Wayne, Ill. – The final day of the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions closed out a successful week of competition. With restrictions on spectators on the grounds and mandates in effect for mask-wearing and social distancing, the scene at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center looked a bit different from prior years. However, trainers and riders were glad to have the opportunity to get their horses in the competition arena, and the quality of horses and riding throughout the week...

Wayne, Ill. – Talented combinations delivered quality performances on the penultimate day of competition at the 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at HITS Chicago at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. Four titles were determined on Saturday in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, Markel/USEF Young Horse Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, Adequan®/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship, and Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St....

Wayne, Ill. – Friday brought another warm and sunny day to HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center where seven classes of the 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions showcased a wide variety of horses and riders on their quest for national champion titles. Four divisions concluded and named their national champions on Friday: The USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship; Adequan®/USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship; USEF Pony...

Competition picked up on Thursday at the 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Both the Grand Prix Arena and Young & Developing Horse Arena at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center was busy all day with classes for young and developing horses, ponies, and grand prix. Additionally, the first champions of the show were crowned as the competitors in the Horseware Ireland/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship finished their final test. USEF Grand Prix Dressage National...

Wayne, Ill. – Excitement continued to grow as the second day of competition delivered excellent riding at the 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Competitors in the Adequan ® /USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ National Championship and USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship each had their second turn in the arena, and the Horseware Ireland/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship riders made their show debut at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian...

Wayne, Ill. – Horse-and-rider combinations have been doing their homework in preparation for the 14 national championships held at the 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, and it was evident in the first two classes of the show. In the first day of competition at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center, Endel Ots and Sonnenberg’s Everdance won the FEI Prix St. Georges Test, while Sara Hassler and Harmony’s Boitano took top honors in the FEI Intermediate II Test. USEF...

Elkton, MD - Last weekend’s event at Fair Hill located in Cecil County, Maryland marked an important milestone in the development of the planned Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill three-day event. Along with the horse trials for Novice through Intermediate, The Fair Hill Organizing Committee (FHOC) in partnership with Fair Hill International (FHI) hosted a CCI3*-S at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone that served as a test event for next year’s debut CCI5*-L, which is pending final...

Lexington, KY/Gladstone, NJ – While equestrians across the country have raised more than $48,000 in the past two weeks, support for our Olympic and Paralympic equestrian hopefuls is still needed. There is still time left to donate and be a part of the Giving Games fundraising for next year’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The campaign closes on Sunday, August 9, at 5 p.m. ET, and supporters can help equestrians reach the $50,000 goal set nearly two weeks ago at the start of the...

Lexington, Ky. - The 2020 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions will take place August 18-23, 2020, at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill. Members of the media who would like to request credentials to cover the event should submit a completed application form by August 12, 2020. Please note that media credentials will be limited due to COVID-19 and provided on a first come, first served basis. You must request special permission for more than one person per media outlet to...

Lexington, Ky. – The US Equestrian Board of Directors has unanimously elected Tom O’Mara as the organization’s new president with his term beginning in January 2021. The election took place as part of the Mid-Year BOD Meeting on June 22 and 23, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. O’Mara will take office at the 2021 US Equestrian Annual Meeting, currently scheduled for January 12-17, in Austin, Texas. O’Mara has been a member of the Board of...