Breaking US Equestrian news releases contain the latest information regarding the organization, national championships, U.S. athletes and teams in international competition, breed news, and important member alerts. Manage the news you receive at the US Equestrian Preference Center.

Vaulters Share their Spirit at Second Annual Conference

by By R. VanVranken | Sep 22, 2005, 9:19 AM

Equestrian vaulting combines the strength of gymnastics with the beauty of dance on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the seven recognized disciplines in international equestrian sports. Vaulting is also used to develop basic equitation and in many therapeutic programs. Have you ever considered what vaulting might be able to add to your riding program? Would you need to train a horse for a vaulting club? Do you want to know what the judge is seeing when scoring vaulters? Whether you are...

USA Today Names U.S. Show Jumping Rider Jeffery Welles Athlete of the Week!

by Sarah Lane | Sep 21, 2005, 10:35 AM

Lexington, KY – A flawless double clear ride in Barcelona, Spain was one of the deciding factors in determining which team would go home as 2005 Samsung Super League Champions. As it happens, the U.S. Show Jumping Team was destined to take home that title—a title that more than a dozen U.S. riders worked for all summer long, and a title that came down to one last Nations Cup competition at CSIO Barcelona. As for the double-clear round that helped clinch the overall season win, we...

Andrea Ice Named USEF Director of Hunter and Collegiate Activities

by Sarah Lane | Sep 21, 2005, 9:16 AM

— Effective October 3rd, Andrea Ice will take the position of Director of Hunter and Collegiate Activities for the United States Equestrian Federation. As Director of Hunter Activities, Ice assumes the position vacated by Susan Dotson, the newly named Executive Director of the United States Hunter Jumper Association. Ice’s duties will include overseeing and directing the Hunter Department, under the direction of Karen Homer-Brown in National Sport Programs. In addition, Ice will...

Courtney Barnett Named USEF Director of Reining

by Sarah Lane | Sep 21, 2005, 9:15 AM

Lexington, KY — Effective October 17th, Courtney Barnett will take the position of Director of Reining for the United States Equestrian Federation. As Director of Reining, Barnett will assume responsibility for all high-performance and national aspects of the sport, including management of USEF championships and other events, as well as coordination with reining athletes. Barnett will work under the direction of Don Whittle, Director of FEI Affiliates. “Courtney will be a welcome...

USEF Announces Top 12 Qualifiers for the 2005 USEF Junior Dressage Team Championship

by Sarah Lane | Sep 20, 2005, 12:55 PM

Sponsored by Collecting Gaits Farm, the Dutta Corporation, and Performance Sales International Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the top 12 qualified horse/rider combinations for the 2005 USEF Junior Dressage Team Championship, scheduled to take place September 27-October 2, 2005, and hosted by Dressage at Devon & CDI 3*/Y in Devon, Pennsylvania ( www.dressageatdevon.org ). This event, now in its ninth year, will showcase some of the most...

Top Friesian Stallion Otte 375 Passes Away

by Sarah Evers | Sep 20, 2005, 10:40 AM

On September 15, 2005, the nine-year-old Friesian Otte 375, an approved FPS breeding stallion, passed awy due to an inoperable injury. He was owned by Sonja R. Zinke and Terri Matera of Cherry Valley, CA, and stood at Sunshine Horse Ranch. Otte 375 combined excellent performance, remarkable quality and stellar character. In 2004, Otte 375 was given the title of Ride and Drive Champion in The Netherlands. In December 2002 he earned the title Grand Champion in The Netherlands' Z1 Dressage Level....

October Training Session to Help Vaulters Prepare for 2006 World Equestrian Games

by Sarah Lane | Sep 20, 2005, 1:00 AM

Lexington, KY – In preparation for the 2006 World Equestrian Games, 14 of the United States’ best vaulters have been invited to take part in a USEF training session at the Riekes Center for Human Enhancement in Menlo Park, CA, and at Sydney Frankel’s farm in Woodside, CA, in October. The 14 athletes who have been invited are: Megan Benjamin, Blake Dahlgren, Ali Divita, Kenny Geisler, Todd Griffiths, Mari Inouye, Julie Keville, Chris Littmann, Devon Maitozo, Mary McCormick,...

Sara Schmitt, Tracey Morgan and Boots Wright Win USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships at Laurels at Landhope

by By Laurels at Landhope | Sep 15, 2005, 12:07 PM

In a brilliant display of skill and finesse, Sara Schmitt, of Glen Gardner, NJ, drove her Morgan stallion, High Country Doc, to one of only a few clean and clear rounds in the cones phase at The Laurels at Landhope and her first national championship. The last in the order of go on Sunday, September 11, Schmitt had some wiggle room. Ahead by only four points under the new rules where a ball down is now a three-point penalty instead of five. This gave her a small margin of error, one that could...

Maria Schaub Captures ASPCA Maclay East Regional Against Tough Competition; Nicole Bourgeois Wins Northwest Region

by By Phelps Media Group | Sep 15, 2005, 11:50 AM

The first two regional qualifying competitions for the ASPCA Maclay National Championship were held this past weekend. Region 2 (East), which includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, held their qualifying show at the Long Island Classic Horse Show in Old Westbury, NY. The Region 7 (Northwest) qualifier was held at the NorthWest Autumn Finals in Monroe, WA, and was held for riders from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. The ASPCA Maclay class has been held since 1933,...

2005 Washington International Horse Show Introduces $10,000 Invitational Dressage Championship

by By Phelps Media Group | Sep 15, 2005, 11:37 AM

The Washington International Horse Show will begin a new tradition at the MCI Center during the week of October 25-30, 2005. This year, the illustrious show introduces the $10,000 Washington International Invitational Dressage Championship. The participants in this championship will include two riders chosen from the United States Equestrian Federation High Performance Dressage Grand Prix Ranking List and two riders invited through “Wild Card” invitations. The USEF High Performance Dressage...