Lexington, Ky. – The Kentucky Classic CDE will host a small but mighty field for the USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship, October 1-4. The renowned drivers will vie for top honors as they compete in the dressage, marathon, and cones phases at the Kentucky Horse Park. Chester Weber competing at the 2013 Kentucky Classic CDE (Picsofyou.com) Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) has his eye on his 12th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship title. After earning the Individual...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation is sad to report the passing of Lloyd Landkamer. Landkamer, 60, passed away peacefully at his home in Hamel, Minn. on Friday, September 25, after a valiant battle with cancer. Lloyd Landkamer (Geoff Oliver Bugbee) Landkamer was an integral force in the equestrian community for many years, with a vast list of accomplishments as a show secretary, show manager, and sport horse breeder. Landkamer, a USEF ‘R’ Technical...

I met Jan Ebeling in 2003, when he was a clinician at Larkspur in Littleton, MA. While riding in the clinic and observing him work with the other riders, I was impressed with his professionalism and brilliant teaching methods. He encouraged everyone to see the importance of the basic building blocks of dressage, such as straightness and rhythm, and how they related to a perfect shoulder-in and ultimately to the Levels. Jan focuses on the theories of classical dressage. While I still wanted to...

Dear Supporter of Para-Equestrian Dressage, I am writing this Open Letter as it appears, from some of the feedback we have received, that we have not been completely successful in communicating the aim of the Centers of Excellence (COEs) or what we are asking facility owners to commit to. The primary aim of COEs is that they are the focus for the development of Para-Equestrian Dressage in the U.S. As a Federation, we cannot reach out to all potential para-equestrian athletes, we need Centers...

Lexington, Ky. - Debbie McDonald, who has served as the USEF Developing Dressage Coach for over 10 years has announced that she will step down from the position on May 1, 2016, in order to spend more time with her family and focus on personal clients. Debbie McDonald (USEF Archive) "It has truly been an honor to serve in this role, and I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity," said McDonald. "We have come so far with this program; I am grateful to the USEF sponsors and members, the...

Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is sad to report the passing of Karen Stives on August 14, 2015. Karen passed away peacefully at her home in Dover, Massachusetts after a long illness. Karen has been heavily involved with the USET Foundation for two decades, serving as a Trustee from 1989-2002 and a member of the National Advisory Committee from 2003 - present. In 2014, Karen established the Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund for High Performance Eventing with a $1...

Gladstone, NJ - August 12, 2015 - In the spring of 2014, Margaret H. Duprey and The Barnfield Foundation launched The Jonathan Wentz Memorial Challenge for High Performance Para Dressage to help raise $800,000 for the discipline. Through the challenge, Duprey and The Barnfield Foundation each pledged up to $200,000, matching dollar for dollar, gift commitments of $4,000 and above. This month the goal was reached, providing the Para Dressage High Performance program with critical funding. "I am...

Ermelo, The Netherlands – The United States showed up in force this week at the inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors, sending a full contingent of athletes and collecting three podium finishes. The competition wrapped-up today with the round two freestyle tests. Leading from the start and earning the Gold medal in the Pas-de-Deux was Bodhi Hall and Michelle Guo, while compatriots Sarah Dunn and Janie Salisbury also stood on the podium as the Bronze medal winners. The U.S....

Ermelo, The Netherlands – The United States contingent of six individuals, two pas de deux, and one squad are set to compete at the inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors in Ermelo, The Netherlands August 6-9. The small, quaint town in central Holland will host a total of 21 nations including 37 individual females, 18 individual males, 11 pas de deux, and 12 squads, all competing for the coveted title of World Champion. U.S. Junior World Vaulting Championship Contingent...

Alison Robitaille and Cassinja Lexington, KY - August 1, 2015 - Alison Robitaille has traveled to the Olympics as a first alternate, competed at the World Equestrian Games and won team silver at the Pan American Games, but in recent years, as she busily brings along young horses and two young children of her own, she has been continually knocking on the door of a grand prix win. On Saturday night at the Kentucky Horse Park she knocked the door all the way down and rode away with an impressive...