Gladstone, NJ – After two days of rigorous testing, topped off with a final-four ride-off, 16-year-old Brianne Goutal surpassed even her own expectations with a well-earned, but nonetheless, surprise victory. “I was never expecting to get into the top four,” Goutal says. “I asked my trainer before the last round what score I would need and she wouldn’t give me an answer. She just said ‘ride well.’” And ride well, she did. Give her a few years, and...

Wayne, Ill. – The six remaining national championship divisions concluded on Sunday at the 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. A week full of seasoned competitors as well as up-and-coming talent made for an exciting, high-caliber event. USEF Children Dressage National Championship Autumn Vavrick and Dante (SusanJStickle.com) Twelve USEF Children Dressage National Championship combinations began the competition in the Grand Prix Arena by riding the second of two tests to determine...

Julie Wolfert and Buenos Dias Parker, CO - Many competitors had rave reviews for cross-country day at the Colorado Horse Park's CCI*/Training Three-Day/Horse Trials, but Julie Wolfert had more reasons than most to be happy. Wolfert turned in three double-clear cross-country rounds to cement her lead in the CCI* with Buenos Dias, taking over the lead in Open Intermediate with Buenos Aires, and moving up a notch from fifth to fourth in Novice Horse with Vindicated. "She was fantastic,"...

Is it too early to be nostalgic for an event that just took place last month? Not if that event is the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE). The best weekend all year did not disappoint, whether you were there in person or following along on the livestream . We’ve compiled some of our favorite moments from LRK3DE, from the major competition stunners to the more low-key, behind-the-scenes happenings you may have missed. We’ll get to...

Dear USEF Members, As a follow-up to our recent webinar on competition calendar management, we are writing to provide an update on the competition calendar for the first trimester of the 2022 competition year (December 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022) in the state of Florida. In April 2021, the USEF Board approved a resolution to amend GR315 Mileage Exemptions to facilitate the collective review of all Mileage Exemption Requests for the first trimester of 2022 in the state of Florida. The Board...

Wellington, Fla. – Inside leg to outside rein. A straight line from elbow to bit. Weight in your heels, open shoulders, and eyes up. Participants in the USEF Horsemastership Training Session in Wellington, Fla., heard many of these bedrock equestrian principles during their three days of instruction with Olympians Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward. It was a reminder that while these accomplished athletes have ample wisdom to impart on the finer points of succeeding in elite...

CCI4*-L leader Waylon Roberts and Lancaster (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Fair Hill, Md. - After a nail-biting day of exciting cross-country action at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event (FHI), a few new names grace the top of the leaderboards. The CCI4*-L division saw a major shuffle in the standings, after overnight leaders had trouble on Derek di Grazia's course. Canadian Waylon Roberts moved into first with Lancaster. In the CCI3*-L, Woods Baughman moved up one position...

Wayne, Ill. – Seven divisions performed their tests at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in their quest to win a national champion title. The athlete-and-horse combinations demonstrated the depth of dressage in the U.S. with solid riding and lovely movements. USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco (SusanJStickle.com) Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco won the FEI Grand Prix 16-25...

Berman and Toblerone Sitting on Top in Medium Regular Hunter Pony Championship Presented by Sallee Horse Vans at 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm Ava Berman and Toblerone (Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography) Ava Berman (New Freedom, Pa.) and Toblerone, Sofia Baiker’s 15-year-old Sport Horse mare, took the lead today in the Medium Regular Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans at the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm (Pony...

Takacs and Galianna Take the Lead in the Medium Green Hunter Pony Championship Presented by Sallee Horse Vans on Day Three of 2018 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm Samantha Takacs and Galianna (Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography) Thirteen-year-old Samantha Takacs (Oldwick, N.J.) and Galianna, Kim Wolf’s nine-year-old German Riding Pony mare, lead the Medium Green Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans following the first two phases at the 2018 USEF...