Hunter Seat Equitation

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...

Thermal, Calif. – Rising stars of the jumping world will compete in California this week for the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West . This prestigious event is hosted this year at Desert International Horse Park in the venue’s Grand Prix Stadium. Talent Search Finals consists of three phases for all competitors: flatwork, a gymnastic phase, and a jumper course. The top four athletes will be brought back for a final ride-off phase. In a new...

Harrisburg, Pa. – Top junior equitation athletes took to the Keystone Arena at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last Sunday to vie for champion honors in the 2025 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East. This unique medal final is based on the format used in NCEA varsity competition and challenges riders to demonstrate their skill over a 3’3” equitation course and an under-saddle phase. The top four are brought back for the bracket phase in which they switch...

Harrisburg, Pa. - Junior weekend at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show concluded on Sunday with one of the most anticipated events of the year - the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. A total of 157 athlete-and-horse combinations took to the Harrisburg Coliseum to contest the national championship, showcasing the highest level of equitation over a technical 3’6” course designed by Alan Lohman. ©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian After two challenging rounds and a...

Harrisburg, Pa. - Over 150 athletes are set to enter the Harrisburg Coliseum Sunday to contest the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. This prestigious equitation national championship features two rounds over a course set to 3’6” in height, and is judged based on the style, position, and effectiveness of the rider. ©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian Following round two, the judges must ask at least the top four entries to return for additional testing to determine the...