Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina “Cricket” Russillo as the US Equestrian Dressage Team Veterinarian. Dr. Russillo will take over for Dr. Rick Mitchell who has served in the role for 14 years. Dr. Russillo graduated from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. She completed a one-year Internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. It was during her...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian’s new online Learning Center has proven to be a useful educational tool in one University of Vermont (UVM) animal sciences course. Christina Rohan, a hunter/jumper trainer who also is a UVM lecturer, says Learning Center videos have played a role in her Equine Industry Issues class, where students examined US Equestrian’s role as the national governing body for equestrian sport in the United States. “I felt that they had to have some...

Lexington Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Victoria "Vicki" Lowell has been appointed Chief Marketing and Content Officer. Vicki Lowell Lowell specializes in brand re-stages that transform businesses and is known for developing collaborative and passionate teams who deliver memorable creative and measurable results. She brings nearly 25 years of brand marketing and senior leadership experience to the USEF including 15 years at Discovery...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased announce the selection of the coaches for both of the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams. The coaching team of Avery Bul, Scott Matton, and Michelle McVey Haisch will oversee the training of the Stars team. Devon Garone, Kristin Logan, and Christy Parker are tasked with coaching the Stripes team. The teams will compete separately at the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event on April 3-6 in Perry, Ga. Bul...

Lexington, Ky. – A lovely weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE played host to the 2016 USEF Pony Driving National Championships. Held October 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park, the championships crowned two National Champions: Leslie Berndl and Katie Whaley, along with their talented ponies. USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship Leslie Berndl and Sweetwater's Zorah Belle (Picsofyou.com) Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle began their quest for a national...

Julie McCrady won the 2015 Third Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship with her Hanoverian mare Remanessa, and looks to return to Lexington again this year to try for a Fourth Level title. (Susan J. Stickle) Lexington, Ky. - “You bet I’ll be back. I’ve declared and I made my hotel reservations in Lexington months ago!” Every November since 2013, Julie McCrady and her husband have made the trek to Kentucky from Raymore, Mo. with their home-bred Hanoverian mare...

Matthias Hollberg and Czechmate (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group) Littlestown, Pa. - After getting the ride on Czechmate just six short weeks ago, Matthias Hollberg and the chestnut gelding showcased their winning ways in Saturday's $25,000 Quentin Fall Classic Grand Prix, marking their second grand prix victory together. Hollberg also claimed the second-place spot aboard another mount, his own Aletta. "I didn't wake up this morning thinking this would happen, but I was certainly...

Jenny Karazissis and Puissance R (Shawn McMillen) Lexington, Ky. - For Jenny Karazissis, making the journey to Kentucky from Calabasas, California has already proven to be worthwhile. Karazissis and Puissance R bested a field of 132 top-caliber entries to win round one of the 2016 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show on Tuesday. Going later in the order, Karazissis unseated Scott Stewart and Storm Watch from the top spot, taking over his score of 261.5...

Beesd, The Netherlands – Stefanie Putnam is the sole U.S. representative at the 2016 FEI World Para-Driving Championships, but she is up for the challenge as she makes her World Championship debut. She will compete against competitors from six other nations in the Grade I division as she aims for a solid performance. Putnam (Lafayette, Calif.) grew up riding hunters and jumpers and was also the captain of the Cal Poly Tech polo team. She suffered a spinal cord injury that left her...

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. The following is part three. Read parts one and two . Kari Klingenberg remembers the first time she saw her 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships mount, Mr. Electric Spark, or “Matt”. The Quarter Horse stallion was three-years old. She was sitting in the stands...