Wayne, Ill. – The annual showcase of dressage talent that is the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (FOC) kicks off today, Aug. 19, at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Northern Illinois. The event runs for seven days and features the USEF Para Dressage National Championship alongside a full slate of championships with a focus on youth equestrians and young and developing horses. The 16 national championships contested at FOC are: Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National...

Recently, Brookwood Farm hosted a unique five-day clinic with renowned rider and trainer Ray Texel that featured many different learning techniques. The clinic was held November 18-22, 2009, and while many clinics are two or three days, this longer format gave Texel and the participants more time to develop a unique rapport while working through many different challenges. Brookwood Farm is owned by trainers Rush and Caroline Weeden, who also hosted the 2009 $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby. "One...

This past weekend, Canterbury Farm in Hampshire, IL, hosted a clinic for the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program. Held on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, the clinic was conducted by renowned equestrians Melanie Smith Taylor and Ray Texel. Diane Carney of Hampshire, IL, was the on-site coordinator for the event, which was a Level II Training Session. The clinic was part of the Emerging Athletes Program, an educational program that focuses on...

Lexington, Ky. - The US Hunter Pony Championships presented by Sallee Horse Vans came to a close on Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Medium Regular Hunter Ponies went to task in the Walnut Arena in their Over Fences phase to determine the 2016 Champion. Natalie Jayne and Woodlands Stevie Ray emerged victorious on Saturday afternoon, but it was Wednesday’s Large Regular Hunter Pony champion, Storyteller, that proved unbeatable as he was named the Grand Champion Hunter Pony of the 2016...

Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The US Hunter Pony Championships presented by Sallee Horse Vans came to a close on Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Medium Regular Hunter Ponies went to task in the Walnut Arena in their Over Fences phase to determine the 2015 Champion. Alexa Aureliano and Woodlands Stevie Ray emerged victorious on Saturday afternoon, but it was Thursday’s champion, Bit of Laughter, that proved unbeatable as he was named...

Littlestown, PA - June 19, 2015 - Samantha Schaefer's longtime mount, Sugar Ray, does not often compete in the open jumpers, but when he does, Schaefer knows she can count on her "steady Eddie." Her trusted partner came through again on Friday afternoon at the Swan Lake Summer Kick-Off Classic where he scored the win in the $5,000 Speed Derby. "He doesn't show that much, but when he does he normally makes it worth his while," Schaefer said. "He's my baby. He did the [High Junior...

As a follow up to yesterday’s email, we are providing you with the full list of all equestrians’ currently on the USEF Safe Sport Sanctions List which includes individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport (Center), or the USEF prior to the March 2017 launch of the Center. Please click to view the SafeSport Sanctions. These individuals are prohibited from participating in any activities and competitions that USEF licenses, endorses or sponsors. USEF General Rule 703...

The admired stallion Hickstead, winner of Individual Gold and Team Silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games under Canada’s Eric Lamaze, has been approved for breeding based on performance by the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA), the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA), and the KWPN of North America breed associations. In addition to his performance at the 2008 Olympic Games, Hickstead’s long list of accomplishments include winning the richest event in show jumping,...

Former editor and owner of The National Horseman Raymond E. Sheffield of Louisville, KY, died Saturday, June 9, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. Sheffield began his career with The National Horseman in 1950, accepting a position as its advertising manager. The owner/publisher at the time, Henry Brown, groomed Sheffield to be his replacement, and when Brown died in 1955, Sheffield became editor and owner. Sheffield was a founding member of the American Saddlebred Pleasure...

Lexington, Ky. - Due to the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme disruption to business this has caused, US Equestrian (USEF) is extending the deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI) from those organizations interested in being considered for designation as a USEF Recognized Affiliate for the international discipline of Endurance. Through its announcement released Monday, March 16 2020, USEF opened the submission period which was originally established...