Wayne, Ill. - The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions concluded today at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center with five new champions earning national titles. The competition came to a close after crowning champions in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Champion for Six-Year-Olds, USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse Dressage National Championship, Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Children Dressage National Championship, as well as the...

Lexington, Ky. - The ability to teach does not always go hand in hand with athletic achievement. The athletes with the most impressive competitive record aren’t necessarily the ones who are the most adept at teaching others to achieve success. In many sports, including equestrian, there are well-supported pathways to competitive achievements as an athlete, but the systems for teaching teachers are less well established. Cam Kiosoglous, Ph.D., is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Program...

US Equestrian Annual Meeting attendees from across all breeds and disciplines reconvened on the morning of Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, to continue the previous day’s discussion about horse welfare in the equestrian world. Representatives from different segments of the industry shared some of the challenges and solutions they’ve seen from their community in an open session moderated by US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O’Connor. Changing Culture “We have worked tirelessly for...

Wayne, Ill. – The final day of the 2024 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions brought the final five divisions to a close with new champions adding their names to the list of greats who have topped the classes at this prestigious event. Sunday at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center featured a diverse cross-section of the classes offered at FOC, from young and developing horses to children and young riders and a dressage seat equitation final. Autumn Vavrick and Dante. ©Leslie...

Wayne, Ill. – Thursday marked the midway point of the 2024 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions and brought the second national championship title as the Intermediaire I division wrapped up with their freestyle tests. A full day of competition in two rings at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center saw a total of seven divisions contested. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sonnenberg's Jersey. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Neue Schule/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship A trio...

Lexington, Ky. – Thursday at the 2024 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall & Sterling brought another full day of pony hunter excellence and the exciting first round for pony jumpers along with the ever-popular Pony Finals golf cart parade. Lillian Thomas and Sun's Up. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Kickapoo Ponies/USEF Small Regular Pony Hunter National Championship The small greens had their turn over jumps today, navigating a course that challenged the riders’ skill...

Traverse City, Mich. – Top dressage continued on Saturday at the 2024 Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship presented by USDF . The Young Riders completed their individual tests in the morning and the U25 closed out the day, performing their musical freestyles in an evening session at Flintfields Horse Park. Kat Fuqua and Dreamgirl. ©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian FEI NAYC Young Rider Individual Championship Region 3’s Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, Ga.) earned her...

Versailles, France – The U.S. Olympic Jumping Team finished on the podium in today’s competitive Olympic Jumping Team Final, with a close finish between gold, silver, and bronze placings. The team finished on a total of four faults between the three team combinations, which clinched the silver medal. Great Britain took gold on two total faults, while host nation France, took bronze on seven total faults. This is the team’s ninth Olympic medal and third consecutive silver medal...

Ocala, Fla. – At the conclusion of four exciting days of driving competition at the 2024 Spring Fling CDE, five new USEF Combined Driving National Champions emerged. With both veteran teams and some new faces gracing the winner’s circle, it was an enticing look at some of what’s to come for the sport in the season ahead. Jacob Arnold with Kenzo and Kenji V. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Advanced Pair Horses National Champion: Jacob Arnold with Kenji V and Kenzo Jacob...

Temecula, Calif. – An exciting weekend at Southern California’s Galway Downs International came to its conclusion on Saturday with new national champions emerging in the CCI4*-L and CCI2*-L levels along with the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships presented by USEA for the CCI1*-Intro, CCI2*-L, and CCI3*-L levels. Scarlett Peinado and Shadow Inspector. ©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian USEF Eventing CCI1*-Intro Young Rider Championship presented by USEA Finishing her weekend...