Omaha, Nebraska - March 30, 2017 - Less than a blink of an eye separated the top three in the LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final I Speed Round on Thursday evening. Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) claimed the victory on HH Azur, stopping the Longines timers in 59.27 seconds, just fractions of a second ahead of Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Mary Lou with 59.58. Two-time defending World Cup™ Champion Steve Guerdat (SUI) was third on Bianca in 60.06 seconds. McLain...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

As we near the beginning of the 2021 competition year, it is evident that the effects of the pandemic will be ongoing for some time. In its continuing efforts to provide necessary flexibility without sacrificing safety and welfare, US Equestrian will continue to modify certain USEF rules throughout the 2021 competition year. Doing so allows USEF competitions and events to be as safe as possible while still complying with rules and regulations that provide for a fair and level playing field....

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has approved additional modifications to USEF rules in accordance with a resolution approved by the Board of Directors to address issues related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A summary of the most recent modifications is listed below and the full content of each modification has been added to the comprehensive listing of modifications and appear in blue font. The full listing of rule modifications related to COVID-19 impacts can be...

The couple sat down to reflect on their experiences being a NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team horse owner What was your road to owning jumping horses? Barb: We used to live in California, and when our daughter was young, we bought a Quarter Horse for her, which came with a four-month-old foal. I learned to ride when the foal was old enough so I could ride with our daughter. One thing led to another, and I gained further interest [in horses], and I learned to do the hunter courses and some of the...

During the US Equestrian Annual Meeting on Thursday, US Equestrian Director of Sport Will Connell defined his goals for sustained high-performance success. The list includes assisting in the development of young athletes and developing world-renowned coaches. These goals go hand-in-hand, and on Friday, the Coaching, Youth, and Para Dressage panelists, Michel Assouline, USEF’s Para-Equestrian Dressage Head of Coach Development and Para-Equestrian Dressage Technical Advisor, Alison Brock,...

Kansas City, Mo. – The top saddle seat equitation riders in the U.S. faced a rigorous challenge on Saturday, November 10, as they competed for top honors in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show . Twelve of the 18 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary ride-offs were called back for the final round of competition by judges Sandy Sessink (Elyria, Ohio), Nancy Troutman (Salem,...

Mill Spring, N.C. - Dr. Ken Marcella is a member of the USEF Endurance Veterinary Advisory Group, a Fédération Équestre Internationale 4*-rated official endurance veterinarian, and owner of KLM Equine in Canton, Ga. What is a control exam and why is it important? Endurance is unique in that, during an event, there are numerous times horses will be examined and checked to ensure that they are sound, metabolically stable, and tolerating the demands of the competition on that...

Paris, France – With the FEI World Cup Dressage Final title on the line, Laura Graves and Verdades defended their 2017 second-place finish with a personal record score Saturday evening in the Freestyle to Music in Paris. Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and the 16-year-old KWPN gelding she owns with Curt Maes finished on a score of 89.082 percent, just behind the reigning World Cup Final champion Isabell Werth (GER). Werth and Weihegold OLD scored a 90.657 percent, while Germany’s Jessica von...

The Plains, Va. – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team won the FEI Nations Cup™ CICO3*at the Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan, for the second consecutive year. The team of Jennie Brannigan, Lynn Symansky, Phillip Dutton, and Boyd Martin defeated teams from Canada and Great Britain in the only FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition outside Europe. Brannigan also captured her second individual title at Great Meadow, having won previously in 2015. Cross country course...