Wellington, Fla. – In front of a sold-out crowd and in a palpable atmosphere, Christian Kukuk (GER) and Checker 47 bested the class of 40 world-class entries to take top honors in the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5*, a Rolex Series event. Kukuk, who is coming off an incredible 2024 competition season with Checker 47, hoisted the US Equestrian Open trophy atop the podium in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Jumping Final, etching their names into history. Laura Kraut...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the Eventing Pathway Program Lists for 2025, including the Elite, Pre-Elite, Development, and Development 25 Programs. Eventing Elite Program: The following athlete-and-horse combinations, listed in alphabetical order, have achieved the Eventing Elite Program List for 2025. Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Off The Record , a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (VDL Arkansas x Dumagoldan Bay) owned by the Off The Record Syndicate Boyd Martin...

Thermal, Calif. - The stage is set at the 2024 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals – West, as a group of 26 talented young athletes gathered at Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California to display their skills in the flat phase. In groups of five, the athletes entered the arena to perform a series of flatwork exercises for the judges. The riders demonstrated a working and lengthening trot, and canter and counter canter in both directions, flying changes, and a turn on the...

Wayne, Ill. – The annual showcase of dressage talent that is the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (FOC) kicks off today, Aug. 19, at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Northern Illinois. The event runs for seven days and features the USEF Para Dressage National Championship alongside a full slate of championships with a focus on youth equestrians and young and developing horses. The 16 national championships contested at FOC are: Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce updates to the 2024 Eventing Elite and Pre-Elite Program Lists. The programs are part of the U.S. Eventing Pathway, which is focused on developing combinations to deliver sustainable success in team competition at the championship level. Learn more about the Eventing Pathway Programs here. The following combinations have been added to the Elite Program list for 2024. Liz Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Miks Master C , a 2012 Swedish Warmblood...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the following athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S in Aachen, Germany, held from July 1-7, 2024. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello and Team Leader Gemma Stobbs. The following combinations have been selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team and are listed in alphabetical order. James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Karma , a 2014...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Kent Farrington and Greya jumped to a fourth place overall finish this week at the 2024 FEI Jumping World Cup Final, ultimately concluding the week with ten total faults after four rounds of elite international jumping. The pair finished behind Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward, who secured their second consecutive FEI Jumping World Cup Final title, Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Dubai du Cedre, Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Catch Me Not S. Farrington (Wellington,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Three U.S. Jumping athletes have secured top-12 placings in the standings following Round I of the FEI Jumping World Cup Final competition, setting up for an exciting Round II to get underway tomorrow. Kent Farrington, Skylar Wireman, and Jill Humphrey all finished without faults to hold prime positioning looking ahead to the remainder of the week. Kent Farrington and Toulayna (Helen Cruden) Aboard Toulayna, Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) made quick work of the 1.60m...

Fulton, Mo. – Twelve saddle seat equitation athletes earned their tickets to South Africa on Saturday at the Saddle Seat World Cup Selection Trials. The U.S. will field two teams—one three-gaited and one five-gaited—with six athletes on each team for the 2024 International Saddle Seat World Cup in Parys, South Africa, next December. The team members are listed below in ranked order. 2024 Saddle Seat World Cup Three-Gaited Team. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Three-Gaited:...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the equitation athletes who have been selected to compete in the U.S. Team Selection Trials for the 2024 International Saddle Seat World Cup. The Team Selection Trial will take place in Fulton, Mo., Dec. 1-2, 2023. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian The following athletes have been selected to compete in the International Saddle Seat World Cup U.S. Team Selection Trials and are listed in alphabetical order: Three-gaited: Ava Bertagnolli...