Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2012, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. On January 18, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year both a national and international horse will win. The six champions have earned...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

Taylor Cox and Midnight Heart taking first place at Pony Jumper Championship at the 2012 US Pony Finals. (Ashley N. Williams) Lexington, KY - Riders have trained all year to prove their ponies possess the honed skill to jump in the US National Pony Jumper Championships at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. With stadium seating and a lively audience, 31 competitors from around the country attempted a faultless finish and to set an unrivaled time to beat. Putting on an unparalleled...

Mary McCormick, winner of the Gold Individual Female Championships (Lynne Owens/VaultingPhotos.com) Lexington, KY - Top vaulters from throughout the U.S. flocked to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park to stake their claim on 2012 USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championship honors, August 2-5, 2012. A total of 10 national titles were on the line, as Gold, Silver and Bronze sections were held in Individual Female and Male Championships. Additionally, National Championship competition was...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the dates and locations for the 2013 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals and the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Selection Trials. The USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals will take place August 16-18, 2013 in Estes Park, Colorado, held in conjunction with the Paragon Dressage CDI3*. While the Markel/USEF Young Horse Selection Trials will be held in two locations; the Western Selection Trials at La Cañada...

15-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela claimed the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship title riding Black Pearl at the Atlanta Summer Classic II in Conyers, Georgia (Flashpoint Photography) Conyers, GA – 15-year-old show jumping sensation Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela added another championship title to his ever-growing resume, picking up the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship at the Atlanta Summer Classic II held June 20-24 in Conyers, Georgia. Hot off his fourth...

The 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team New Orleans, LA - In preparation for the 2012 Saddle Seat World Cup Competition in South Africa, the U.S. Saddle Seat Team attended their first practice, May 18-19 at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, Louisiana. This first practice session afforded riders the opportunity to prepare for World Cup competition. Team members had the opportunity to ride multiple horses unfamiliar to them, just as they will in South Africa. Additionally, this was the first time...

Lexington, KY – Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron and Olympic Eventing riders Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor will compete with some of the world’s leading Reining riders in the $25,000 World Championship Freestyle Reining at the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup (AKRC) is held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, which runs April 26-29 the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The AKRC features the $100,000...

Steffen Peters & "Legolas 92" swept the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Festival of the Horse CDI 3* (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - West Coast dressage riders and horses enjoyed thrilling competition in a spectacular venue at the Festival of the Horse CDI 3*/Y/J Presented By HorseShow.com, held March 29 - April 1, 2012 in San Juan Capistrano, CA. As the site of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Dressage Selection Trials for the Olympic Games, it was only natural for this spectacular...

The 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championships and Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games concluded on Saturday evening with an exciting fourth and final round under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. It was a full house of over 7,000 spectators as veteran competitor Margie Engle and young rider Reed Kessler tied for the championship title and shared the victory gallop. The competition this week was held as both the national...