Breaking US Equestrian news releases contain the latest information regarding the organization, national championships, U.S. athletes and teams in international competition, breed news, and important member alerts. Manage the news you receive at the US Equestrian Preference Center.

Weber Sets a Record with Seventh Straight USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship

by By Joanie Morris | 10/4/2009 10:39:00 PM

Lexington, KY – It wasn’t easy, but Chester Weber never wavered and netted his seventh straight USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship at the Kentucky Cup and Lexington Driving Classic. Weber’s win also bodes well for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as this event served as the test event for next year’s WEG also to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Weber beat long time teammate Tucker Johnson (and another driver going for a record seven wins) by 10 points, but the...

Kentucky Cup Driving: Australia's Boyd Exell Wins the Marathon

by Amber Evansen | 10/4/2009 11:40:44 AM

Saturday: Australia wins with American close on their heels -- Sunny skies led way to speedy hazards on a very successful Saturday. The out of time favorite, Boyd Exell won the marathon by 0.8 points in front of Chester Weber who is still leading going into cones. In the team competition, three teams were eliminated and one team elected to retire due to disobediant horses. The single horse division also had two competitors which had to retire after severe problems in the hazards. However, no...

Kentucky Cup Driving: Recap of Wednesday - Friday

by Amber Evansen | 10/3/2009 11:44:44 AM

Wednesday: skies were gray, but horses shone bright. -- Aside from the world championships in Gladstone NJ, never before has a driving competition had the turnout it had today. Three nations were represented and a total of 16 four in hand teams were present. Over a handful of competitors from the West Coast came to compete in pony, single, pair and team divisions. 97 competitors in total came ready to compete. The Canadians had a bit of a rough begining with two horses being held from one team...

Weber and Johnson Vie for Record Seventh USEF National Four-in-Hand Title

by Joanie Morris | 10/1/2009 8:57:00 PM

Six USEF National Driving Championships Draw Quality Competition to the Kentucky Horse Park Lexington, KY – For the first time ever, all six USEF National Driving Championships are running con Chester Weber Leads USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship (Picsofyou.com) currently, and the first day got off to a fantastic start at the 2009 Kentucky Cup and Lexington Driving Classic which is also serving as a test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. All six FEI...

2009 Capital Challenge Horse Show Features Two National Medal Finals

by By Michelle Bloch | 9/24/2009 12:10:00 PM

The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held this year from September 26-October 4 at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, brings together the best equitation riders from across the country for two national medal finals. A panel of judges will score the nation's best riders as they are tested over courses designed by Michael Rheinheimer of Willoughby, OH. The Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals is the first on the schedule, which will take...

Eric L. Straus Joins Executive Leadership as CEO of Washington International Horse Show

by By Diana DeRosa | 9/22/2009 4:21:00 PM

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), a leading national equestrian event based in Washington, D.C., since 1958, is proud to announce the appointment of Eric L. Straus as the Chief Executive Officer. Straus joins the executive leadership of WIHS—Juliet W. Reid, President, and Anthony F. Hitchcock, Chief Operating Officer—as the show prepares for its 51st edition in October. “I'm excited about joining the Washington International Horse Show, a championship event...

Johnson Wins Dressage for US at CAI-A4 Donaueschingen

by By Joanie Morris | 9/18/2009 9:17:00 AM

Lexington, KY - Tucker Johnson (Hobe Sound, FL) drove to the top of the leader board at the CAI-A4 Donaueschingen (GER) after a strong performance in the dressage phase. Driving his team of four horses, Johnson topped a tough field, including some of Europe’s best drivers. His score of 42.75 left him with a narrow lead after the first phase of the competition over Theo Timmerman of The Netherlands on 42.88. The marathon gets underway Friday at 1 pm local time. For complete results and...

Cesar Parra Three for Three With CDI Wins at the NEDA Fall Festival CDI

by By Johnny Robb | 9/17/2009 12:06:00 PM

Dr. Cesar Parra and Lori Washton’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding, Olympia proved that good things come in threes at the 2009 New England Dressage Association Fall Festival CDI-W/Y/J. The pair went three for three winning the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I, and the Intermediaire Freestyle. Parra and Olympia finished the weekend with an exciting victory in the Intermediaire Freestyle with a score of 74.5%. The freestyle performance was fun, and the spectators showed their appreciation by clapping...

Todd Flettrich and Otto Victorious in Saugerties Grand Prix Special

by By Lauren Fisher | 9/17/2009 11:02:00 AM

Dressage trainer Todd Flettrich and his mount, Otto, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, made their competitive debut in the United States this weekend at the New England Dressage Association's (NEDA) Fall Festival, held September 9-13, in Saugerties, NY. After spending three months in Germany training with Olympic Gold medalist Hubertus Schmidt, Flettrich and Otto returned to Cherry Knoll Farm's Pennsylvania location just one week prior to the Saugerties competition, and went on to win the CDI Grand...

15-Year-Old US Show Jumper Reed Kessler Cruises in Belgium

by BY Joanie Morris | 9/11/2009 1:33:00 PM

The success continued more than 1000 miles away in Belgium where, as the lone American, she swept the CSI-YJPCH-A Nieuwpoort, August 21-23. Kessler won two classes each day. On Friday she was the fastest of three clear rounds in the Speed Class. With Ice d’Ancoeur she zoomed to victory, almost six seconds faster than Julian Kok from Holland. She then had another convincing win in the 1.30m class with Ligist, where she was again lightning fast and was only one of two clears in the four horse...