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.

2009 Capital Challenge Horse Show Features Two National Medal Finals

by By Michelle Bloch | 9/24/2009 12:10:00 PM

The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held this year from September 26-October 4 at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, brings together the best equitation riders from across the country for two national medal finals. A panel of judges will score the nation's best riders as they are tested over courses designed by Michael Rheinheimer of Willoughby, OH. The Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals is the first on the schedule, which will take...

HITS Desert Circuit Grand Prix Schedule Features Four FEI World Cup Classes and $300,000 Finale

by By Jennifer Wood | 9/24/2009 11:28:00 AM

All 16 Events Are Qualifiers for the 2010 $1-Million United States Grand Prix League Grand Prix HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce its grand prix schedule for the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA. This year's schedule features 16 grand prix classes held over six weeks of competition, and $800,000 in total prize money will be awarded. There will be four FEI World Cup qualifying classes, and the grand finale is a $300,000 grand prix on Sunday, March 14. The 2010 HITS Desert Circuit Dates...

Kentucky National Horse Show Wrap-Up

by By Phelps Media Group | 9/24/2009 11:13:00 AM

The Kentucky National Horse Show was held September 16-20 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Lucille Oken Wins Grand Slam with Land's End Mad Hatter Lucille Oken and Land's End Mad Hatter were unstoppable at this year's Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show. The pair completed a clean sweep of the Large Pony Hunter division, taking home each of the blue ribbons and the championship award. Oken rides at her family's Hi Hopes Farm in Charlotte, NC, with trainers Steve Heinecke and Jeff...

Sport Horse Nationals: When it rains, it pours…then clears up, then rains some more…

by Jennifer Walker | 9/23/2009 5:10:42 PM

I'm here at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) in Lexington, Kentucky, for my third Arabian Sporthorse National (affectionately known as SHN)--although it is the seventh anniversary of the event splitting off from US Nationals to give sport horses a chance to shine all on their own. This year is the first that SHN has been held at the KHP, and boy are the gums flapping about the facility! Walking around the park, you'll pass one group oohing and aahing about how beautiful it is and...

October Saddlebred Shows Include Mid-America Mane Event, Regional Championships

by By Brice Carr | 9/22/2009 2:03:00 PM

The Mid-America Mane Event is set to take place beginning Thursday, October 22, through Sunday, October 25. The event will host the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Regional Championships for the region, as well as Finals for Good Hands and Pleasure Olympics, along with a full schedule of performance classes at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The facilities available at the venue are highly regarded by many exhibitors. The Coliseum’s banked oval arena and the three...

Boris Crowned Champion at 2009 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals – West

by Joanie Morris | 9/22/2009 12:25:00 PM

Lexington, KY - The first of two 2009 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Champions was named at the Los Angeles International Horse Show on September 2 Theo Boris Wins Platinum Performance/ USEF Talent Search Finals - West (AC Custom Photo) 0. Theodore Boris claimed the Finals -West title on the strength of his consistent performance in the Final Ride-Off Phase - where the top four competitors after the first 3 phases start even, ride their own horse, then each of the other’s mount...

Team USA’s Johnson Drives to Third at CAI-A4 Donaueschingen

by By Joanie Morris, additional information from a Press Release by the FEI | 9/21/2009 12:20:00 PM

Lexington, KY – Tucker Johnson staked his claim to a top spot in next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with an impressive third place finish out of 25 teams at the CAI-A4 Donaueschingen in Germany. Driving in an international competition for the first time since the World Championships in Beesd 2008, Johnson won the dressage, finished eighth in the marathon but retained third place overall with a strong performance in the cones. In a strong field, which included two former world...

Todd Flettrich and Otto Victorious in Saugerties Grand Prix Special

by By Lauren Fisher | 9/17/2009 11:02:00 AM

Dressage trainer Todd Flettrich and his mount, Otto, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, made their competitive debut in the United States this weekend at the New England Dressage Association's (NEDA) Fall Festival, held September 9-13, in Saugerties, NY. After spending three months in Germany training with Olympic Gold medalist Hubertus Schmidt, Flettrich and Otto returned to Cherry Knoll Farm's Pennsylvania location just one week prior to the Saugerties competition, and went on to win the CDI Grand...

Live Saddlebred Video Webcast of Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival Begins on September 16

by By Brice Carr | 9/16/2009 10:52:00 AM

Sign-ups are now under way at www.saddlebred.com for the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s (ASHA) live video streaming Internet webcast of the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival from Madison, WI, which has its first performance Wednesday, September 16. Pricing and sign-up information appears on the ASHA website at www.asha.net/video/register.php . The webcast will once again feature a live chat, to offer subscribers the opportunity to carry on dialogue with other Saddlebred enthusiasts...

Sapphire and McLain Ward Score Huge Victory in Legendary CN International at Spruce Meadows Masters

by Joanie Morris | 9/14/2009 9:37:00 AM

Lexington, KY – Somehow Sapphire keeps getting better. Already the owner of two Olympic Team Gold medals from 2004 and 2008 with rider McLain Ward, the 14-year-old Belgian mare continues to add Sapphire and McLain Ward (Anthony Trollope/stockimageservices.com ) accolades to her sparkling resume across the globe. This time it was the CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters. One of the most prestigious (and richest – worth $1m CAD) Grand Prixes on the planet, Sapphire and Ward...