Szilvásvárad, Hungary – Chester Weber earned an individual podium finish for the Defender U.S. Driving Team at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses this week, clinching the bronze medal. Chester Weber during the marathon phase of the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses. ©FEI/Martin Dokoupil The competition, held at Hungary’s State Stud Farm at Szilvásvárad Sept. 4-8, 2024, started out with a bang for...

Szilvásvárad, Hungary – All horses from the Defender U.S. Driving Team for the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses passed the first inspection on Wednesday morning, and the athletes are set to begin competition with the dressage phase on Thursday and Friday. The Defender U.S. Driving Team at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand. ©Anna Brooks Thomas/US Equestrian Jim Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his team will drive their...

Wayne, Ill. – The final day of the 2024 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions brought the final five divisions to a close with new champions adding their names to the list of greats who have topped the classes at this prestigious event. Sunday at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center featured a diverse cross-section of the classes offered at FOC, from young and developing horses to children and young riders and a dressage seat equitation final. Autumn Vavrick and Dante. ©Leslie...

Wayne, Ill. – The annual showcase of dressage talent that is the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (FOC) kicks off today, Aug. 19, at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Northern Illinois. The event runs for seven days and features the USEF Para Dressage National Championship alongside a full slate of championships with a focus on youth equestrians and young and developing horses. The 16 national championships contested at FOC are: Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National...

Wayne, Ill. – Friday at the 2024 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions brought another three new national champion titles. The juniors and 7-year-old horses both completed their second and final tests to determine overall placings, and the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final for the 13 & under age group had their turn in the main arena. Virginia Woodcock and Mollegardens Sans-Souci. ©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian Adequan ® /USEF Junior Dressage National Championship The iconic duo of...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes who will represent the Defender U.S. Driving Team at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses this September in Szilvásvárad, Hungary. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist and team leader Anna Brooks Thomas. The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected for the Defender U.S. Driving Team and are listed in alphabetical order: Jim Fairclough (Newton,...

Trish Gilbert (provided by the Gilbert family) Lexington, Ky. - A pioneer within the eventing world, Trish Gilbert passed away on May 16, 2024. A resident of Churchville, Maryland, Gilbert was born May 13, 1941, to David and Mary Donovan and was married to the late William Gilbert. Gilbert is known throughout the equestrian world not only as an influential official, course designer, and athlete, but also as one of the first women to break the barriers for women competing in eventing....

Frances "Fran" Steinwedell Lexington, Ky. - A revered equestrian whose impact was felt throughout the show jumping community, Frances “Fran” Blunt Steinwedell passed away on April 8, 2024. A founding member of the American Grand Prix Association (AGA), Steinwedell served on various boards, including the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association (PCHA) and the United States Equestrian Team (USET). Following her incredible career, Fran was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in...

Lexington, Ky. - Two highly engaging workshops were the focus of the programming on Jan. 13 during the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting. The morning and afternoon sessions on “Creating A Good Life for Horses,” graciously sponsored by MARS Equestrian™, were led by two of the leading equine academics in the United States: Dr. Camie Heleski, Senior Lecturer at the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Jim Heird, Executive Professor at Texas A&M University. Creating a Good Life for...

US Equestrian David O'Connor Leads Interactive Workshop at 2023 Annual Meeting. (Leslie Potter/US Equestrian) Lexington, Ky. – An industry-leading CEO, a decorated Olympian, two equine faculty members with more than 80 years of industry experience, and one of the foremost minds in equine biosecurity will headline US Equestrian’s 2024 Annual Meeting Interactive Workshop sessions addressing mission critical topics facing equestrian sport. Following a successful launch last year,...