Lexington, Ky. – The cross-country phase proved influential on Saturday at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ with both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L seeing movement across the standings after combinations tackled the expansive course set at the Kentucky Horse Park. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist maintain their overall lead in the CCI5*-L division, while Diabolo and Will Coleman retook their hold of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian would like to remind eligible competitions of updates made to the USEF Lite Grants, which provide funding to USEF Lite licensed competitions. Lite licensing is designed to give competition organizers and athletes a lower cost, more relaxed competition environment which still has the benefits of US Equestrian’s rulebook and oversight. USEF Lite Grants provide further savings by offering financial assistance to competitions to hire necessary staffing, with up...

Lexington, Ky. - The 2025 USEF Dressage Training Series came to a conclusion in October of this year, delivering comprehensive educational opportunities for dressage athletes of all levels across both coasts. Building on the success of the 2024 Pathway Program sessions, this year’s series featured expanded participation, new learning components, and deeper engagement with top professionals across all facets of the sport. This year, U.S. dressage athletes competing at all levels of the...

US Equestrian has been made aware of an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) associated with barrel racing and rodeo-type events in Texas and Oklahoma. Several horses displaying neurologic signs of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been identified, with some horses testing positive on PCR. USEF is continuing to actively monitor the situation. As of November 21, 2025, the identified cases have been in the barrel racing/women’s professional rodeo subpopulation of horses. Any...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian encourages prospective competitors and trainers for the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall + Sterling to review the updates to the Green Pony Hunter qualifying specifications. Click here to download the full specifications document. Some notable changes that were approved by the USEF Executive Committee on Sept. 29, 2025, are outlined below. Beginning with the 2025 competition year, ponies have two years of green eligibility instead of one. Because...

Gladstone, N.J. - The 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East concluded on Sunday at Hamilton Farms, home of the USET Foundation Headquarters, crowning Eleanor Rudnicki (Conroe, Texas) and Qwantreau champions after completion of the Phases III and IV. ©Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian The final day of competition aimed to test each combination’s ability to navigate a jumper-style course while demonstrating the fundamental precision and technique...

The Board of US Equestrian approved amendments to two rules at its Aug. 26 board meeting dealing with blood on horses, hunter Channel II points, and mileage. Those changes are viewable here . GR 844: Blood Rule After additional adjustments and discussion following the mid-year board meeting, a change to GR 843 regarding blood on horses in competition has been passed. The rule is intended to protect horse welfare while acknowledging that a variety of situations may result in the presence of...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce a new prize structure for participants in the US Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program. This program, which was originally created as the US Equestrian varsity lettering program, is open to students in grades 5-12 who participate in any equestrian discipline. Participants must be US Equestrian competing members or subscribers, however, competing in USEF-licensed shows is not a requirement to participate. Recognition may be earned...

Mai Baum and Tamie Smith at The Event at Rebecca Farm; photo by Shannon Brinkman Mai Baum has been a force to be reckoned with in the eventing world during his powerhouse partnership with Tamie Smith of Murrieta, Calif. The 19-year-old German Sport Horse paired with Smith for the last time July 16-20 at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Mont., where fans gave the gelding a send-off fit for a king! Nicknamed “the black stallion” due to his glistening jet-black coat —...

Lexington, Ky. – The board of directors and staff at US Equestrian would like to extend our condolences to all those who loved Catch Me, the 2016 USEF National Horse of the Year. Catch Me, fondly known as “Snoopy,” passed on Friday, June 27, at the age of 18 due to complications from colic. Photo Credit: WIHS “Catch Me was the most remarkable horse that I ever owned,” said owner Becky Gochman. “He was both competitive and kind. Scott Stewart showed him...