Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is proud to recognize Sydney Schimack (Laporte, Colo.) as the 2019 Vaulter of the Year. Schimack, who competed for the bronze medal-winning U.S. Vaulting Team Squad at the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors, stood out among the applicant pool based on her 2019 competition scores, personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Seventeen-year-old Schimack competed in Europe for the first time this year, securing impressive placings in both the squad...

Lexington, Ky. – Every year, the nation’s top dressage horse-and-rider combinations gather at the Kentucky Horse Park for the United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® . Held November 7-10, the 2019 competition hosted more than 340 entries representing a 36 different states and traveling to Kentucky from as far as California . Vying for national titles, competitors riding a variety of breeds competed in Training Level through Grand...

Las Vegas, Nev. – The 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Stars Team secured the gold medal and gained valuable experience in international competition at the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational Test Event in Las Vegas, Nev. Hosted at South Point Arena and Equestrian Center from October 29 through November 1, the U.S. team faced off against a tough Canadian team in three-gaited saddle seat equitation. Under the guidance of Coach Christy Parker (Hortense, Ga.) and Assistant Coach Mary Mag...

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine (Libby Law Photography) Lexington, Ky. – Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp piloted Cooley Moonshine to a silver medal in the seven-year-old division of the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships in Le Lion d'Angers, France. She and The Monster Partnership’s seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding scored 29.3 on their dressage test, then tallied 1.2 time penalties on cross-country. Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Fla.) and Cooley Moonshine...

Ászár-Kisbér, Hungary – It was a strong showing of pony power for the U.S. with Mary Phelps in the Pair Pony division and Leslie Berndl in the Single Pony division as they competed in the 2019 FEI Driving World Championships for Ponies, September 25-29, in Ászár-Kisbér, Hungary. Mary Phelps (Krisztina Horváth/ Hoefnet.com ) In the Pair Pony division, Mary Phelps (Columbia, Ky.) with her team lovingly known as “The Flying...

Lexington, Ky – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the most recent additions to the Discover Dressage USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program List for the fall. This program provides strategic guidance and educational opportunities for emerging athletes under the age of 25 in the discipline of dressage and is led by USEF Dressage Youth Coach George Williams. “We are coming up on the second anniversary of the official launch of the Emerging Athlete Program. Although I see this program...

Springfield, Ill. – The National Show Horse Finals saw a gathering of the most impressive National Show Horses in the U.S. as riders and owners vied for top honors. With 200 National Show Horses and Arabian horses showing over the course of the three days, competition was fierce across the multitude of championship divisions. Ann Judd (Lutz, Fla.), Martha Rattner (Georgetown, Ky.), and Mitch Sperte (Victor, N.Y.) served as judges for this year’s competition. The National Show Horse...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian’s Nominating Committee has opened the election period for the Independent Director role on the US Equestrian Board of Directors. Nominations for the role will be accepted as of September 17 and will close on October 15 at midnight ET. Life and Senior Active members can propose nominations for the role, which can be submitted online at the following link: https://www.usef.org/forms/nominations . Individuals must meet the criteria in Bylaw 303, Section...

Lexington, Ky. – Experience the excitement of the American Saddlebred , Hackney , roadsters , and saddle seat equitation at the prestigious World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. This sensational eight-day event kicks off Saturday, August 17, and runs through Saturday, August 24, at the Kentucky State Fair. Competitors from 44 states and six countries have brought nearly 2,000 horses as they vie for over $1 million in awards. Held at the Kentucky State Fair since 1906,...

Lexington, Ky. – The 2019 Platinum Performance /United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship kick off this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., with more than $519,900 in prize money available to approximately 300 of the country's top hunters. Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships 2018 3'/3'3" champions Patricia Griffith and...