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.

An Exclusive Conversation with U.S. Dressage Chef d'Equipe Christine Traurig on the 2026 FEI World Championship Short List and Road to Aachen

by Danielle Henson/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/20/2026 11:01:00 AM

U.S. Dressage Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor, Christine Traurig (© Shannon Brinkman) With the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships less than three months away, US Equestrian has named its short list of horse-and-rider combinations vying for a spot on The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team heading to Aachen, Germany. Eight combinations representing a meld of seasoned championship veterans and exciting newcomers to the international stage have been selected to continue their pursuit of...

Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential 4 Rise to Top in USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship with 70.042% in Grand Prix Special Test

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/15/2026 5:52:00 PM

Ocala, Fla. – Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential 4 showcased their potential again this week, topping the FEI Grand Prix Special Test on Friday, May 15, 2026, as part of the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, earning a 70.042% from the judging panel. Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian took second with a score of 69.808%. Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Grayton Beach finished in third place overall with a 69.234%. The USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship will conclude...

2026 USEF Grand Prix National Championship Get Underway at World Equestrian Center – Ocala

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/12/2026 8:55:00 PM

Ocala, Fla. – The 2026 USEF Dressage Grand Prix National Championship will begin this morning at 8:00 a.m. ET with the first day of competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, set to feature 16 of the top Grand Prix combinations in the country. The national championship, which has traditionally been included in the annual USEF Festival of Champions hosted later in the summer, will be featured for the first time in more than ten years as a standalone championship, while also...

Christian Simonson and Indian Rock Lead the Way After Grand Prix Test at 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/13/2026 3:42:00 PM

Ocala, Fla. – The USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship opened with a morning of competition on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, featuring 16 entries vying for top scores in the Grand Prix test. The USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship is held at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, Fla. The national championship, which has traditionally been included in the annual USEF Festival of Champions hosted later in the summer, will be featured for the first time in more than...

Updates to Annex A, a supplement to the USEF Dressage Rules, Now Available to Review

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/7/2026 10:00:00 AM

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian requests that members review Annex A , a supplement to the USEF Dressage Rules, which reflects updates effective as of the May publication. Annex A is available on the USEF website in the Dressage Rules & Equipment section under Forms and Publications. Key updates to Annex A include: Certain bits, saddlery, and equipment previously not permitted are now allowed at USEF/USDF Dressage competitions; all changes or additions are highlighted in yellow....

USEF Combined Driving Developing Athlete Program and Developing Equine Program Applications Now Open

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/6/2026 7:53:00 AM

Lexington, Ky. — US Equestrian is pleased to announce applications for the USEF Combined Driving Developing Athlete Program and Developing Equine Program are now open. Applications are accepted twice annually, opening in May and November each year, and can be submitted through the Athlete Dashboard in your MyUSEF account. Developing Athlete Program Phillip Odden with Odden's Ildar and Odden's Josefini (©Sharon Packer) The mission of the USEF Developing Athlete Program is to...

Reminder: Horse Suspensions to Begin for Some Drug Violations in Summer 2026

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 5/5/2026 10:46:00 AM

Owners should be aware that, beginning this spring, horses may serve suspensions alongside their trainers for certain drug positives. Starting with samples collected after May 31, 2026, cases involving Category II, III, or IV substances that result in a suspension for the trainer will also require the tested horse who in question be suspended at the same time and for the same duration. The US Equestrian Board of Directors approved this change, along with other edits to the Drugs and Medication...

EHV-1 Is Here to Stay; Here’s What We Do About It

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 4/27/2026 9:14:00 AM

Many horse owners become acutely aware of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) when there’s an outbreak or a reported positive test in your local community. The reality is that EHV is a permanent part of the equine environment – not just at horse shows, but across the population. ©US Equestrian/Devyn Trethewey Virtually all horses are exposed to the EHV-1 virus at a young age, and the virus hides out (is “latent”) in most horses without causing symptoms. The virus is...

Will Coleman and Diabolo Victorious in 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 4/26/2026 7:58:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Diabolo championed a historic day at the Kentucky Horse Park, topping the leaderboard of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian. Today marked the second time in just three years a U.S. combination has won the event after a previous 15-year drought of a home winner. The pair were impeccable throughout the competition, adding only time penalties in the show jumping phase to their dressage score to...

FEI Calendar Application Process for Vaulting is Now Open for 2027

by | 4/15/2026 9:22:00 AM

Lexington, Ky. – The application process for the 2027 FEI Calendar for vaulting competitions is now open. Applications will be accepted now through July 1, 2026, and must be submitted online through the USEF Competition Dashboard at competitions.usef.org . Competition organizers should review the U.S. FEI Vaulting Calendar Policies and Procedures , which outline the process from application through review and approval of FEI vaulting competitions in the U.S. Please direct any questions...