Fulton, Mo. – Twelve saddle seat equitation athletes earned their tickets to South Africa on Saturday at the Saddle Seat World Cup Selection Trials. The U.S. will field two teams—one three-gaited and one five-gaited—with six athletes on each team for the 2024 International Saddle Seat World Cup in Parys, South Africa, next December. The team members are listed below in ranked order. 2024 Saddle Seat World Cup Three-Gaited Team. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Three-Gaited:...

Jordan Gibbs and her pony Party Time caught spectators’ attention when they debuted together at the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, thanks in large part to Party Time’s flashy looks. The 15-year-old chestnut pony’s liberal splashes of white and his blue eyes made him a striking companion for his nine-year-old rider. But he’s more than that. He’s also Jordan’s best friend. Photo: Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Gibbs came from Colorado...

Equestrians never forget their first ponies. Woolly or sleek, magnificent or mischievous, they are the teachers who reveal the most fundamental and enduring wisdom about life with horses: that it is joyous, that it is hard work, that it is a partnership which demands compromise but also makes us stronger. These special animals arrive from a remarkable variety of sources—sometimes handed down from siblings, sometimes expensively acquired, often bought cheaply from an auction or an ad or...

Lexington, Ky. – It was a Cinderella story for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2018 FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Great Britain. The team comprising Katherine Coleman and 2018 Karen Stives Endowment Fund Grant recipients Caroline Martin and Hallie Coon clinched the silver medal under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law with a score of 109.1 during the second leg of the 2018 FEI Nations Cup series. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team won the silver medal in the FEI...

Lexington, Ky. – A decorated and respected equestrian with an international acclaim that continues to grow, McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) was awarded the Robert P. Strub Trophy as the 2017 USEF Equestrian of the Year at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner. McLain Ward (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Ward started the season by winning the $380,000 Suncast Grand Prix CSI5* during the Winter Equestrian Festival with HH Azur. The following month, Ward clinched a home turf victory, winning the Longines FEI...

Kansas City, Mo. – Saturday, November 11, brought a rigorous challenge for the country’s top saddle seat equitation riders in the 2017 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals at the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show. Only 12 of the 21 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary ride-offs were called back for the final round of competition by judges Josh Greer (Ky.), Suzy Shiflet (N.C.), and John Whalen (Mass.). The...

Scott Lenkart and Ziezo kicked off their week at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival with a win in Thursday's 1.40m Jumpers. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - The Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park kicked off at 8 a.m. on Thursday with the 1.40m Jumpers concluding Week Two's second day of competition at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF). Scott Lenkart of South Haven Farm started his week at GLEF off strong, earning the first place ribbon in...

Emanuel Andrade aboard Natif Des Roches (SEL Photography) Lexington, Ky. - After the Gala at the Rock, the black tie affair that Split Rock has quickly become known for, went well into the night, the third morning of competition kicked off at 10 am with the $2,000 Brook Ledge High JR/AO 1.40m Jumper. Victory was claimed by Emanuel Andrade aboard Natif Des Roches who won by a large margin with a speedy jump-off. Maria Roberts and Bongo (TPence Photo) The next class to follow was the $7,500 Kask...

Phillip Dutton and Sportsfield Candy (Shannon Brinkman) Allentown, N.J. - Olympic veteran Phillip Dutton (USA) jumped from fifth place to first with a flawless performance on Sportsfield Candy in the final show jumping phase to win the CCI** at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event (JFI), presented by BW Furlong & Associates on Sunday. Dutton and his Irish Sport Horse also had a clear go on the cross country course on Saturday to finish on their dressage score of 48.8 penalties....

Friday, April 22, 2016, Lexington, Kentucky - Yesterday was another busy day at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals! Great riding and skilled horsemanship made for a second straight day of strong competition. Beyond the riding, participants and attendees were able to shop, gain instruction on college preparations, watch a Dressage demonstration, attend the speaker symposium, and celebrate with their families and teammates at the welcome reception provided by the...