Lexington, Ky. – The USEF Board of Directors met on Saturday, January 14, at the 2023 US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. During the meeting, Judy Werner was elected Vice President and Ellie Brimmer was added as an athlete representative. Judy Werner (Waterloo, Ill.) brings a long history of service in US Equestrian governance, having served on numerous committees and councils, including as Vice President of the Executive Committee, Hearing Committee Co-Chair, Audit Committee...

Alex Waldrop, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), shared U.S. horse racing’s history and recapped some of the challenges that horse racing has faced in the past 15 years. The challenges affected horse racing’s social license to operate and required earnest changes to improve horse welfare. “An old adage comes to mind: ‘If you can’t be a good example, you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.’...

USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor, University of Kentucky Equine Science professor and member of the FEI Equine Ethics and Welfare Commission, Dr. Camie Heleski, and Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, Roly Owers, spoke to the USEF Annual Meeting about equestrian sport and the social license to operate. Here are five takeaways from their presentation. 1. Social license to operate is an unofficial but essential piece of the puzzle. Owers describes social license to operate as...

Thermal, Calif. - The last of three USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals of 2022 took place on November 12 at National Sunshine Series II with 35 junior equestrians competing in a unique three-phase final. Ella Dyson emerged victorious with Cetello in the USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West with consistent performances and impressive scores. “It feels so surreal, and so exciting,” Dyson said of her champion title. “I am so honored to have won and...

Lexington, Ky. – Bid process opened this week for vacant weeks remaining on the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar. The bid process will be conducted in accordance with the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, & Advanced Policies and Procedures . The bidding will be open for two weeks. The applications will be reviewed by the Eventing Strategic Calendar Task Force who will make a recommendation to the Eventing Sport Committee. Final approval is given by the Board of...

Lexington, Ky. – Top combinations from around the world competed in the 2022 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers, France, from October 20-23. The championship is a collaboration between the FEI and the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses that showcases six- and seven-year-old eventing horses at the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L level, respectively. A total of six U.S. combinations proved their mettle in the strong field of competitors...

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – After four phases of challenging competition at the 2022 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West, Ella Dyson (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) took first place riding Cetello. Ella Dyson and Cetello. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Dyson started her partnership with Cetello, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding owned by Constance and Elisa Broz, ahead of the 2021 Finals, where she finished as Reserve Champion. This year, the pair earned good...

Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – Will Coleman and Lauren Nicholson led the way for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team on the first day of dressage competition at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship hosted in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Coleman piloted Off The Record to a solid score of 26.4 to start the team off strong ahead of Nicholson and Vermiculus , who earned a 27.1 from the ground jury, with both combinations sitting inside of the top ten at the conclusion of competition today, with...

Wayne, Ill. – The six remaining national championship divisions concluded on Sunday at the 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. A week full of seasoned competitors as well as up-and-coming talent made for an exciting, high-caliber event. USEF Children Dressage National Championship Autumn Vavrick and Dante (SusanJStickle.com) Twelve USEF Children Dressage National Championship combinations began the competition in the Grand Prix Arena by riding the second of two tests to determine...

The Plains, Va. – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Squad along with alternate and reserve combinations completed their mandatory outing this weekend at MARS Great Meadow International as their final prep event before September’s 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian All five members of the squad, along with the eight reserve and alternate combinations completed the CCI4*-S at MARS GMI. Team...