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.

Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Finishes Second at FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Poland CCIO4*-NC-S

by Leslie Potter/US Equestrian | 6/26/2023 2:00:00 PM

Strzegom, Poland – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team had a successful outing over the weekend at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Poland, holding a wire-to-wire second-place standing in the competition at LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials. The team finished on a 142.8, with The Netherlands taking first on a 133.8. “The point [of the tour] was to give a younger group team experience,” said USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law, who led the team in Strzegom....

Get Ready for the 2023 USEF Pony Finals Presented by Honor Hill Farms

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 6/23/2023 1:00:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – There are just six weeks to go until the Kentucky Horse Park welcomes pony riders and their families to the 2023 USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms. This year’s event takes place August 8-13 and promises to be another memorable experience for all participants. If you will be attending this year’s Pony Finals, please take note of some important reminders and updates. ©Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian Qualifying Period Ends July 1, 2023 The end of...

Chefs d’Equipe Announced for Land Rover U.S. Driving Teams at the 2023 FEI World Championships for Pairs, Ponies, and Para Driving

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 6/2/2023 4:00:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the chefs d’equipe for the upcoming FEI Driving World Championships for Pairs, Ponies, and Para Driving. Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) will lead the para and ponies teams, while Jeff Legg (Quinton, Va.) will lead the pairs team. Photo courtesy Jennifer Matheson Jennifer Matheson had an outstanding career as a pony driver, representing her native Canada at the 2005 FEI Driving World Championships for Ponies in the single pony...

Making of a Champion: Mai Baum

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/17/2023 4:21:00 PM

It takes years and a full team effort to develop a horse to the top level of equestrian sport— with riders, owners, grooms, coaches, and many more focusing on giving a horse the best chance at success. This process was true for Mai Baum, known as Lexus, on his road to winning the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ CCI5*-L with Tamie Smith in the irons. Smith remembered seeing Lexus, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra...

FEI Longines Jumping Nations Cup™ USA Competition Kicks Off in San Juan Capistrano with Win for Lillie Keenan and Agana van het Gerendal Z

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/12/2023 3:41:00 PM

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Thursday welcomed the start of competition at the 2023 FEI Longines Jumping Nations Cup USA, the first FEI Jumping Nations Cup ever in the state of California. The NetJets™ U.S. Jumping Team took to the Oaks International Grand Prix Field at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Center, marking the start of their week of competition culminating with Sunday’s $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup USA. The day started with the CSIO5* Familiarization...

Looking Back at the Top 10 Moments from the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

by Leslie Potter | 5/10/2023 3:00:00 PM

Is it too early to be nostalgic for an event that just took place last month? Not if that event is the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE). The best weekend all year did not disappoint, whether you were there in person or following along on the livestream . We’ve compiled some of our favorite moments from LRK3DE, from the major competition stunners to the more low-key, behind-the-scenes happenings you may have missed. We’ll get to...

Mother-Daughter Duo Tamie Smith and Kaylawna Smith-Cook Help One Another Reach Pinnacle of Eventing

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/9/2023 4:30:00 PM

Tamie Smith (fourth from left) chats with daughter Kaylawna Smith-Cook after her LRK3DE CCI5*-L test ride with Passpartout (Kathleen Landwehr/US Equestrian) Tamie Smith is a name that is known in the eventing world, especially after her recent win with Mai Baum at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ CCI5*-L. Following in her mother’s footsteps and making a name for herself is Kaylawna Smith-Cook. This talented mother-daughter duo is taking...

US Equestrian Announces Dates and Locations for 2023 USEF Eventing National Championships

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/5/2023 12:00:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the host locations and dates for the USEF Eventing National Championships taking place in the fall of 2023. The new USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships (CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S) will take place at the Stable View Oktoberfest Horse Trials in Aiken, S.C., September 29-October 1, 2023. The USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship will return to the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in Elkton, Md., October 18-22, 2023. The USEF...

From LRK3DE Groom to Competitor: Meg Kepferle Makes Kentucky CCI4*-S Debut

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/2/2023 3:30:00 PM

Megan “Meg” Kepferle of Long Valley, N.J., was a longtime groom for Sinead Maynard (née Halpin) before starting her own business and pursuing her own riding goals. Kepferle groomed multiple times for Maynard at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, and she made her riding debut at the 2023 event in the CCI4*-S with Anakin, Rogue Won Syndicate LLC’s 2009 Thoroughbred gelding. When asked about her favorite memory grooming at the...

Statement Regarding Rider Fatality at Fox Lea Farm Spring Concours I

by US Equestrian Communications Department | 5/1/2023 5:15:00 PM

Lexington, Ky. – It is with our deepest sympathy the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that Hannah Serfass suffered a fatal accident yesterday, April 30, while competing at the Fox Lea Farm Spring Concours I in Venice, Fla. Hannah, 15, was riding Quaxx 2, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, in an equitation class when the horse tripped and suffered a rotational fall. The fall was unrelated to a jumping effort. The EMT responded immediately, and Hannah was transported to...