Youth

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....

Lexington, Ky. – The deadline for application submissions to compete at 2026 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), to be held in Traverse City, Mich., July 27 – August 2, is quickly approaching. Youth athletes competing in the disciplines of dressage and jumping are invited to submit their applications before the end of this year’s qualification period to be eligible to compete at the 2026 championship. Dressage For athletes who plan to compete in the 2026 FEI North...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the following athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent USA Dressage at the 2026 Lier CDIOY and Hagen CDIOY. The athletes will be led by George Williams, the USEF Dressage High Performance Pathway Development Advisor and Youth Coach and USEF Team Leader, Lauren Moore. “These are four promising Young Riders and I’m thrilled they will have the opportunity to represent the US at such a premiere event and what is the...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian would like to remind exhibitors and families planning to attend 2026 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Marshall + Sterling that they should make note of upcoming deadlines and additional reminders listed below. This year’s Pony Finals will take place Aug. 4-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., and the prize list and schedule will be available soon. Cisy Zhou and Little Hollywood at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals Present by Marshall + Sterling...

Lexington, Ky . – US Equestrian is now accepting applications for the 2026 Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships . This scholarship program awards two $2,500 scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors who are committed to advancing their equine knowledge or equestrian experience while in college. (©Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian) Meet the 2025 Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship recipients. The scholarships are available to US Equestrian competing members and...

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 |...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian congratulates the five recipients of the 2025 USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships . The scholarships are awarded each year to incoming first-year college students to support their continuing involvement in horse sports. Meet the 2025 USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship Recipients Annie Kimball Milton, Ga. Annie Kimball has been riding and competing in the hunter and equitation arenas since she was very young. An all-around horsewoman,...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with Zen Elite Equestrian Center as the Official Sponsor of the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions and the 2026 USEF Annual Meeting. Zen Elite Equestrian Center also renewed their commitment as the presenting partner of the USEF Dressage Training Series – East Coast. ©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian The 2026 USEF Dressage Training Series East Coast presented by Zen Elite Equestrian Center provided...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected to participate in the 2026 USEF Dressage Training Series. The East Coast clinic, presented by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, will be held at the Wellington International home of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla., from January 2-4, 2026. The West Coast clinic will take place at the HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, Calif., from February 19-22, 2026. The Dressage Training Series is designed to...

Harrisburg, Pa. – Top junior equitation athletes took to the Keystone Arena at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last Sunday to vie for champion honors in the 2025 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East. This unique medal final is based on the format used in NCEA varsity competition and challenges riders to demonstrate their skill over a 3’3” equitation course and an under-saddle phase. The top four are brought back for the bracket phase in which they switch...

Lexington, Ky. - Established in late 2023, the USEF Youth Advisory Group was created to give a voice to the younger members of the equestrian community. This platform brings together youth athletes from across breeds and disciplines to discuss meaningful topics impacting and shaping their respective sports. Through regular meetings, group members develop leadership skills, strengthen teamwork, and gain a deeper understanding of governance processes. The Youth Advisory Group is supported by...