Washington, D.C. — The horse industry is a broad, far-reaching industry that touches many lives—from horse enthusiasts to spectators to those who serve the industry through volunteerism or through employment within the industry itself. As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., and the only national association exclusively representing every segment of the vast equine industry, the American Horse Council works daily to represent...

Blacksburg, Va. – On Dec. 7, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released the results of its first-ever rating of equestrian helmets. Over the past two years, Virginia Tech researchers analyzed over 100 videos of riders falling off horses, precisely measured the hardness of the sand, dirt, grass, and synthetic surfaces underfoot at equestrian events, and dragged dummy heads and other equipment — and boxes and boxes of helmets — out to Virginia Tech’s equestrian facilities to...

As the start of the 2023 competition year approaches and new rules come into place, USEF has received feedback from members requesting clarification about the qualification process for the 2023 Devon Horse and Pony Show, Pennsylvania National, Washington International, and the National Horse Show. Additionally, there have been questions raised about how awards separate from prize money affect HOTY standings or qualifications for these competitions. Earlier this Fall, a Presidential Modification...

Mill Spring, N.C. – The 2022 eventing season came to a close on Sunday with the final day of The Dutta Corp. Tryon International Three-Day Event, and new national champions emerged in the CCI4*-L and young rider team and individual divisions. The Dutta Corp. USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship The top three entries were separated by less than a single rail at the start of Sunday’s show jumping phase. Overnight leader Dan Kreitl (Muncie, Ind.) riding Kay Dixon’s 2013...

Mill Spring, N.C. – The Para Dressage competition at Tryon Fall Dressage 3 saw a small but mighty contingent of five up-and-coming combinations who took advantage of the opportunity to gain experience at the CPEDI3* level. The athlete-and-horse pairs completed their FEI Para Dressage Team and Individual Tests, then completed the weekend with the FEI Para Dressage Freestyle Tests. At the end of the three tests, Fiona Howard (Boston, Mass.) had the top combined score to win the CPEDI3*...

Harrisburg, Pa. – The historic Pennsylvania National Horse Show hosted 31 up-and-coming hunter seat equitation competitors last weekend for the 2022 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East. Schuyler Dayner (Odessa, Fla.) earned the win, impressing the judges across three phases of competition. Schuyler Dayner and Joske Van De Knuffel. ©Andrew Ryback Photography The USEF/NCEA Finals consist of an initial jumping round with fences set at 3’3”, and from there,...

Harrisburg, Pa. – One rail is all it takes to change a leaderboard, and that was the case in Saturday night’s final round of the 2022 Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Ansgar Holtgers Jr. and Chaploon. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Ansgar Holtgers Jr. (Wellington, Fla.) stood second in the overall standings after the first two rounds of individual competition. Round III went in reverse order of standing and the...

Sarah Reitz and Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star. ©MbDixon Photography Allentown, N.J. – Competitors in the USEF Preliminary Combined Driving National Championships enjoyed a cool and sunny weekend on the rolling hills of the Horse Park of New Jersey. The Garden State Combined Driving Event hosted National Championship competitors in the Preliminary Single Pony and Preliminary Single Horse divisions among their extensive slate of classes. In the Preliminary Single Pony division, Sarah Reitz...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Vejer de la Frontera CSIO3* in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, from October 27-30, 2022, and FEI Jumping Nations Cup Vilamoura CSIO3* in Vilamoura, Portugal, from November 17-20, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski at both competitions. The aim with these teams is to offer a competitive team experience for athlete/horse...

Calgary, Alberta, Canada - The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team finished seventh in the $600,000 BMO Nations Cup during the 2022 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO5* on September 10, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland led the team of Kent Farrington, Nicholas Dello Joio, Giavanna Rinaldi, and McLain Ward to tackle the course designed by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) was the...