Lexington, Ky. – A lovely weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE played host to the 2016 USEF Pony Driving National Championships. Held October 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park, the championships crowned two National Champions: Leslie Berndl and Katie Whaley, along with their talented ponies. USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship Leslie Berndl and Sweetwater's Zorah Belle (Picsofyou.com) Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle began their quest for a national...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has submitted a comment in response to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed amendments to the regulations that implement the Horse Protection Act. In its comment, the USEF seeks to partner with the USDA in the eradication of soring in equestrian sport. The USEF commends the USDA in its efforts to strengthen the regulations and further protect horses from the practice of soring. Dedicated to upholding...

Shelburne, Vt. - The 2016 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® is shaping up to be another monumental event in the show's 43-year history. Nearly 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States, Canada, and overseas will meet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 8-15 to compete for $250,000-plus in prize money. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. Matt Kwapich of Bernalillo, New...

Lexington, Ky. – Parry Thomas was not simply the sharp business mastermind that revolutionized the city of Las Vegas, Nev. The equestrian community knew him as the passionate owner whose love of horses helped inspire and impact the sport of dressage. Surrounded by his supportive family, Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2016, at his cherished River Grove Farm in Hailey, Idaho, at the age of 95. No one could have predicted the success that would significantly leave a...

Phillip Dutton (courtesy of the USEA) Leesburg, Va. - The United States Eventing Association (USEA) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), with input from the Professional Riders’ Organization (PRO), have joined forces to launch the Adequan Gold Cup Signature Series (GCSS). The GCSS will include many elite CIC3* events in the U.S. that will each offer at least $25,000 in prize money, culminating with a GCSS final with an unprecedented total purse. Competitors will accrue...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the selection of the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams. The USEF received nearly 100 applications from around the country. After extensive review by the selection committee, two teams of 12 riders were chosen to compete at the U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event on April 3-6, 2017, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga. The event will feature two competitions with each U.S. squad facing at least one...

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - Always a test of mindfulness and skill, the four phases of the 2016 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West illustrate the demands on a show jumper. Nineteen qualified riders began the finals on Friday, which after three phases were narrowed down to a final four who then demonstrated their abilities to ride a course on four different horses. Sitting on top going into the final phase, Peyton Warren (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) emerged as the...

Barcelona, Spain - The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final came to an exciting conclusion at CSIO5* Barcelona Saturday evening. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Audrey Coulter, Lauren Hough, Lillie Keenan, and Laura Kraut stood strong against tough competition in the Final’s second round. Building off the momentum from a Silver-medal win at the Rio Olympic Games in August, the U.S. once again stood on the podium, this time...

Barcelona, Spain - The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final began Thursday with the opening round at CSIO5* Barcelona. Competing in a field of 18 nations, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Audrey Coulter, Lucy Davis, Lauren Hough, and Laura Kraut, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, secured a berth in Saturday’s final with a zero-fault round-one total. The U.S. was one of three countries to finish round one on zero faults, joined by Germany and defending...

Parket, Colo. - In 2013, it was little more than a dream. Then, the fledgling Western Dressage Association® of America hosted the first Western Dressage World Championship Show, which drew 42 horses and 167 entries. Now in its fourth year, the Western Dressage World Show is nothing short of a celebration. Hosted for the first time by WDAA at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., the show has attracted 213 horses and 830 entries, a 34 percent increase over 2015. Twenty-seven states, three...