Equestrians never forget their first ponies. Woolly or sleek, magnificent or mischievous, they are the teachers who reveal the most fundamental and enduring wisdom about life with horses: that it is joyous, that it is hard work, that it is a partnership which demands compromise but also makes us stronger. These special animals arrive from a remarkable variety of sources—sometimes handed down from siblings, sometimes expensively acquired, often bought cheaply from an auction or an ad or...

Haley Gassel and Quite Dark 2 (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - Friday night at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair was all about speed, and only one athlete had all the answers during the $25,000 Open Jumper Devon Speed Challenge sponsored by the World Equestrian Center. Haley Gassel and Quite Dark 2 were the only duo able to master the speed track and leave all the fences intact to capture the winning prize. "This is unbelievable," the young rider said, smiling. "People dream...

Kevin Babington and Mark Q (The Book, LLC) Devon, Pa. - The luck belonged to the Irish during the 2016 $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*. Kevin Babington and Mark Q repeated their 2011 victory in the Dixon Oval, beating Danielle Torano and McLain Ward in a three-horse jump-off for the lion's share of the prize money. A crowd of 9,000 spectators turned out for the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair's highlight event, watching as the best in the country competed over the...

Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - After a long road together, Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue will bring home the best thing of all: a Devon blue ribbon. The pair produced the only double-clear effort in the $7,500 North American League Adult Amateur Jumper Classic at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Their impressive performance was also good enough to earn the Adult Amateur Jumper Championship after two days of competition. "This is a...

Kelley Farmer and Mindful win $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by Notting Hill Farm, at the Spring Spectacular III. Wayne, IL - June 16, 2015 - Kelley Farmer has shown in Showplace Production's $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby seven times. She has won five times and finished second in two. Last year Farmer rode to the 1-2 finish, and today she returned to the "windy city" to have a repeat performance. She captured the win with Mindful, owned by David Glefke of...

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive won the 2012 USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals Grand Championship. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The sweat beaded off the competitors' brow today at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was the final day of the USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals, and the final determinant would be the handy round. Today's second round course determined both Champion and Reserve Champion for each division, as well as overall High Point Mare, Reserve Grand Champion and...

Traverse City, Mich. – Thursday brought a full day of jumping competition at the 2023 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) where Children and Pre-Juniors wrapped up their team competition and Juniors and Young Riders had their first competitive rounds in the Turtle Creek International Ring at Traverse City Horse Shows. Hailey Guidry and Ezmeralda EH Z. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian FEI Children Team Final The first class of the day came down to an exciting jump-off for gold...

The International Disciplines Council (IDC) of the USEF oversees the eight FEI disciplines: dressage, eventing, jumping, para dressage, vaulting, combined driving, endurance, and reining. On Friday, January 15, Council Chair Joe Mattingly and members of the USEF Sport Department provided updates and answered member questions during a presentation as part of US Equestrian’s Virtual 2021 Annual Meeting . International Discipline Council & Sport Department 2021 US Equestrian Annual...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2018 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online through Thursday, January 3 at midnight. The 2018 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 10 at the Pegasus Awards dinner at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla. US Equestrian’s Pegasus Awards honor some of the great men and women of equestrian sport. Learn more about the nine 2018 Equestrians of Honor: Victoria Colvin...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2017 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online .The 2017 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 18 at the Pegasus Awards dinner during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. Learn more about the eight 2017 Equestrians of Honor: Nancy Leigh Fisher Oconomowoc, Wisc. American Saddlebred The C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy is presented to those excelling in under saddle show breeds. In her final...