Wayne, Ill . – The nation’s most talented group of young dressage athletes will gather at the Lamplight Equestrian Center for the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions running Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27. The event, which coincides with the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships and USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals, features four national titles up for grabs including the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, AGCO/USEF...

South Jordan, Utah – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)/American Vaulting Association (AVA) Vaulting National Championships will host the best vaulters in the country this week at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park in South Jordan, Utah, on August 24-27, 2017. More than 175 vaulters and 50 horses, along with coaches and lungers, will meet to compete for championships in ten divisions. Awards include team champions in A, B, and C divisions, while male and female individuals...

Lexington, Ky. – The West Coast portion of the 2017 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF Hunter Breeding National Championship took place Wednesday, August 23, at the Showpark Summer Classic in Del Mar, Calif. Judges Christina Schlusemeyer of Wellington, Fla., and Meg Schulman of Littleton, Colo., assessed the young hunter prospects and awarded the West Coast Best Young Horse Champion title to Just Remember. Just Remember, 2017 West Coast Best Young Horse Champion (Captured Moment Photography) Just...

Wayne, Ill. - A mix of new names and familiar faces will go down the centerline to contest the 2017 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships August 24-27, at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. A total of 68 combinations will chase titles across the Four-, Five-, and Six-Year-Old divisions as well as the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix divisions. Combinations in each division will perform two tests. The first test will count 40% towards their...

Today, the US Equestrian Federation released the following official horse welfare and safety penalty guidelines. This is in follow up to the announcement at the USEF Mid-Year Board Meeting last month. Introduction A common thread that binds all of the Federation’s breeds and disciplines is a dedication and commitment to the health, welfare, and safety of the horse. US Equestrian is committed to ensuring the welfare of our horses and providing a safe and fair competition environment to all...

Lexington, Ky. – More than 600 ponies and their young riders packed into the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm from August 8-13. For these boys and bow-wearing girls, winning at Pony Finals is one of their first equestrian dreams. No matter the result, the joy of ponies spread with high-fives, praise, hugs, and smiles. Over six days, six champions were determined through hunter classes in Small, Medium, and Large Regular Pony Hunter and...

Lexington, Ky. – A week of competition at the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm came to a close Sunday with the most coveted award of the championship. The Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Final took place in the Alltech Arena with 162 riders vying for top honors in front of judges Rachel Kennedy and James Toon. Following excellent performances throughout the day, Ada Catherine Hays earned the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Final title. Ada Catherine...

Givrins, Switzerland – A talented group of up-and-coming athletes represented the Platinum Performance U.S. Teams at the 2017 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Juniors and Young Riders on August 11 and 12. Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Jeff Petska, the U.S. combinations put forth determined efforts throughout the championships. The Platinum Performance U.S. Junior Team of Sam Flarida, Emma Lane, and Emilia Reutimann earned the team silver medal on Friday, while the...

Lexington, Ky. – Tabitha Okitsu and Spoot De La Jourlais completed four perfect rounds to win the 2017 USEF National Pony Jumper Championship on Saturday. The championship, part of the USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, saw 12 combinations advance to the final round. Tabitha Okitsu and Spoot De La Jourlais (Shawn McMillen Photography) Zone 10’s Okitsu (South Pasadena, Calif.) and her own 11-year-old Connemara/Arabian gelding entered the Alltech Arena on Saturday as...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF Hunter Pony Championships came to a close on Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Medium Regular Hunter Ponies went to task in the Walnut Ring in their Over Fences phase to determine the 2017 Champion. Augusta Iwasaki and News Flash emerged victorious on Saturday afternoon, collecting not only the Medium Regular Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans, but also the Grand Champion Hunter Pony title for the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting...