Youth

For Sophia Goetz, a 17-year-old from Windsor, Colo., the path to being in the saddle began at age six and took shape with her first lesson horse at nine. It was a green start which quickly turned into an all-consuming passion. Sophia and Mickie (Photo courtesy of the Goetz family) "They keep you honest," Goetz said of horses. "You can't fake your way through a run, and you can't force that kind of raw power." Goetz's early years in the sport were shaped by a small, just-starting-out...

Traverse City, Mich. – Youth athletes from across North America are set to compete in Traverse City, Mich., for the 2026 edition of the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), the continent's only FEI youth championship for jumping and dressage. ©US Equestrian This year's competition once again features the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship presented by USDF and the Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship presented by USHJA. Hosted at...

When she visited a livestock auction in December 2019, Kristen Spendlove’s plan was to sell tack that was no longer used at the therapeutic riding center where she worked as an instructor. However, fate intervened in the form of an Appaloosa with kind, soft eyes sticking his head out of a stall waiting to be auctioned. Hamilton stood out at the auction; photo courtesy of Kristen Spendlove “He was so friendly and so inquisitive. He was not bothered at all by being at an auction...

Lexington, Ky. – Graduating high school seniors with plans to continue their equestrian journey in college have just weeks left to apply for the Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship . US Equestrian will award two $2,500 scholarships to students preparing to enter a college or university this fall, with all applications due to the USEF office no later than July 31, 2026 . The scholarship supports students interested in furthering their equestrian knowledge and skills throughout their...

Adamstown, Md. - Competition at the 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships concluded with three individual and three team champions crowned across the CCIJ1*, CCIYJ2*-S, and CCI3U25*-S levels. The Championships were hosted by The Maryland International & Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, from June 25-28, with cross-country courses designed by Andrew Heffernan (NED) and show jumping courses designed by Chris Barnard (USA). Competitors and grooms participated in various educational...

Before he became a teacher for a driven young rider, Figaro des Premices was an Olympic-experienced horse with a resume most eventers spend a lifetime chasing. He had seen the biggest stages the sport has to offer. Then, he found his way to Reese Dellangelo, a rider who got her first pony in 2020 and did her first event not long after, and the two of them got to work building something new. Dell'Angelo and Monte at the 2026 USEF Eventing Young Riders Championships (©US Equestrian)...

Anna Rose Erickson wasn't looking for a five-star horse. She was looking for something she could afford, a horse that would help her earn her Pony Club A, and maybe, if things went well, take her a little further than she'd been before. What she got was Unmarked Bills: a bay Thoroughbred with a five-star resume, an enormous ego, and absolutely no interest in being anyone's backup plan. Talley and Unmarked Bills at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (©Shannon Brinkman)...

When twin athletes, Shannon and Ashley Zupan, representing Area II, arrived at Loch Moy Farm on Thursday morning, it wasn’t with their saddles in hand or their competition gear neatly packed. Instead, they stepped into a different but equally significant role, cheering on their teammates, lending a hand wherever needed, and soaking in every moment of the experience. The Zupan sisters are returning to the USEF Eventing Young Rider National Championships for a second consecutive year to...

For Katelyn Smith, the road to the 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships began not in the competition arena, but at a small lesson barn down the road from her Marietta, Georgia, home. She was inspired by a group of school friends who convinced her to start taking lessons with them and give riding a try. What started as a once-a-week lesson gradually grew into a passion that has shaped her life ever since. HSH Henry (Photo courtesy of Katelyn Smith) Smith spent time in the hunter/jumper...

Traverse City, Mich. – Athletes, families, and supporters planning to attend the 2026 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) are encouraged to make travel arrangements and secure accommodations as soon as possible, as the Traverse City area is a popular summer vacation destination with limited inventory. ©US Equestrian Traverse City offers a variety of lodging options to suit every budget, team, and travel style. Traverse City Horse Shows has partnered with several local...

Before sitting down for her interview with US Equestrian, 17-year-old Hannah Kim had just finished an AP exam. A day full of balancing academic rigor with a passion for the barn is pretty much Hannah's normal. Hannah, a saddle seat rider based in Tampa, Florida, is this month's USEF Interscholastic Athlete of the Month , and it's easy to see why. She's the definition of a student athlete: sharp, thoughtful, and deeply committed to both her studies and her sport. From Summer Camp...

Lexington, Ky . – US Equestrian would like to remind youth eventing athletes that the Area Declaration deadline for the 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships is quickly approaching. The 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships will be held June 25–28, 2026, at The Maryland International and Horse Trials in Adamstown, Md. Athletes interested in competing must submit their USEF Area Declaration through their USEF Athlete Dashboard prior to May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m....