Darcie Grote and Nickie at the LAHJA Senior Medal Finals in October 2018, where they finished in the top 10, seventh overall. Photo: Kristin Lee Photography When Darcie Grote receives her copy of US Equestrian magazine ’s annual Horse of the Year issue in mid-April, she’ll have an extra reason to celebrate her horse’s championship in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Zone 9 Thoroughbred hunter division. Brenin—or Nickie, as he’s known around the...

(left to right) Lisa Blackstone, Barb Kohr, Frank Madden, Mary Babick, Elisabeth Goth, and Bill Moroney speak at the Growing the Grassroots panel (Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian) Initiated by US Equestrian President Murray Kessler, the Grassroots Advisory Group is tasked with the responsibility of examining the barriers of entry for people into equestrian sport, opportunities for development and collaboration at the grassroots level with US Equestrian affiliates, how to better meet the...

When fellow equestrians and Paso Fino enthusiasts first suggested that Heidi Young consider riding with a drill team, Young demurred. “I had bought myself a very good-looking Paso Fino, and they said, ‘You should try this, because it’s fun, and your horse would look great,’” recalled Young, a Connecticut native and US Equestrian member who now resides in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. “I said, ‘Oh, no, I don’t do that kind of thing. I don’t like...

Mill Spring, N.C. - Mary McCormick is one of the United States’ most decorated vaulters. This is her fourth appearance at the WEG; she also represented the U.S. in 2006, 2010, and 2014. McCormick grew up in Sonoma, Calif., where her mother was a marketing director in the Northern California wine business and her father was the tour manager for the rock band the Doobie Brothers. Her parents were not involved with horses, but Mary discovered her passion for the sport at a local vaulting...

In the wake of major Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and devastating Western wildfires, the equestrian community banded together to help horses in need in a variety of ways, whether by donating to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund or by helping to evacuate or shelter animals. Hurricane-related flooding endangered horses and inspired equestrians around the country to provide help. Photo Courtesy of AAEP. Countless individuals and groups donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund to...

Land Rover North America and Equestrian Events, Inc. announce title sponsorship of Kentucky Three-Day Event, extending partnership with the prestigious equestrian event with new four-year deal Today, Land Rover North America, with Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) and the United States Equestrian Federation, announced that Land Rover will now be title sponsor of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, signing a four-year agreement. Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, April 26-29, 2018, the...

Gladstone, N.J. – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions came to its conclusion on Sunday with three national champions being crowned. All competitors in the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, and USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today performed their freestyle tests in order to earn the remainder of their overall championship score. Kasey...

Gladstone, N.J. – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions began Thursday at the United States Equestrian Foundation (USET) headquarters at Hamilton Farm. All three national championship divisions performed their first tests to kick off the competition. Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, Jane Cleveland and Monique, and Molly Paris and Countess began the quest for a title, but their competitors are not far behind them. Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet...

Kate Grom’s first album, “Heroine,” came out earlier this year. (Jeremy Cowart) US Equestrian member Kate Grom may be one of the music world’s budding talents, but even in her musical career you can spot her passion for horses. Her new music video, “Whistle Cry,” also stars the American Saddlebred Perfect Vengeance, a five-time World Champion that Kate and her sister Tara showed. An Arabian named Beauty Queen and a Quarter Horse called Hancock Grey Bar, or...

Maria Filsinger Interrante riding Sammy in 2015 at the Red Barn on Stanford’s campus in California. (Damian Marhefka) Maria Filsinger Interrante, former captain of Stanford’s equestrian team, leads a group that recently won the $10,000 national prize for their work to develop a novel therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Maria Filsinger Interrante, who led a team of young scientists that recently won the prestigious $10,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize in the “Cure...