Lexington, Ky. – More than 600 ponies and their young riders packed into the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm from August 8-13. For these boys and bow-wearing girls, winning at Pony Finals is one of their first equestrian dreams. No matter the result, the joy of ponies spread with high-fives, praise, hugs, and smiles. Over six days, six champions were determined through hunter classes in Small, Medium, and Large Regular Pony Hunter and...

Aachen, Germany – The United States sent 18 equestrian athletes and fielded two FEI Nations™ Cup teams to compete at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, in Aachen, Germany July 14-23. “It’s the Wimbledon of our sport, there is no question,” said Robert Ridland, Chef d’Equipe of the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping team. “It is one of the most prestigious places to compete. The top riders are all saying: we are bringing our ‘A’ game...

Derek di Grazia’s courses are known for being challenging but fair and safe. (Mike McNally Photo) Derek di Grazia knows what it’s like to ride—and win—the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover: he won it in 1985 on Sasquatch, a Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross. These days, as the Rolex Kentucky event’s cross-country course designer, di Grazia is the man asking the questions of the four-star horses and riders galloping over the Kentucky Horse...

Reggie and Kathleen Murray (center) were joined by Buck Davidson (left) and Cassandra and Carl Segal when they evented at training level this winter in Florida. (Photo Courtesy Kathleen Blauth Murray) Thursday will mark the end of an era for Kathleen Blauth Murray at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Murray, eventing athlete and Buck Davidson’s longtime groom, will perform the dressage test ride aboard Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle R.M.,...

Lexington, Ky. - Excitement is building for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event getting underway this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. Teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete for gold medals in three- and five-gaited saddle seat equitation. Team practice started on Monday, April 3, with the competition to be held April 5-6. Judges Lewis McKim of Canada, Jaco Jonker of South Africa, and Lisa Cunningham Waller of the...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following athletes to the High Performance Spring Training Lists for 2017. As the programs continue to evolve following the post Rio Olympic Games review, the USEF is working to develop more detailed criteria that allows athletes, owners, and trainers to better understand what is required to be named to these lists. Selectors evaluated several factors to determine athletes and...

Matthias Hollberg and Czechmate (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group) Littlestown, Pa. - After getting the ride on Czechmate just six short weeks ago, Matthias Hollberg and the chestnut gelding showcased their winning ways in Saturday's $25,000 Quentin Fall Classic Grand Prix, marking their second grand prix victory together. Hollberg also claimed the second-place spot aboard another mount, his own Aletta. "I didn't wake up this morning thinking this would happen, but I was certainly...

The United States’ Karl Cook pilots Tembla to the win in the $135,600 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Langley. (FEI/Rebecca Berry) Langley, British Columbia, Canada - The USA’s Karl Cook jumped Tembla to a thrilling win in the $135,600 Longines FEI World Cup™ Qualifier, presented by Noel Asmar, at Langley CSI3*-W. Thunderbird Show Park hosted the first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League West Coast sub-league on Sunday, August 28. “As Tembla...

Dear USEF Members, The Olympic Games is the greatest sporting event in the world, and we are all very proud of the spectacular accomplishments of our equestrian teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Team USA Equestrian finished the Games as one of only two countries to win medals in all three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, and show jumping, with Germany being the other. I know you all join me in offering congratulations to all our teams on their outstanding results at...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The equestrian venue at Deodoro Olympic Park was filled with excitement Tuesday for the second day of show jumping at the 2016 Olympic Games. A total of 69 athlete-and-horse combinations representing 24 countries, including 15 teams, competed in the first half of the two-round team competition, which also served as the second qualifier for the individual finals. The U.S. team produced three clear rounds which put them in a four-way tie for first place with The...