US Equestrian is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for 2023 licensed official development grants. USEF members who meet the eligibility requirements and have an active licensed official application may apply, whether they are interested in obtaining their first USEF license or seeking a promotion in their respective breed or discipline. Grants are intended to reduce financial barriers for USEF or U.S. Féderation Équestre Internationale officials to complete...

James "Jimmy" C. Wofford (Chrissy Miller of Szemere Photography) James “Jimmy” C. Wofford had a profound influence on the shaping of equestrian sport as we know it today. He was a complete horseman, focused and skilled competitor, and a “teacher’s teacher” who will be remembered for his humor, charm, and wit. Wofford was born into an equestrian family on November 3, 1944, in Junction City, Kansas. His father, Col. John W. Wofford, competed for the U.S. Jumping Team...

Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell at Badminton. We became involved in the sport of eventing when our daughter, Alexandra Ahearn, became an eventer. She started in Michele Pestl’s program in Renton, WA on an older horse named Sir Frederick. After a couple of years, it was clear that Alex had advanced as a rider to the point she needed a younger, more vibrant horse. So, off Michele and Ellen went to Munich, Germany, where we were fortunate enough to locate and purchase Mai Baum at the...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the top endurance athletes from the 2022 competition season. Cheryl Van Deusen (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) will receive the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award as the top U.S senior endurance rider. Avery Betz-Conway (Kingsland, Ga.) will receive the Brunges Junior/Young Rider Trophy as the top U.S. junior or young rider. Cheryl Van Deusen and Tru Beau Sardi. ©Becky Pearman Photography Van Deusen has maintained an exceptional...

Lexington, Ky. – Last spring, California’s show season was cut short due to an outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV) cases across the state. While it was an inconvenience for some, others suffered the loss of their equine partners. Industry experts have been reviewing the events, revising protocols, and exploring new technologies to learn from this experience and hopefully mitigate future outbreaks. EHV is endemic in the equine population and outbreaks can occur wherever horses...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the next DEI Community Conversation, “Horses and the Military: A Long-Standing Partnership,” will be on Monday, November 7, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET via Zoom. This DEI Community Conversation, held in recognition of Veterans Day, explores the longstanding partnership between the military and horses, with a focus on how horses are supporting military veterans and families today. This relationship has changed over the...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the 2023 Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week presented by Zen Elite Equestrian Center (RDHCW) will take place January 3-8, 2023, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla. Twenty athletes will be invited to participate, including up to two wild card spots. Invitations have been extended to the following athletes: The highest-placed U.S. individual medalists from the 2022 FEI North American Youth...

Lexington, Ky. – The FEI has announced the opening of the voting period for the 2022 FEI Awards, and US Equestrian is pleased to congratulate the two members of the American equestrian community who have been named finalists. In the FEI Best Groom category, Sue Schlegel (Cazenovia, N.Y.) has been nominated for her role as groom for Olympic jumping athlete Beezie Madden. Schlegel has partnered with John and Beezie Madden for 30 years at John Madden Sales, Inc., serving a vital role in the...

Gladstone, N.J. – The final standings for the 2022 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final – East came down to the influential final round, where the top four competitors returned for the ride-off. In the end, it was Augusta Iwasaki who rode her way into the top spot, masterfully guiding her own horse—and the other three horses in the final four—through the Round IV test. Augusta Iwasaki and Freedom. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Iwasaki...

Roscoe, Ill. – The first of three USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals of 2022 took place on September 10 at Showplace Fall Classic, welcoming a field of junior equestrians to compete in a unique three-phase final. The top 50 ranked athletes from each of three regions who have applied for the USEF/NCEA Medal are invited to compete in the finals each year. Jackie Stary and Conenzo. ©Andrew Ryback Photography Jackie Stary (Oswego, Ill.) earned the win in this year’s...