Imagine the scenario. Sitting under a shaded tent facing a perfectly manicured and maintained hunter ring. Free food abounds. Dozen upon dozen of pony riders are mounted upon the most gorgeous ponies you have ever seen in your life. You get to kick back, relax and take in this awesome environment, free of stress or cares. Just another day in the life of this very lucky journalist and editor. Yes…the 2009 USEF Pony Finals is under way at the Kentucky Horse Park, and for the first time in...

US Equestrian invites competition managers to add Western Equitation Medal and Ranch classes to their prize lists for 2023. These Western classes are rapidly growing in popularity, and because both the Western Equitation Medal and the Ranch divisions are open to all breeds, they provide an opportunity to reach a wider pool of exhibitors for your show. Competition managers to add Western Equitation Medal and Ranch classes to their 2023 prize lists. (Ashley Swift/US Equestrian) Western Equitation...

USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor, University of Kentucky Equine Science professor and member of the FEI Equine Ethics and Welfare Commission, Dr. Camie Heleski, and Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, Roly Owers, spoke to the USEF Annual Meeting about equestrian sport and the social license to operate. Here are five takeaways from their presentation. 1. Social license to operate is an unofficial but essential piece of the puzzle. Owers describes social license to operate as...

Kansas City, Mo. – Alayna Applegate had a standout weekend, winning the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final against some of the top saddle seat equitation riders in the U.S. and joining the ranks of a handful of elite equitation riders in history to win the Saddle Seat Triple Crown. Alayna Applegate, 2021 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final champion Riders faced a rigorous challenge on Saturday, November 13, as they competed for top honors in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to share the complete schedule for the USEF Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually from January 13-17, 2021. The virtual format and the meeting being free for all members will allow a larger amount of participants in the event. Members are invited to attend special presentations given by the Member Services Council, National Breeds & Disciplines Council, and International Disciplines Council throughout the week to learn more about results from...

Kansas City, Mo. – Dawson Archibald had a standout weekend, simultaneously winning the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final against some of the top saddle seat equitation riders in the U.S. and making history as one of few riders to ever win the Saddle Seat Triple Crown. Dawson Archibald in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final awards ceremony, joined by trainers Todd and Macey Miles, Jerome Parker, Terri Dolan, and Michael Arquilla Riders faced a rigorous challenge on Saturday, November 14, as they...

Lexington, Ky – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc., will continue its title sponsorship of the USEF Pony Medal National Championship for 2020. The Championship is held at USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, which runs from August 3-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Shawn McMillen Photography “We’re thrilled to have Marshall & Sterling continue their generous sponsorship of the USEF...

Kansas City, Mo. – The top saddle seat equitation riders in the U.S. faced a rigorous challenge on Saturday, November 16, as they competed for top honors in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show . Twelve of the 19 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary ride-offs were called back for the final round of competition by judges Kim Cowart (Statesville, N.C.), Michael Craghead...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian, the national governing body for equestrian sport in the United States, hosted an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-completed, state-of-the-art headquarters located at the Kentucky Horse Park. The new building will provide a collaborative work space for more than 155 employees and service the organization’s 145,000 members, 11 breeds, 18 disciplines, and 20 affiliates. As part of the United States Olympic and Paralympic...

Correction: The original version of this release noted Mackenzie Peer's horse, Quantum MRF, as a stallion. He is a gelding. Wayne Ill. – Six more national champions were determined at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions on Saturday: Jori Dupell and Fiderprinz 2, USEF Junior Dressage National Champions; Michele Bondy and Sonnenberg’s Kain, Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage National Champions; Emily Miles and Sole Mio, Markel/USEF Young Horse Five-Year-Old...