Blacksburg, Va. – On Dec. 7, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released the results of its first-ever rating of equestrian helmets. Over the past two years, Virginia Tech researchers analyzed over 100 videos of riders falling off horses, precisely measured the hardness of the sand, dirt, grass, and synthetic surfaces underfoot at equestrian events, and dragged dummy heads and other equipment — and boxes and boxes of helmets — out to Virginia Tech’s equestrian facilities to...

As the start of the 2023 competition year approaches and new rules come into place, USEF has received feedback from members requesting clarification about the qualification process for the 2023 Devon Horse and Pony Show, Pennsylvania National, Washington International, and the National Horse Show. Additionally, there have been questions raised about how awards separate from prize money affect HOTY standings or qualifications for these competitions. Earlier this Fall, a Presidential Modification...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the third edition of the USEF Horsemastership Training Series hosted at Equestrian Village, home of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, in Wellington, Fla., from January 5-8, 2023. The USEF Horsemastership Training Series provides intensive training and education sessions for youth jumping athletes with mounted and unmounted instruction from top industry experts and leaders. The USEF Horsemastership Training Series is designed to...

Harrisburg, Pa. – The historic Pennsylvania National Horse Show hosted 31 up-and-coming hunter seat equitation competitors last weekend for the 2022 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East. Schuyler Dayner (Odessa, Fla.) earned the win, impressing the judges across three phases of competition. Schuyler Dayner and Joske Van De Knuffel. ©Andrew Ryback Photography The USEF/NCEA Finals consist of an initial jumping round with fences set at 3’3”, and from there,...

Harrisburg, Pa. – Four young athletes from Texas stole the show at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Friday night, turning in two superior rounds in the team competition at the 2022 Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship (Prix des States). ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian The team from USHJA Zone 7 is Sofia Cady (Austin, Texas), Tessa Downey (Houston, Texas), Lola Head (Houston, Texas), and Carlee McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas). All four team members have known each other...

Wayne, Ill. – It was a day filled with national championship award ceremonies at the 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Six titles were claimed by the country’s top dressage combinations following an excellent display of riding and talent. Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship Adrienne Lyle and Fürst Dream (SusanJStickle.com) Twelve combinations returned to the Markel Arena to determine the Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage...

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. – A dream came through for Erin Nichols on Saturday at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC) as she finished in gold-medal position for the Individual Young Rider Dressage division. Erin Nichols and Handsome Rob AR. ©KTB Creative Group Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.) expertly guided her own Handsome Rob AR, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding, through a precise and flowing test that earned a 69.000% from the judges. The victory comes after Nichols and...

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...

Herning, Denmark – Kimberly “Kimmy” Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) topped the standings again for the U.S. Vaulting Team again today in the FEI Individual Female Technical Test, earning a personal best score of 8.329, to hold sixth place overall with a combined score of 8.129 heading into the final day of competition. Teammate Tessa Divita earned a 7.724., with an overall two-test score of 7.782, to hold tenth place, while Emily Rose (Santa Cruz, Calif.) received a 6.495, for...