Lexington, Ky. - Peggy Thomas was a major contributor to U.S. dressage as a horse owner and supporter of the next generation of top athletes. Along with her husband Parry, Thomas helped U.S. athletes achieve top results on the world and national stages with their support of equestrian sport. Peggy Thomas (third from the left) during Brentina's retirement ceremony (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Thomas passed away on September 3, 2023, at the age of 97. She was born August 23, 1926, in Preston,...

Oirschot, Netherlands – Five U.S. athletes and their ponies made the journey to the FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies, which took place Aug. 30-Sept. 3 at Steenhof Stables in the Netherlands. The championship featured single, pair, and four-in-hand ponies with teams and individuals from nine countries competing for world champion titles. Katie Whaley. ©Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet The U.S. contingent included singles drivers Amy Cross and Hilary Mroz-Blythe, pair...

Opglabbeek, Belgium – The U.S. Junior Jumping Team stepped up onto the podium and the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team earned fourth place overall on Sunday at the 2023 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final at Sentower Park in Belgium. “The juniors were great,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski. “There were some nerves and some pressure from them. Overall, they were amazing in getting on the podium. I'm proud of all of them—they all rode great....

Tucker Johnson and his Four-in-Hand team (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - After a dressage phase in the Combined Driving Championships that left multiple ties at the top of the leader board, today's marathon course proved to mix things up, as is often the case. The U.S. Driving Team is now sitting in second with a combined score of 300.11, behind The Netherlands on a 273.77. Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) won the marathon phase, charging through the obstacles with speed and...

Dalton, GA - Michael Pollard’s team of international event horses was involved in a road traffic accident just five miles from his training center in Dalton, Georgia this morning when their trailer turned over trapping all six horses on board. Five horses were cut free and survived with lacerations but tragically Michael’s new stallion VDL Ulando H died at the scene. No-one was injured in the accident which was caused by the driver of another vehicle pulling out in front of them...

Exloo, Netherlands – The U.S. contingent delivered excellent performances at the 2023 FEI Para Driving World Championship for Singles held in Exloo, Netherlands, from August 23-27. Tracy Bowman and Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars lead from start to finish to defend their world champion title. Led by Chef d’Equipe Jennifer Matheson, the U.S. Para Driving Team of Bowman and Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars, Bob Giles and Brynithon Flyers Magic, and Diane Kastama and Tjibbe took...

Horses and carriages from as far away as Massachusetts, Montana and Canada will converge on the Horse Park at Woodside, September 22-24, to compete in the inaugural Woodside Combined Driving Event. The event will mark the first time the Horse Park has offered advanced-level classes, the highest level of combined driving competition. Thirty-six drivers will compete their horses and ponies pulling carriages singly, in pairs or in teams over the course of the three-day event. Divisions offered...

Have you noticed that traffic signals are looking a little different these days? What you’re seeing is the effort to save money and energy. Cities across the United States are replacing their incandescent traffic lights with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). While these new lights provide brighter lights that last much longer and save a lot of energy, it’s also becoming evident that they have a hazardous downside. The bulbs burn so coolly that snow and ice don’t melt. Rather they...

Mark your calendar for these exciting upcoming events from US Equestrian National Affiliates and national breeds and disciplines, including Arabians, National Show Horses, Paso Finos, Western Dressage, Friesians, Welsh Ponies and Cobs, and hunter breeding. ©Don Stine Photography September 11-15 Arabian Horse Association Sport Horse Nationals Wilmington, Ohio Arabian, Half-Arabian, and Anglo-Arabian athletes will compete for national championship titles at the World Equestrian Center in...

Lexington, Ky. - We have been notified today that two more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, after attending the Kentucky Summer Classic, for a total of four reported cases. US Equestrian and Kentucky Horse Shows prioritize the safety of our members, participants, support teams, staff and their families. To mitigate the risk of spread of the virus, USEF and the competition organizer together have made the decision to cancel the Kentucky Summer Classic effective at the end of...