Breaking US Equestrian news releases contain the latest information regarding the organization, national championships, U.S. athletes and teams in international competition, breed news, and important member alerts. Manage the news you receive at the US Equestrian Preference Center.

US Equestrian Announces Partnership with Dover Saddlery

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/10/2017 12:30:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) is pleased to announce that Dover Saddlery is the new title sponsor of the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final will be held Sunday, October 15, 2017, at the Pennsylvania National Horse show in Harrisburg, Pa. Dover Saddlery will offer 10% discounts to all US Equestrian members through the Member Perks program (certain exclusions apply). In addition, the new Dover Saddlery...

Confused about Age Verification? Here are Some Things to be Aware of

by Glenye Oakford, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/10/2017 12:06:00 PM

Be sure to age-verify your horse that competes in classes requiring age verification prior to going to a competition. (© Al Cook - alcookphoto.com) Age verification is a new specific rule in 2017 for US Equestrian in Young Hunter classes and Jumper classes restricted by age of the horse. US Equestrian wants you to age-verify your horse that competes in classes requiring age verification prior to going to a competition, and you can even send us the required documents very easily. Here are...

U.S. Teams Shine at 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/8/2017 6:20:00 PM

Perry, Ga. - The 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event concluded on Thursday, April 6, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Stripes and Stars Teams delivered strong performances against teams from Canada and South Africa. Under the guidance of coaches Devon Garone (Richmond, N.H.), Kristin Logan (Hampton Falls, N.H.), and Christy Parker (Brunswick, Ga.), the Stripes Three-Gaited section won gold and the Five-Gaited section won...

2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event Welcomes International Teams

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/3/2017 4:20:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. - Excitement is building for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event getting underway this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. Teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete for gold medals in three- and five-gaited saddle seat equitation. Team practice started on Monday, April 3, with the competition to be held April 5-6. Judges Lewis McKim of Canada, Jaco Jonker of South Africa, and Lisa Cunningham Waller of the...

Back in the Barn: Lee McKeever Helps McLain Ward Run a Winning Program

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/3/2017 10:30:00 AM

Lee McKeever started riding at the age of eight at a local riding school in Ireland and fell in love with it. He came to the U.S. at 18, and a short time later, began working for McLain Ward’s father. Ward began hanging out with McKeever at horse shows growing up, and the rest is history. McKeever has overseen Ward’s support team from the time that Ward began his professional career through four Olympic Games and much more. Lee McKeever walks to the warm-up ring with McLain Ward and...

McLain Ward and HH Azur Deliver Five Flawless Rounds to Capture Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final Title

by By Dana Rossmeier, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/3/2017 9:48:00 AM

Omaha, Neb. - On his 17th attempt, McLain Ward with HH Azur won the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Final title on Sunday in front of an electric home crowd in Omaha's CenturyLink Center. The 2016 Rio Olympic team silver medalist combination jumped five consecutive clean rounds to secure the title that has eluded him his entire career. Switzerland’s Romain Duguet and Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann finished second and third, respectively. Seven additional U.S. combinations...

Steffen Peters Retires Top Hat; Will Wear Helmet in FEI Competitions

by Dana Rossmeier, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/2/2017 8:10:00 AM

To the surprise of many, two-time Olympic team bronze medalist Steffen Peters entered the arena on Thursday to begin the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final wearing a helmet. A traditionalist at heart, Peters made it his 2017 New Year’s resolution to drop the top hat and sport a helmet in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competitions. Steffen Peters sports his helmet at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. (Shannon Brinkman Photo) “I hung on because of a...

Graves Finishes Second, Perry-Glass and Peters in Top 10 in 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/1/2017 11:56:00 PM

Omaha, Neb. – Laura Graves and Verdades scored a personal best Grand Prix Freestyle of 85.307% to place second in the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final on Saturday . Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet and Steffen Peters and Rosamunde closed out the competition in the top 10. Isabell Werth (GER) and Weihegold OLD were the 2017 champions with a score of 90.704%, while Carl Hester (GBR) and Nip Tuck finished third with a score of 83.757%. Laura Graves on the podium (Shannon...

Newsflash: Laura Graves and Verdades Finish Second in 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/1/2017 6:13:00 PM

(Shannon Brinkman Photo) Omaha, Neb. - Laura Graves and Verdades have finished second in the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final with a score 85.307% in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. Verdades is a 2002 KWPN gelding owned by Graves. Isabell Werth (GER) & Weihegold OLD finished first and Carl Hester (GBR) & Nip Tuck finished third. Full results Follow US Equestrian for the latest coverage of the Final and more on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Snapchat .

Away from the Ring: How the U.S. Equestrian Athletes Spend Their Free Time

by Dana Rossmeier, US Equestrian Communications Department | 4/1/2017 8:06:00 AM

It is not very often equestrian athletes have down time; many show or work with multiple horses at events or train numerous clients. During the FEI World Cup™ Finals, athletes show no more than two horses, leaving them with more down time than usual. Read on to find out how a few members of the U.S. contingent spends their free time. Jamie Barge, show jumping “I go to the gym. If my horse has to be fit, then so do I.” Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet (Shannon...