Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has announced an update to the Short List for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games U.S. Dressage Team. Ashley Holzer (Wellington, Fla.) has withdrawn herself and Valentine, her nine year-old Hanoverian mare, from consideration for the Pan American Games. “After consulting with my team and [U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe] Debbie [McDonald], we feel it is in Valentine’s best interest to not push for the Pan American Games and...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the updated U.S. Dressage Elite and Pre-Elite Lists for 2019. The Elite Program was established to provide support and resources to athlete/horse combinations that have proven they are internationally competitive. Combinations qualify for the program based on scores received at CDI3*/CDIO3* or above competitions in the last 12 months. View the complete criteria . Membership is reviewed twice annually and new members may be added on a...

Raeford, N.C. - The first ever USEF/USET Foundation North American Futures Team Challenge kicks off this week at Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial in Raeford, N.C. Eight U.S. athletes and two reserve combinations will be named to two teams to gain experience competing in a team environment. The Team Challenge was announced during the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention last December as part of U.S. eventing’s strategic plan , spearheaded by Erik...

Team Holding Gold took first place (Photo by Andrea Evans/US Equestrian) Ocala, Fla. – As part of the U.S. Developing Athlete Program and Elite Athlete Program for Combined Driving, US Equestrian (USEF) introduced an informal team competition this week at the Live Oak International. Overseen by the Driving Sport Committee, the Team Challenge offers USEF Pathway Program athletes or team applicants the opportunity to gain valuable experience in team competition format, including team...

Lexington, Ky. – Participants in the US Equestrian (USEF) Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Program (E25) and the Eventing 18 Program (E18) completed their winter training sessions last month. The Emerging Athlete Lists are the first step in the athlete pathway as developed in the 2019 Strategic Plan . The program aims to provide basic skills necessary for future team athletes and athletes focused on reaching Elite status. Over the course of intensive three-day training sessions, the groups...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is excited to announce the launch of the Para-Equestrian Dressage Coach Certification Program developed by Michel Assouline, USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Technical Advisor and Head of Coach Development. This is a first of its kind coaching program for the industry in the U.S. The certificate program comprises of four levels: master coach, silver coach, bronze coach, and apprentice coach. In 2018, US Equestrian launched the pilot program, which played a role in...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the updated U.S. Dressage Elite and Pre-Elite Lists for 2019. “In my first three weeks on the job, we have conducted home visits with our Elite and Pre-Elite combinations,” said U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald. “The home visits have provided me the opportunity to see their horses, discuss plans, and set targets. The horses are looking great and 2019 should serve as a great...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2018 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online through Thursday, January 3 at midnight. The 2018 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 10 at the Pegasus Awards dinner at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla. US Equestrian’s Pegasus Awards honor some of the great men and women of equestrian sport. Learn more about the nine 2018 Equestrians of Honor: Victoria Colvin...

Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Lexington, Ky. – The Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill., has been named as the host location for the 2019 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, August 20-25, 2019. The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions will once again host all 14 USEF Dressage National Championships, including the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships and the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championships presented...

Mill Spring, N.C. - U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte para-athlete Rebecca Hart has earned the silver medal in the FEI Grade III Freestyle at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 on Saturday. She and El Corona Texel, Rowan O’Reilly’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, earned a score of 73.240%. This is the fourth medal for U.S. para-equestrian dressage at the WEG. Rixt van der Horst of the Netherlands won the gold medal and Dr. Angelika Trabert...