Photo: Laura Elcock One of the best ways to contribute to your particular breed or discipline—and become a more knowledgeable competitor at the same time—is to join the ranks of licensed officials. There are 154 different licenses, including licenses for judges, stewards, technical delegates, and course designers. “For me, the most important reason to do it is to give back to the industry, and I also think it’s a responsibility and an honor to be in a position to guard...

Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Wellington, Fla. – The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team fought for their podium spot on Sunday in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, finishing on 12 faults for the bronze medal. In a last-minute substitution, reserve rider Lucy Deslauriers replaced Margie Engle who was feeling under the weather, joining the Olympic ensemble of Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. In a battle for points and...

Margie Engle and Royce (Andrea Evans/US Equestrian) Wellington, Fla. – NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team member Margie Engle and Royce barely missed victory in the $210,000 Longines Grand Prix Palm Beach Masters CSIO5* on Friday. Engle and Royce, one of 15 combinations to jump clear and qualify for the jump-off, missed victory by three-quarters of a second to place second behind Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Imerald van't Voorhof. Columbia’s Juan Manuel Gallego and Coulash...

Darcie Grote and Nickie at the LAHJA Senior Medal Finals in October 2018, where they finished in the top 10, seventh overall. Photo: Kristin Lee Photography When Darcie Grote receives her copy of US Equestrian magazine ’s annual Horse of the Year issue in mid-April, she’ll have an extra reason to celebrate her horse’s championship in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Zone 9 Thoroughbred hunter division. Brenin—or Nickie, as he’s known around the...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that it has initiated proceedings to terminate the recognized affiliate status of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) as soon as possible following the AERC Board of Director’s approval of a disaffiliation motion on January 14, 2019, indicating that they wish to terminate their affiliation with USEF as of December 1, 2019. While USEF shares AERC’s concerns regarding horse welfare, the...

The Buying, Selling, and Leasing Horses with Confidence panel on Friday discussed their focus over the past year and how they hope to educate members. US Equestrian staff attorney Amelia Sandot moderated the panel with members of the Equine Transaction Task Force and guest speakers covering this issue facing the horse industry. The task force was formed to help members navigate equine transactions and to identify what can be done to counter how misrepresentation in horse sales and leases...

During the US Equestrian Annual Meeting on Thursday, US Equestrian Director of Sport Will Connell defined his goals for sustained high-performance success. The list includes assisting in the development of young athletes and developing world-renowned coaches. These goals go hand-in-hand, and on Friday, the Coaching, Youth, and Para Dressage panelists, Michel Assouline, USEF’s Para-Equestrian Dressage Head of Coach Development and Para-Equestrian Dressage Technical Advisor, Alison Brock,...

(left to right) Lisa Blackstone, Barb Kohr, Frank Madden, Mary Babick, Elisabeth Goth, and Bill Moroney speak at the Growing the Grassroots panel (Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian) Initiated by US Equestrian President Murray Kessler, the Grassroots Advisory Group is tasked with the responsibility of examining the barriers of entry for people into equestrian sport, opportunities for development and collaboration at the grassroots level with US Equestrian affiliates, how to better meet the...

Effective January 1, 2019, all US Equestrian (USEF) members 18-years-old or older with a competing membership must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s SafeSport Training to be eligible to compete. Here are five fast facts you need to know: There are THREE SafeSport training modules that must be completed in order for USEF competing members to meet the training criteria including: Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education, Mandatory Reporting, and Emotional and Physical Misconduct. Upon...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Team. During years that the Saddle Seat World Cup competition is not held, members of the Young Rider Team will be eligible to represent the United States in other international competitions, whether at home or abroad. The purpose of the Young Rider Team is to develop athletes for future Saddle Seat World Cup competitions. The Saddle Seat World Cup is a...