Improving the safety of our sport for both horse and rider is a priority for US Equestrian. At the 2026 Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky., a session titled “Equestrian Safety: Are We Ready?” discussed how aspects such as data collection and concussion management can make equestrian sport safer. Moderator David O’Connor, US Equestrian Chief of Sport, opened the panel discussion by stating that there are 1.77 million “starts” in USEF-licensed competitions each year,...

When Stacey Sather and her 12-year-old daughter, Caroline, purchased Wildcard, affectionately known as “Hawk,” in 2024, they didn’t just bring home a promising jumper, they brought home a living piece of equine history. Wildcard, a 2014 gelding (Ahneen x Willow) is an Ojibwe/Thoroughbred cross and one of just over 200 known Ojibwe horses in existence today, a rare representative of a breed whose survival once hung by a thread. A Spirit Horse Nearly Lost Wildcard as a foal |...

Photos from the Pegasus Awards Gala and SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner are now available from official event photographer Adam Brennan. To browse and download complimentary watermarked images for personal use, visit the photo gallery here . Please credit Adam Brennan and tag @picturesbyab on Facebook and Instagram if you share images on social media. To purchase high resolution downloads or prints, visit the USEF Awards 2025 album on www.picturesbyab.com . Use the password...

It’s no secret that costs have risen for everyone – from the grocery store to your vet bills and yes, even your US Equestrian fees. One of the biggest things we heard from members when we announced a rise in fees (which goes into effect April 1) was that their frustration wasn’t only about the cost of their membership. Rather, they’re feeling the squeeze from that across-the-board creep on all costs, which has been going on for a few years. A University of Guelph study...

Louisville, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce that Greya, Kent Farrington, LLC’s 2014 Oldenburg mare, was voted 2025 International Horse of the Year, and Athenian Lady, Amanda Delgado’s 2009 Quarter Horse mare, was voted the 2025 National Horse of the Year by the USEF membership. Greya and Athenian Lady were honored during the SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 17, 2026. 2025 International Horse of the...

During the General Session of US Equestrian’s 2026 annual meeting, the Federation’s leadership evaluated where the organization is relative to its long-term goals, and what work still lies ahead. The session was held as part of a three-day series of educational events during the US Equestrian’s 2026 Annual Meeting at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, Ky. For groups like US Equestrian, a strategic plan is crucial to illustrating a long-term, big-picture vision. The...

Louisville, Ky. - US Equestrian recognized multiple outstanding equestrians during the 2025 Pegasus Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 15. Among the honorees were 2025 International Equestrian of the Year Boyd Martin and 2025 National Equestrian of the Year Daniel Geitner. Martin and Geitner were nominated as Equestrians of Honor and selected by US Equestrian members voting in the month of December. 2025 International Equestrian of the Year – Boyd Martin...

Next week, a new set of horses and humans will go down in our history books as award winners, on two sparkling nights during the US Equestrian annual meeting. It's a real honor to have a name added to the perpetual trophies that will be on display that evening – and it also requires some steady hands behind the scenes. Engraver Lindsey Wells makes a trip from her base in Ohio each fall to add the previous year’s names to USEF’s fleet of silver trophies, so they’ll be...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian proudly congratulates the recipients of the 2025 USEF Endurance Year-End Awards. These awards celebrate and recognize the exceptional achievements of our endurance athletes and horses throughout the 2025 competition season. For detailed descriptions of the 2026 awards program, click here . Heather Davis (Left) (©Becky Pearman) and Uma Kraskin (Right) (©Hanna Bartnick) Top Ten National-Ranked Senior Athletes Awarded to the top senior athletes on the...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is proud to recognize Kylynn Ghafouri and Emi Yang as the 2025 Vaulters of the Year. The 2025 Horses of the Year are as follows: Individual & Squad Horse of the Year – Eldoctro Pas de Deux Horse of the Year – Pino del Rio 2025 Vaulters of the Year: Kylynn Ghafouri & Emi Yang 2025 Vaulters of the Year: Kylynn Ghafouri (Left) (©Leslie Taylor) and Emi Yang (Right) (©Mikhail Proctor/US Equestrian) Kylynn Ghafouri (Murrieta, Calif.)...

Lexington, Ky . - The US Equestrian Annual Meeting will take place at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, Ky., from Thursday, Jan. 15 to Saturday, Jan. 18, 2026. Members of the media who would like to attend should submit a request for credentials by Jan. 5, 2026. The Pegasus Awards Celebration and SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Celebration are also part of the annual meeting festivities, wrapping up the 2025 competition year across all breeds and disciplines. The multi-day event also offers...

US Equestrian is proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025 Junior Equestrian of the Year, and Youth Sportsman for 2025. Jan Decker will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the Arabian breed, while Arabian and 4-H leader Mikayla Clement has been named the 2025 Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman. Clement and Decker will receive their awards at the Pegasus Award dinner on Jan. 15, 2026 as part of the 2026 US Equestrian annual...