From the outside, it can be hard to know how governing bodies like US Equestrian should (and shouldn’t) function internally and externally. In a presentation at the 2026 USEF Annual meeting, Dr. David Patterson, Senior Governance Advisor at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) offered a thoughtful and practical framework for effective governance, grounded in shared values, clear roles, and principled leadership. At its core, the discussion emphasized that sport (and...

What if you could see what a dressage judge sees when they watch your test? Or ask your phone to tell you whether you’re unwittingly leaning in your saddle? It may sound futuristic, but those tools are now a reality. With the advancement of AI diagnostics and analysis, technology is increasingly impacting all areas of our lives, from telehealth and remote learning to global communication. USEF is committed to utilizing the latest technology to improve competition outcomes, and to minimize...

The increased costs of putting on a horse show have been a hot topic in the equestrian world as of late (which is why we hosted a panel about competition costs at the recent USEF annual meeting – read a summary of that presentation here ). But costs aren’t the only thing that will dictate the future forecast for the sustainability of horse shows – or their social license to operate. Environmental impact has become a growing concern for all industries and sports, and the horse...

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...