Lexington, Ky. - David O'Connor, US Equestrian Chief of Sport, reviewed social license and its effect on equestrian sport during the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting on Jan. 13 in Louisville, Ky. O’Connor was joined by Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), who shared the new reality of horseracing in the United States and how change required a shift in the industry’s culture. O’Connor concluded the workshop by emphasizing the...

USEF President Tom O'Mara leads General Session at the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting. Lexington, Ky. – The USEF Board of Directors met on Sunday, January 14, during the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky. During the meeting, Tom O’Mara was elected to a second term as President by a unanimous vote of retention. This successive term will run from January 2025 to January 2029. Additionally, the following individuals were elected to the board for a four-year...

Louisville, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce that HH Azur, Double H Farm and McLain Ward’s 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare, was voted the 2023 International Horse of the Year, and Paradigm, Meredith Lipke’s 2012 Warmblood gelding, was voted the 2023 National Horse of the Year by the USEF membership. HH Azur and Paradigm were honored during the SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 13. International Horse of...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian congratulates the winners of the 2023 Combined Driving Annual Awards. These awards recognize the top U25 driving athletes from the 2023 calendar year as well as a volunteer who has been nominated for their exemplary service to US Equestrian driving competitions. Sarah Batstone-Roberts and Winston. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian U25 Driver of the Year – Preliminary: Sarah Batstone-Roberts Sarah Batstone-Roberts made her USEF combined driving...

Louisville, Ky. – US Equestrian congratulates 2023 International Equestrian of the Year McLain Ward and 2023 National Equestrian of the Year John French. Ward and French were nominated as Equestrians of Honor and selected by US Equestrian member voting in December. Both Equestrians of the Year were honored at the 2023 Pegasus Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 14. International Equestrian of the Year – McLain Ward McLain Ward, 2023 USEF...

Louisville, Ky. - US Equestrian President Tom O’Mara and CEO Bill Moroney spoke during the General Session presentation to members and staff on Jan. 12 at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting. During their presentation, they looked back at progress made by US Equestrian in 2023 and shared goals for 2024 and beyond with the theme “Our Future Is Now.” You can watch the presentation here . US Equestrian President Tom O’Mara speaks during the General Session (Devyn Trethewey/US...

Basel, Switzerland – The first FEI championship of 2024 will take place this week as the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final presented by Tommy Hilfiger gets underway at Longines CHI Classics Basel in Switzerland. Kimmy Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) is the sole U.S. athlete at this year’s final and brings her extensive international experience to the arena. Palmer has competed in vaulting at the FEI level since 2013, first as part of a pas de deux with her sister, Cassidy, and as an...

Cheryl Van Deusen and JG General. ©Liz Gregg/FEI Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian congratulates the winners of the year-end awards for endurance. As the top-ranked senior endurance athlete, Cheryl Van Deusen (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) will receive the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award. Avery Betz-Conway (Kingsland, Ga.) will receive the Brunges Junior/Young Rider Trophy as the top U.S. junior or young rider endurance athlete. With this year’s win, Van Deusen has now won the...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce that Kiley Hamilton (Linden, Calif.) has been named the 2023 USEF National Youth Sportsman’s Award winner. Hamilton is a competitive Western dressage rider, an active member of the Linden High School FFA Horse Judging Team, and an aspiring equine veterinarian. She was nominated for this award by the Western Dressage Association of America . Kiley Hamilton. ©Faith Osborn Hamilton trains and competes in Western dressage with...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the 2023 Horse of the Year and Equestrian of the Year nominees. The International and National Horses of the Year will be announced at the 2023 SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 13, and the International and National Equestrians of the Year will be announced at the 2023 Pegasus Awards Dinner on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky. Horses of Honor and Equestrians of...