In 2023, the Federation appointed a Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation Judges Task Force, which was tasked with evaluating, analyzing, and improving the current hunter and hunter/jumping seat equitation judging system. Over the last two years, the Task Force, in collaboration with USHJA, has evaluated various concerns regarding judging and reviewed processes related to education, licensing, and judging systems. Through this process, we identified a need to evaluate and improve the...

©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian In the midst of the ongoing outbreak of EHV-1/EHM following the WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race, US Equestrian understands that many horse owners are anxious to maintain their horses’ health and have a lot of questions about biosecurity and events. Dr. Katie Flynn, senior staff veterinarian at USEF, will be part of a webinar panel hosted by the American Association of Equine Practitioners on Nov. 25 . USEF will also be offering its own webinar...

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced the launch of the LA28 Volunteer Program presented by Delta Air Lines. This is a great avenue for members to get involved with a home Olympic and Paralympic games! As volunteer events become available in the LA region, registered volunteers will receive email invitations to sign up for specific events based on their location and interests. THE PROCESS : Registration is open now for community volunteering. Submit the form, and you’ll be...

Thermal, Calif. – Ben Ebeling (USA) and Bellena stole the show in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Final, hoisting the impressive trophy to conclude the first year of the finals across the three Olympic disciplines. The partnership earned a personal best score of 79.903% for their freestyle composition to a mix of iconic female pop artists to stand firmly atop the podium. Felicitas Hendricks (GER) and Drombusch OLD took second place on a final score of 78.260%, while Anna Marek...

Kansas City, Mo. – With two nearly perfect patterns and dazzling rail work, Finley Wood and Seven Oaks Heir Show secured the 2025 USEF Saddle Seat Medal National Final champion title. Under the direction of trainer Shelley Fisher, Wood added the medal to her impressive resume in the sport of saddle seat equitation. Finley Wood and Seven Oaks Heir Show. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Wood (Columbus, Ohio) and “Lily,” her 2012 American Saddlebred mare (Undulata’s Heir...

Kansas City, Mo. - The competition season for saddle seat equitation athletes comes to its exciting conclusion each year at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City. The historic show hosts the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals for both adult amateur and junior riders. The adult amateur final takes place on Friday, Nov. 14, as the final class of the morning session. All riders will complete railwork as a group followed by individual patterns, after which the champion...

Kansas City, Mo. – It’s been a banner week for saddle seat equitation star Izzy Fischer. On Wednesday at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show, she and CH-EQ Sugar Fund captured the win in the UPHA Adult Challenge Cup finals. On Friday, she came back to win the 2025 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final . In her first year in the adult amateur ranks, she’s already checked off the two most prestigious titles in the sport. Izzy Fischer and CH-EQ Sugar...

Registration is now open for the 2026 US Equestrian Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, Ky., from Jan. 15-18, 2026. US Equestrian will once again host a series of educational presentations and workshops in a three-day interactive format with the goal of providing hands-on, immediately actionable information to members, affiliates, officials, and competition managers. For those unable to attend the annual meeting in person, full coverage of the sessions will be...

Lexington, Ky. - Earlier this fall, US Equestrian released a series of Horse Welfare Guidelines to members, including those based on the familiar concept of a stoplight guidance recently published by USEF. In addition to this work, the USEF Dressage Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Task Force led by Betsy Juliano and Lisa Gorretta, has been meeting regularly to discuss changes needed nationally within the discipline of dressage. As a result of the Task Force discussions Riding Standard Guidelines...

Thermal, Calif. – The final day of competition at the 2025 National Sunshine Series at Desert International Horse Park saw top equitation athletes come to compete in a unique medal final. The USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West challenges finalists in a single-day, three-phase competition that is a true test of horsemanship. Violet Tatum and Kruz. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian This year’s champion is Violet Tatum (Los Angeles, Calif.) riding Kruz, a 2015 Dutch...