Ward and Harrison (Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media) Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian mourns the loss of E. Hunter Harrison, owner of Double H Farm and a beloved leader, supporter, and friend of equestrian sport. Harrison passed away on December 16 at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy in the horses he bred, the athletes he supported, and the sport that he helped to grow. "Today we lost one of equestrian sport's greats," says US Equestrian President, Murray Kessler. "An iconic and...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce that Tabitha Bell is the recipient of the 2017 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. This award recognizes outstanding youth members for their achievements and identifies potential future leaders in the equine industry. The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) nominated Bell who is actively involved in the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA). Photo Provided by the Arabian Horse Association Bell (Sandy, Utah) has been riding since...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce that Jonelle Chovanec and Hilary Wilcox have been named the 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team coaches for the 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup competition in July. Chovanec (St. Charles, Ill.) has been coaching riders in the saddle seat discipline for 13 years. She is the owner, trainer, and head instructor of Landmark Farm Inc., where she manages a sizeable program. Chovanec rode on three international saddle seat teams and won gold in...

Lexington, Ky. - Thirty-two top U.S. saddle seat riders will converge on William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. on Saturday, December 2, for the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Trials, attempting to earn a spot on the 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team as either a three- or five-gaited competitor. The following is the list of athletes scheduled to attend: Three-Gaited Section Five-Gaited Section Kerrianne Adamek (Murrysville, Pa.) Joan Benjamin (New Orleans, La.) Savannah Adams (San Diego,...

In the wake of major Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and devastating Western wildfires, the equestrian community banded together to help horses in need in a variety of ways, whether by donating to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund or by helping to evacuate or shelter animals. Hurricane-related flooding endangered horses and inspired equestrians around the country to provide help. Photo Courtesy of AAEP. Countless individuals and groups donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund to...

Kansas City, Mo. – Saturday, November 11, brought a rigorous challenge for the country’s top saddle seat equitation riders in the 2017 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals at the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show. Only 12 of the 21 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary ride-offs were called back for the final round of competition by judges Josh Greer (Ky.), Suzy Shiflet (N.C.), and John Whalen (Mass.). The...

Kansas City, Mo. – The country’s top saddle seat equitation riders have arrived at Hale Arena for the 2017 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final, which takes place on Nov. 11. As part of the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show, 21 horse-and-rider combinations will go head-to-head in pursuit of the title. Photo by Howard Schatzberg Open to junior members who have won a first- or second-place ribbon in a qualifying medal...

Aurora, Colo. – Nearly 1,800 Arabian and Half-Arabian horses and 7,200 exhibitors, trainers, and support staff made Tulsa Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla., their home for two weeks during the Arabian Horse Association’s (AHA) Arabian and Half-Arabian U.S. National Championship Horse Show . National and Reserve National Champions were crowned across a number of diverse disciplines, from hunter and Western pleasure, to trail and reining, to breeding in-hand and driving classes. This event...

Lexington, Ky. - The prestigious United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan are set to begin at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park from November 9 through 12. Top dressage competitors from across the country will compete on a national stage, in an event that showcases adult amateurs and open division competitors from Training Level through Grand Prix. Photo Credit: USDF More than 390 entries will represent nine of the USDF regions from 38 states,...

Lexington, Ky . – The 2017 $100,000 USEF U25 Show Jumping National Championship came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday morning at the CP National Horse Show. The $30,000 two round competition served as the final leg of the championship and determined the overall standings. Jennifer Gates and Alex delivered under pressure to clinch the national title. The championship began Thursday with 17-year-old Madison Goetzmann (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and Prestigious, her 10-year-old Westphalian...