In 2003, Virginia Tech placed the first sensors inside football helmets to measure head acceleration data that could characterize concussions. Nearly two decades later, the university’s Helmet Lab is on the cusp of adding equestrian sport to its arsenal of public safety information on helmet use and unveiling its STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) ratings system for helmets. At the Equestrian Symposium, held Aug. 11-12 in Blacksburg, Va., Drs. Steve Rowson, Stefan Duma,...

Traverse City, Mich. – At the midway point of the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), Ella Fruchterman has already racked up a pair of gold medals in the Junior Dressage division. Ella Fruchterman and Holts Le'Mans. ©KTB Creative Group Fruchterman (West Lakeland, Minn.) and Holts Le’Mans, her own 2011 Danish Warmblood gelding, were part of the Region 4 team that won gold on Wednesday’s Junior Team Competition. On Friday, the pair clinched the...

Lucinda Donaldson and Audi. ©Andrew Ryback When 15-year-old Lucinda (Lucy) Donaldson gave her final salute in the opening junior dressage test of the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship , it was the realization of dreams. The top-15 finish in her NAYC debut was an accomplishment for her, her horse Audi, and her entire family. Lucinda, who represents Region 1 from Parkesburg, Pa., is the daughter of equine vet Mark Donaldson and stepdaughter of USDF gold, silver and bronze medalist...

Traverse City, Mich. – Team dressage competition concluded Wednesday at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championships with the Young Riders completing their team tests under perfect weather conditions at Flintfields Horse Park. Sophia Schults and Conocido HGF. ©KTB Creative Group The team gold medal went to the combined USA Region 3/Region 9 team of Sophia Schults (Wellington, Fla.) and Conocido HGF; Mary Claire Piller (Oakdale, Tenn.) and Oreo; Sydney Schultz (Mandeville, La.) and...

Herning, Denmark – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team completed their first day of championship competition in Herning, with two of the four team combinations taking on Stuterri ASK Stadium today and the final two combinations set to compete tomorrow. The second half of the FEI Grand Prix will begin at 11:00 a.m. GMT+2/5:00 a.m. ET, with team medals being awarded following the conclusion of the competition. Katie Duerrhammer & Quartett ©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography Katie...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the five combinations selected to represent the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at the 2022 Agria FEI World Jumping Championship presented by Helgstrand hosted in Herning, Denmark, from August 6-15, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson. The following combinations have been selected to the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order. Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.)...

Compiègne, France – Three athlete-and-horse combinations represented The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team this weekend in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup TM France CDIO5*, held at Les Internationaux de Dressage in Compiègne. Additionally, two combinations competed in the Young Rider division ahead of their upcoming CDIO-Y in Hagen next month. This outing was a development opportunity for the athletes and horses early in the European summer season. Ben Ebeling and Status Royal OLD....

Leipzig, Germany – A total of eight U.S. Jumping combinations will begin their competition week tomorrow at Leipzig Messe to start the 2022 FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany. Round I will start at 2:35 p.m. GMT+2/8:35 a.m. EST, with a total of 39 international combinations vying for qualification for Sunday’s final competition. Alessandra Volpi & Berlinda ©US Equestrian Tomorrow’s Round I competition will follow Table C formatting, testing each...

Lexington, Ky. - The Eventing Sport Committee has invited the following combinations to attend assessment sessions with Development Coach, Leslie Law, for potential selection to the Eventing Development Program. The assessment will allow Law, with the assistance of additional members of the Performance Advisory Program, to evaluate the combinations more effectively for selection into the program. After the assessments, the Performance Advisory Team (PAT) will recommend combinations to the 2022...

Vilamoura, Portugal – The U.S. Jumping Team placed eighth in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Vilamoura CSIO3* on November 21, 2021, in Vilamoura, Portugal. Led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski, the team consisted of Carly Anthony, Olivia Chowdry, Maria Costa, and Hilary McNerney. All four riders on the U.S. team were only competing in their second Nations Cup ever, after having ridden in their first just three weeks ago in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. Carly Anthony & Jet Blue...