horse’s movement as you go around the arena...

Thermal, Calif. – The final day of competition at the 2025 National Sunshine Series at Desert International Horse Park saw top equitation athletes come to compete in a unique medal final. The USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West challenges finalists in a single-day, three-phase competition that is a true test of horsemanship. Violet Tatum and Kruz. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian This year’s champion is Violet Tatum (Los Angeles, Calif.) riding Kruz, a 2015 Dutch...

Thermal, Calif. – After a thrilling third round and final ride off, Nicole McMillion secured the champion title at the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West . Nicole McMillion and Change Up PS. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian McMillion (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who trains with Jim Hagman, partnered with Change Up PS, a 2016 Oldenburg stallion owned by Summerhouse Farm, LLC, for the finals. With this win, Change Up PS, known as...

Thermal, Calif. – The athletes of the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West completed the first two phases of competition on Friday morning at Desert International Horse Park. A total of 22 entries completed their flatwork and gymnastic phases ahead of Saturday’s jumper course. Katalina Raiszadeh and Cetello. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Katalina Raiszadeh (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) finished day one at the top of the leaderboard with...