The American Horse Council reports that the Department of Agriculture has taken another step toward the implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) to trace animal movements in case of a major disease outbreak. “This action has been expected,” said AHC President Jay Hickey. “USDA must amend several federal regulations to foster the establishment of the national animal ID system. The changes do not impose any identification requirements on horses, but they are another step...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian will begin its search for a new U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor following the decision of current Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald to step down from her role effective August 1, 2023. The U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor will work closely with the dressage staff on preparations and planning for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games next summer, as well as play an integral role in program oversight and leadership through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games....

A case of EHV-1 (neurological) has been reported in Ocala, Fla., similar in nature, but unrelated to the neurological strain of EHV-1 impacting Valencia (ESP) and other European countries. The horse was not shipped from Europe and was not on showgrounds at the onset of symptoms. USEF is working closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture and state authorities who are completing contact tracing and identifying the potential source of the virus exposure. The affected horse is in isolation...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named four athlete-and-horse combinations to the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team and one traveling reserve athlete-and-horse combination for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. One direct reserve horse has also been named. A direct reserve horse would be an automatic replacement should the original horse on which the athlete was named need to be substituted. Dressage competition at the Olympic Games will take place August 8-15, 2016 at the...

Richard Spooner and Big Red went double-clear (photo by Anwar Esquivel). Xalapa, Veracruz – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team consisting of Christine McCrea, Jonathan McCrea, Richard Spooner, and Ali Wolff nearly forced Mexico and Canada into a three-way jump-off at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO4* Coapexpan today. However, Mexico’s Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia went double-clear to secure the victory for Mexico, resulting in a two-way tie for second between the U.S. and...

Xalapa, Veracruz – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team consisting of Christine McCrea, Jonathan McCrea, Richard Spooner, and Ali Wolff nearly forced Mexico and Canada into a three-way jump-off at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO4* Coapexpan today. However, Mexico’s Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia went double-clear to secure the victory for Mexico, resulting in a two-way tie for second between the U.S. and Canada. With 12 faults, the U.S. picked up 85 points in the North...

Columbia, S.C. - University of South Carolina hunt seat coach Carol Gwin has been named the head coach at SMU, it was announced late yesterday. Gwin takes over a Mustang program that went 5-10 last year. Gwin becomes SMU's third head coach in the last 12 months. "We are sad to see Carol go but we're excited for her with this new opportunity and certainly wish her all the best," South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. "The search for our new assistant hunt seat coach has already...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF Executive Committee and the High Performance Working Group have approved a replacement recommended by the Eventing Eligible Athletes and the Eventing High Performance Committees to the Eventing Selection Committee. Kim Severson will be replaced by Deborah Furnas on the committee, while Phyllis Dawson has been named as a substitute selector. Following a fifth-place finish at The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3*, a USEF Selection Trials for the 2014 Alltech FEI...

Parker, CO - Exciting show jumping action kicked off the first day of competition at Summer in the Rockies V in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park. Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima welcomed horse and rider combinations to Week V of the "AA"-Rated series with courses that offered interesting options for shaving off time. Thirty riders and their mounts jumped around the 1.30m track. Hunter Holloway and Julie Dodd's Libra were the first to go...

If you like to keep up with equestrian competitions, you’ve been born into a great time. It has never been easier to stay connected to your favorite atheletes and disciplines. There are plenty of good ways to go about it, but I am going to briefly explain why twitter has become my favroite way to keep up with the equestrian action nationally, and internationally. Finding results and watching live events is part of my job, but I need to discover new sources all the time. Of all the avenues...