Lexington, Ky. - Excitement is building for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event getting underway this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. Teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete for gold medals in three- and five-gaited saddle seat equitation. Team practice started on Monday, April 3, with the competition to be held April 5-6. Judges Lewis McKim of Canada, Jaco Jonker of South Africa, and Lisa Cunningham Waller of the...

Lee McKeever started riding at the age of eight at a local riding school in Ireland and fell in love with it. He came to the U.S. at 18, and a short time later, began working for McLain Ward’s father. Ward began hanging out with McKeever at horse shows growing up, and the rest is history. McKeever has overseen Ward’s support team from the time that Ward began his professional career through four Olympic Games and much more. Lee McKeever walks to the warm-up ring with McLain Ward and...

Omaha, Neb. - On his 17th attempt, McLain Ward with HH Azur won the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Final title on Sunday in front of an electric home crowd in Omaha's CenturyLink Center. The 2016 Rio Olympic team silver medalist combination jumped five consecutive clean rounds to secure the title that has eluded him his entire career. Switzerland’s Romain Duguet and Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann finished second and third, respectively. Seven additional U.S. combinations...

(Shannon Brinkman Photo) Omaha, Neb. - McLain Ward and HH Azur have won the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. HH Azur is a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Double H Farm & Francois Mathy. Romain Duguet (SUI) & Twentytwo des Biches finished second and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) & Mary Lou finished third. More news and photos to follow. Follow US Equestrian for the latest coverage of the Final and more on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Snapchat .

To the surprise of many, two-time Olympic team bronze medalist Steffen Peters entered the arena on Thursday to begin the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final wearing a helmet. A traditionalist at heart, Peters made it his 2017 New Year’s resolution to drop the top hat and sport a helmet in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competitions. Steffen Peters sports his helmet at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. (Shannon Brinkman Photo) “I hung on because of a...

Omaha, Neb. – Laura Graves and Verdades scored a personal best Grand Prix Freestyle of 85.307% to place second in the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final on Saturday . Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet and Steffen Peters and Rosamunde closed out the competition in the top 10. Isabell Werth (GER) and Weihegold OLD were the 2017 champions with a score of 90.704%, while Carl Hester (GBR) and Nip Tuck finished third with a score of 83.757%. Laura Graves on the podium (Shannon...

(Shannon Brinkman Photo) Omaha, Neb. - Laura Graves and Verdades have finished second in the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final with a score 85.307% in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. Verdades is a 2002 KWPN gelding owned by Graves. Isabell Werth (GER) & Weihegold OLD finished first and Carl Hester (GBR) & Nip Tuck finished third. Full results Follow US Equestrian for the latest coverage of the Final and more on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Snapchat .

It is not very often equestrian athletes have down time; many show or work with multiple horses at events or train numerous clients. During the FEI World Cup™ Finals, athletes show no more than two horses, leaving them with more down time than usual. Read on to find out how a few members of the U.S. contingent spends their free time. Jamie Barge, show jumping “I go to the gym. If my horse has to be fit, then so do I.” Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet (Shannon...

Omaha, Nebraska - March 31, 2017 - The stage was set and the audience was counting on McLain Ward (USA) to win his second consecutive class at the LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2017. The pressure was on Ward who, as the winner of the Thursday's first round, rode last. The two-time Olympic gold medalist delivered to the delight of the 7,674 ecstatic fans at the CenturyLink Center. McLain Ward and HH Azur on their way to victory. (Photo by Lili Weik) Six out of the 33 starters...

Omaha, Neb. - In the second night of competition, McLain Ward and HH Azur have won the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final II (Grand Prix) to remain in the lead in the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. HH Azur is a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Double H Farm & Francois Mathy. Gregory Wathelet (BEL) & Forlap finished second and Romain Duguet (SUI) & Twentytwo des Biches finished third in the class, and are second and third, respectively, in overall...