Kansas City, Mo. – With two nearly perfect patterns and dazzling rail work, Finley Wood and Seven Oaks Heir Show secured the 2025 USEF Saddle Seat Medal National Final champion title. Under the direction of trainer Shelley Fisher, Wood added the medal to her impressive resume in the sport of saddle seat equitation. Finley Wood and Seven Oaks Heir Show. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Wood (Columbus, Ohio) and “Lily,” her 2012 American Saddlebred mare (Undulata’s Heir...

Kansas City, Mo. – It’s been a banner week for saddle seat equitation star Izzy Fischer. On Wednesday at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show, she and CH-EQ Sugar Fund captured the win in the UPHA Adult Challenge Cup finals. On Friday, she came back to win the 2025 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final . In her first year in the adult amateur ranks, she’s already checked off the two most prestigious titles in the sport. Izzy Fischer and CH-EQ Sugar...

Every equestrian remembers their first horse or pony. For some lucky ones, that first horse becomes their horse of a lifetime. Such is the case for Macy Brangers and her horse, Belle. Macy Brangers and Aunty Bellum. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Now a formidable pair in the adult amateur saddle seat equitation classes, Brangers and her 2009 American Saddlebred mare, Aunty Bellum (Ocean’s Roar x Kalarama’s Belle of the Ball) got their start when they were both young newcomers to...

Kansas City, Mo. - The competition season for saddle seat equitation athletes comes to its exciting conclusion each year at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City. The historic show hosts the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals for both adult amateur and junior riders. The adult amateur final takes place on Friday, Nov. 14, as the final class of the morning session. All riders will complete railwork as a group followed by individual patterns, after which the champion...

Kansas City, Mo. – Grace Biron ended her junior equitation career on the highest of high notes. After winning the UPHA Senior National Challenge Cup Championship on Thursday at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show, Biron returned to the ring on Saturday to take the championship in the 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final . Grace Biron, CH-EQ The Mystery Continues, and Cater Stables family. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Biron (East Aurora, N.Y.) teamed up with CH-EQ...

Kansas City, Mo. – With expertly executed rail and pattern work, Maggie Keith (Louisville, Ky.) secured the 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal champion title on Friday at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show. Keith rode her longtime partner, CH CH-EQ Reedann’s Heir to Glory (Supreme Heir x Glori-Phi), a 2004 American Saddlebred gelding owned by Rozes Equine LLC, to the top of the podium. Maggie Keith and Reedann's Heir to Glory. ©Leslie Potter/US...

Kansas City, Mo. – The final jewel in the triple crown of saddle seat equitation will take place this weekend as the 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals take place at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show. The USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final will take place on Friday, Nov. 15, and the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final for junior riders will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian 2024 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final The medal...