Traverse City, Mich. – A dream came through for Erin Nichols on Saturday at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC) as she finished in gold-medal position for the Individual Young Rider Dressage division. Erin Nichols and Handsome Rob AR. ©KTB Creative Group Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.) expertly guided her own Handsome Rob AR, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding, through a precise and flowing test that earned a 69.000% from the judges. The victory comes after Nichols and...

Lucinda Donaldson and Audi. ©Andrew Ryback When 15-year-old Lucinda (Lucy) Donaldson gave her final salute in the opening junior dressage test of the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship , it was the realization of dreams. The top-15 finish in her NAYC debut was an accomplishment for her, her horse Audi, and her entire family. Lucinda, who represents Region 1 from Parkesburg, Pa., is the daughter of equine vet Mark Donaldson and stepdaughter of USDF gold, silver and bronze medalist...

Aachen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team completed their first day of team competition at CHIO Aachen, with all four combinations contesting the FEI Grand Prix test in Deutsche Bank Stadium in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd. The team combinations will return on Saturday, July 2, for the FEI Grand Prix Special to determine team medals, with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO5* scheduled for Sunday, July 3, at 10 a.m. GMT+2. Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper ©US...

Hagen, Germany – The U.S. Young Rider Dressage Team capped a month’s long tour in Europe with a team finish in the Hagen CDIOY, taking eighth place. The team, led by USEF Youth Coach and Chef d’Equipe George Williams, saw improved rides from Erin Nichols, Mackenzie Peer, and Christian Simonson throughout the course of the competition. Hosted at Future Champions in Hagen, Germany, the competition saw 10 countries and 26 talented combinations compete in the CDIOY division,...

Wellington, Fla . – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team took second place in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ USA CDIO3* on a final team score of 432.265, just narrowly edged by the German team who finished on a score of 433.337. The Canadian Team took third place on a final score of 409.091. The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team was led by Chef d’Equipe George Williams in their first outing of the 2022 season. The team was comprised of three large tour combinations and one small...

Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Individual National Championship podium: gold to Hannah Hoch (center), silver to Natalie Jayne (left), and bronze to Taylor Kraft (right) (Andrew Ryback Photography) Harrisburg, Pa. – The Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships came to its conclusion on Saturday evening with the individual medals determined by a solid, technical track designed by Manuel Esparza (MEX). Twenty-three combinations returned for Phase III, the $10,000 Neue...

Unionville, Pa. – The final short format competition on the East Coast for the inaugural year of the Adequan ® /USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge (YTC) series took place Sept. 15-19 in Unionville, Pa. Three teams contested the CCI2*-S and two teams went head-to-head in the CCI3*-S. Jack Curtis and Luska Candy Clover. ©Amy K. Dragoo The Unionville event drew competitors from across the country, with athletes representing a total of seven USEA Areas. Teams are composed of three or...

Traverse City, Mich. – The Region 4 Team comprised of Lexie Kment (Palmyra, Neb.) and Montagny von der Heide, Kylee Kment (Pamyra, Neb.) and Honor, and Ella Fruchterman (West Lakeland, Minn.) and Holts Le’Mans, rode to the top of the podium in the Junior Team Test at the North American Youth Dressage Championships, finishing with a final team score of 202.667 to take team gold. Region 7 finished in second place to take the silver medal with a team total of 197.787 following rides...

Paris, Ky. – The Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event concluded on Sunday with the cones phase at the picturesque Hillcroft Farm. A small but mighty field contested the USEF Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Championship, and Jacob Arnold took home his second consecutive title. Jacob Arnold, 2021 USEF Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Champion (Picsofyou.com) Arnold (Goshen, Ky.) drove Steve Wilson’s KWPN and Lipizzaner pair, which consisted of seasoned...

Lexington, Ky. – Despite some unseasonably cool, windy, and even snowy weather in Kentucky this week, day one of the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian TM got off to a strong start with the first 30 horse-and-athlete pairs in the CCI5*-L taking their turn in the dressage arena on Thursday. With the first half of the CCI5*-L competitors completing the first phase, the leaderboard already has some heavy hitters at the top. Marilyn Little (Howey, Fla.) and...