Equestrians never forget their first ponies. Woolly or sleek, magnificent or mischievous, they are the teachers who reveal the most fundamental and enduring wisdom about life with horses: that it is joyous, that it is hard work, that it is a partnership which demands compromise but also makes us stronger. These special animals arrive from a remarkable variety of sources—sometimes handed down from siblings, sometimes expensively acquired, often bought cheaply from an auction or an ad or...

Gilroy, Calif. – The US Equestrian (USEF)/American Vaulting Association (AVA) Vaulting National Championships were held on August 2-5, 2018, at Gilroy Gaits in Gilroy, Calif. Claiming the Female and Male Gold Individual championship titles were Elizabeth Osborn and Kristian Roberts, respectively. In the Open Pas de Deux, the championship win went to Haley Smith and Daniel Janes of Pacific Coast Vaulters, the same team which also claimed the A Team championship. Individual Competition...

U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte Mill Spring, N.C. - The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte added another victory to their resume this week at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon Para-Dressage Test Event CPEDI3*, April 20-22. The U.S. team of Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.), Katie Jackson (Austin, Texas), Kate Shoemaker (Peoria, Ariz.), and Roxanne Trunnell (Rowlett, Texas) was led by Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt and assisted by USEF Head of...

Devin Ryan, Beezie Madden, and Henrik von Eckermann Paris, France – The podium was decorated in stars and stripes Sunday evening as Beezie Madden and Breitling LS claimed victory at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Not far behind her, with only six penalties, fellow American Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue stamped their names on second. Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) finished on a single rail in the second round of the Final III, after jumping three previous clear rounds on Thursday, Friday,...

Ocala, Fla. - All five divisions of the USEF Combined Driving National Championships faced an intimidating, yet thrilling marathon course at the Live Oak International on Saturday. The course included seven technical, compact obstacles questioning the obedience and athleticism of the equine athletes. This influenced the fluctuation in the top three across all divisions, while two new drivers took the lead in the intermediate single pony and intermediate pony pair divisions. The 14-time advanced...

Fair Hill, Md. – Spectators and competitors enjoyed a thrilling day of cross-country at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event, where international pairs proved their mettle over Derek di Grazia's challenging track. Colleen Rutledge held on to her lead in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Championship with Covert Rights, and Tamra Smith and Sunsprite Syrius kept their lead in the The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship. A fast...

Deloitte U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Mill Spring, N.C. - The 2017 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships sponsored by Deloitte continued Saturday with competitors performing their respective FEI Individual Tests, the second of three tests in the National Championships and the remaining test in the team competition. The Deloitte U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team comprised of Katie Jackson (Austin, Texas), Michele Bandinu (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Angela “Annie”...

Wayne, Ill. – The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions ended on Sunday with the remaining divisions crowning their champions. Rebekah Mingari earned the National Champion and Reserve National Champion titles in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage division with Allure S and Elzarma TF, respectively. Suzannah Rogers and Adrenaline Rush SBF took home the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Champion title. AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship Rebekah Mingari and Allure S (Photo...

Wayne, Ill. - The final two division titles of the 2017 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships were determined today as competition came to an end at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. Andrea Woodard and Ravenna maintained their top position following Friday’s test to earn the Markel/USEF Six-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, following the FEI Six-Year-Old Final Test. Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD also held onto their lead from Friday’s...

Wayne, Ill . – Isabel Linder and Elvis and Abby Fodor and Slip and Slide maintained their leads to claim the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship and USEF Children Dressage National Championship, respectively, on Saturday. In the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, Rebekah Mingari and Allure S have the lead, while Suzannah Rogers and Adrenaline Rush SBF hold first place in the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship. Combinations in each division...