Reagan Upton and Oh Night Divine (Howard Schatzberg) Lexington, Ky. - A field of 19 competitors, the largest field in the class' history, vying for the 2016 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final title kicked off the evening session at the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show on Wednesday, July 6. Following the competitive field's display of equitation skills, 27-year-old Reagan Upton was named the unanimous 2016 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final Champion. Upton...

Dear Fellow USEF Members, The Mid-Year meeting of the Board of Directors was held on June 20-21 at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, N.J., the headquarters for the USET Foundation and training center for our U.S. teams. Gladstone also provides offices for some USEF staff members from our Sport and Education Departments. This was a historical occasion as it was the first time that we have met at Gladstone since the Board's restructure. The Foundation graciously hosted a reception and provided an...

Kent Farrington and Gazelle (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB, Canada – USA’s Kent Farrington and Gazelle were the big winners in Saturday’s $375,000 Pan American Cup, presented by Rolex, in a fast and competitive seven-horse jump-off at Spruce Meadows. Conor Swail (IRL) and Grafton finished second, and Andrew Ramsay (USA) and California 62 placed third. The CIBC Cup was also featured on Saturday with a historic first international victory at Spruce Meadows for the...

Michael Hughes and Sans Soucis Z (The Book LLC) Lake Placid, N.Y. - Michael Hughes rode Sans Soucis Z to victory in the $30,000 Lake Placid Open Jumper Classic Friday at the 47th annual Lake Placid Horse Show, presented by Sea Shore Stables LLC. In the first round, 15 of 35 entries rode fault-free over the 15-jump course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. The first to return for the eight-jump tiebreaker was Andrew Kocher on Uppie De Lis and he set the mark to beat with a clean round in...

2015 USEF 13 & Under Youth Reining Reserve Champion Bo Van Duys with Wimpys Lucky Girl (Waltenberry) Lexington, Ky. – Top young reiners have come to the NRHA Derby in hopes of claiming a title in the 2016 USEF Youth Reining National Championships. On Saturday, July 2, these rising stars will compete at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., in one of three divisions: 13 & Under, 14-18, and 19-21. All three divisions will perform pattern eight in their pursuit of becoming a...

Lauren Chumley and Melissa Dowling’s German Riding Pony Nikolas will be one of the talented young ponies competing in the new National Dressage Pony Cup Futurity and DSHB divisions in 2016. (Jennifer Keeler) Lexington, Ky. - One of the most exciting developments for this year’s National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC) Championship Show (being held July 8-10 in Lexington, Ky.) is the addition of a showcase for young ponies and their breeders with the addition of the new NDPC Young Pony Futurity...

Brooke Kemper and Classified. (Andrew Ellis) Lexington, Va. - An impressive crowd of over 1,000 spectators turned out Saturday night to see Virginian Brooke Kemper and her own Classified, a 12-year-old Holsteiner Thoroughbred gelding, take home the win in the $25,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke. The evening class was the highlight of the show that this year found a new home at the Virginia Horse Center. Kemper bested a field of 11 in the Grand Prix, emerging victorious after a four-horse jump off....

Will Simpson and The Dude (Sportfot) Parker, Colo. - Rising to the occasion in the largest class of the week at Summer In The Rockies (SIR) III, a well-deserved blue ribbon was awarded to Will Simpson of Westlake Village, CA, and his mount The Dude, for their dominating performance in the $50,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP). The speedy pair conquered a tough track, crossing through the timers with a jump-off time of 38.919 seconds to secure the win. Claiming...

Lexington, Ky. – The final North American Selection Trial for the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships took place over the weekend at the Bromont International Driving CAI. James Fairclough led from start to finish to claim top honors in the CAI2*-H4 division. James Fairclough (Cealy Tetley) Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his mixed team of Warmbloods started off the competition with a solid dressage test to earn a score of 46.91 to win the dressage phase. He and his horses delivered a bold...

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. Before Troy Heikes and Denise Bixler met, both were at entirely different places in their reining lives. Heikes wanted to cut back, being selective of his clientele. Bixler was losing enthusiasm and love for the sport. Troy Heikes and RSD One Hot Deal competing in the $25,000...