The December 14 landslide approval by Oklahoma City voters to increase the hotel/motel occupancy tax has ensured Oklahoma City will have the world-class facilities befitting the "Horse Show Capital of the World." Raising the current hotel/motel occupancy tax from 2% to 5.5% is estimated to generate $4.5 million annually, which will be dedicated to funding an estimated $55 million in proposed improvements to the horse show facilities at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. "First and foremost, I want...

Lexington, KY —Meagan Drew may not have started out as a cookie cutter equestrian, but then again, her break-the-mold approach may have been the leg up she needed to claim success in and out of the show ring. “I cleaned stalls two summers in a row every day so I could ride horses and take lessons,” says the 18 year old Drew. “It wasn’t my mom writing a check—it was something I had to do. It made me appreciate the lessons I did get and it made me work harder....

Washington DC —United States Equestrian Federation rider and 2004 Olympic Team Silver medalist McLain Ward adds 20 World Cup qualifying points to his standing in the East Coast League, after a first place finish atop Goldika 559 at the $100,000 Washington International President’s Cup in Washington DC on October 30. One of three horse and rider pairs to finish with double clean rounds, Ward and Goldika 559 (Bay Holsteiner mare; Cor de la Bryere—Zelena II; Double H Farm) kept...

Lexington, KY - John R. Long, Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Frank V. Lloyd, Chairman of the Board of the USET Foundation announced today that Bonnie B. Jenkins, USEF Executive Director of High Performance will join the USET Foundation as Executive Director December 1, 2004. Ms. Jenkins responsibilities will include oversight of the fundraising, communications, operational and financial administration of the Foundation. Ms. Jenkins will also work...

Gladstone, NJ – After two days of rigorous testing, topped off with a final-four ride-off, 16-year-old Brianne Goutal surpassed even her own expectations with a well-earned, but nonetheless, surprise victory. “I was never expecting to get into the top four,” Goutal says. “I asked my trainer before the last round what score I would need and she wouldn’t give me an answer. She just said ‘ride well.’” And ride well, she did. Give her a few years, and...

Lexington, KY — Every year USA Equestrian Trust provides grants to equine non-profits. This year a total of $198,822 was awarded to 10 projects. More than 61 percent of 2011 grant funds went to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with the bulk of that going to its Equine Health Research Fund, which coordinates research to benefit all equine breeds and disciplines. Other monies went to programs of merit to help people with disabilities, create or expand educational opportunities...

Stamford, Conn. – Three-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist Megan Thee Stallion stars in the second promotional spot of NBCUniversal’s fall campaign to promote its coverage of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, which begins July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. The promo debuted earlier today during NBCU’s Thanksgiving Day programming and encores tonight during NBC Sports’ coverage of the Seattle Seahawks hosting the San Francisco 49ers on NBC and Peacock. The new spot...

Thermal, Calif. – A strong contingent of 44 junior competitors at the National Sunshine Series II contested the 2023 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West. Maggie Dumrauf (Del Mar, Calif.) demonstrated her equitation skills in front of the judges across three phases of competition to clinch the title. Maggie Dumrauf and Cover Girl (High Desert Sport Photo) “It is insane, especially to be here at the Desert Horse Park,” Dumrauf said of the win. “It feels...

Kansas City, Mo. – Six talented equitation athletes trotted into Kansas City’s Hale Arena on Friday for the 2023 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final . After the rail work and individual patterns were complete, Morgan Peer (Clive, Iowa) was announced as the winner. Morgan Peer and My Mikimoto. ©Howard Schatzberg Photo For both the USEF Medal and the UPHA Adult Challenge Cup National Final earlier in the week at the American Royal, Peer catch rode My Mikimoto, a 2010...

Santiago, Chile – The U.S. Jumping Team has sights set on tomorrow’s team competition following the first class of the week for team combinations today. The team currently sits in fifth place overall on team total of 12.37, with both McLain Ward and Laura Kraut inside the top-ten individually. The team will need to finish in the top three previously non-qualified teams at the conclusion of tomorrow’s two rounds to secure their berth to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The...