Hunter Seat Equitation

Show season may be winding down, but there’s still a lot of exciting equestrian activity yet to come. The final months of the year bring top competition for Andalusians/Lusitanos, saddle seat equitation, dressage, hunters, and jumpers. ©Howard Schatzberg Photo November 10 & 11 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals Kansas City, Mo. New for 2023, the medal finals for juniors and adult amateurs will be held at the same competition—the UPHA American Royal National Championship. The...

Lexington, Ky. - On September 15, 2023, the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Canada (EC) renewed a reciprocal agreement outlining mutual membership and participation requirements for citizens from each country. Remarks from US Equestrian CEO William “Bill” Moroney “We are pleased to work together with our colleagues and fellow equestrians north of the border in Canada. This renewed reciprocal agreement allows for both organizations to receive the necessary...

Harrisburg, Pa. – A total of 35 junior competitors took to the Keystone Arena at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show for the 2023 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East. Maggie King (Spring, Texas) collected top honors after impressing the judges across three phases of competition. “It feels very good,” King said of being champion. “I’m super happy with my horse, and all of the horses I got to ride were great, so it was awesome. Maggie King and...

Harrisburg, Pa. – The United States Equestrian Federation/National Collegiate Equestrian Association Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals kick off on Sunday, October 22, with the East Coast competition at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa. The West Coast competition will be held on November 11 at the National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, Calif. The USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat medal Finals kick off on Sunday, October 22, with the East Coast competition at the...

Numerous junior athletes and their mounts entered the ring at the 2023 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, but one horse’s name may ring a bell from over the years—Any Given Sunday. “Sunny” is a seasoned pro when it comes to equitation finals, and both he and people passing by don’t know that he is 20 years old. Any Given Sunday and Abigail Gordon compete in the 2023 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. (Avery Wallace/US Equestrian) Despite his...

Horse shows can involve a lot of downtime if you don’t show until the afternoon or evening. That was the case for the competitors going late in the order of over 200 entries in the 2023 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Two junior athletes had to wait until the very end of the first round to have their chance to ride in the Harrisburg Coliseum. They shared how they spent their time in the lead-up to their turn in the order. Additionally,...

Harrisburg, Pa. – The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final was the premier class on Sunday at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. A total of 208 junior competitors competed in the first round over Alan Lohman’s course in front of judges Jack Towell and Timmy Kees. The top 25 athletes returned for the second round over a new course, with the top six returning for final testing. Carlee McCutcheon clinched the win and the Adrian Van Sinderen Trophy with a fabulous round on...

Harrisburg, Pa. - Over 200 junior competitors will take part in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final on October 15 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. The Final is a key equitation competition that dates back to 1948 and has played a role in the development of many top riders. Several competitors have gone on to represent the U.S. on senior teams, such as previous champions Kent Farrington, Lillie Keenan, Brian Moggre, Spencer Smith, and Jessica Springsteen. Luke Jensen won the...

Fall is here in full force, and with it comes some of the most exciting events of the year from US Equestrian National Affiliates and national breeds and disciplines. Whether you attend in person or log in to the livestreams, there is plenty to keep equestrian fans entertained this month, including championships for Welsh Ponies and Cobs, Morgans, Arabians, and hunter seat equitation. ©ShowChampions September 27-October 1 Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America American National Show...

The grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park are home to many museums tracking the history and accomplishments of horses. Whether they are tailored to a specific breed or offer a look at a general history between humans and horses, the museums are suited for everyone, regardless of their knowledge of horses. USEF Lobby Museum For those uninitiated with equestrian breeds and disciplines, the lobby of the U.S. Equestrian Federation headquarters contains displays aimed at educating new visitors. Photo:...

Hunter, jumping, and hunter/jumping seat equitation are all recognized under one US Equestrian national affiliate: the United States Hunter Jumper Association . Despite the technical differences in judging, these disciplines are often taught together. “They're all so different, but then they're all the same. We're all just trying to get the best out of each horse,” said Melissa Murphy, a hunter judge and trainer from Clara Propp and Arabesque competing at the 2023...

Lexington, Ky. – The 2023 USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms ended on Sunday with the Marshall & Sterling /USEF Pony Medal Final. A total of 187 combinations competed in round one over Jasen Shelley’s challenging track with the requirement of halting then jumping a trot fence during the course. Twenty combinations returned for round two with three from the small section, 10 from the medium section, and seven from the large section. The second-round course required...