The 2009 World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair, was held at Louisville's Freedom Hall from Sunday, August 23, through Saturday, August 29. There was plenty of excitement at WCHS this year, as new World's Grand Champions were crowned in the Five-Gaited and Fine Harness World's Grand Championships, while the 2008 Three-Gaited World's Grand Champion repeated as such in 2009. Among a formidable field of competitors, as in each class,...

Wilbur "Sug" Utz, American Saddlebred trainer and owner of Blue Ridge Stables in Raytown, MO, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. He was 90 years old. Sug, son of Emil and Sudie Utz, was born and raised on a farm outside Maysville in northwest Missouri. Coming from a horse training family, Sug learned his craft at his father’s side, along with his three brothers. Two of his brothers, Don and Jay, similar to Sug, went on to become world’s champion caliber Saddlebred men. They were all exciting...

With Grande Gil’s win at the American Royal in November, the five-year-old gelding has claimed the first American Saddlebred Triple Crown since 2004, sweeping the three-gaited open championships at Lexington Junior League, Kentucky State Fair and American Royal—the three shows which comprise the Saddlebred Triple Crown. The last Saddlebred to accomplish the feat in three-gaited was CH An Heir About Her in 2004. That same year, CH Boucheron took top honors at each of the Saddlebred Triple...

Smith Lilly and his gifted mount, He’s The Man (CH Man On The Town X Perfect), were the judges’ unanimous winners of the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship in Louisville’s Freedom Hall on Saturday evening, August 26. Having won the Five-Gaited Gelding Stake earlier in the week, the pair wowed the audience from the moment they came into the arena, with the trademark Louisville roar growing with every pass down a straightaway. In his comments to the show ring announcer, Smith was appreciative...

Lexington, Ky. – Top combinations from around the world competed in the 2022 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers, France, from October 20-23. The championship is a collaboration between the FEI and the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses that showcases six- and seven-year-old eventing horses at the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L level, respectively. A total of six U.S. combinations proved their mettle in the strong field of competitors...

Fair Hill, Md. - Fair Hill International celebrates 31 years of eventing this weekend with the start of The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event (FHI). Held at the picturesque Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Fair Hill, Md., the historic fall event draws top riders from across the country to contest The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L and CCI4*-L Eventing National Championships. In addition, the USEF Young Rider Eventing National Championship and USEF Young Horse Eventing...

Lexington, Ky. – It was a week to remember as champions were crowned in the Platinum Performance / United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Green Hunter Incentive Championships and International Hunter Derby. Noah and Sara Taylor Shine in the 3'6"/3'9" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship Sara Taylor and Noah Wowing the judges with their precision and handiness, Sara Taylor (Marshall, Va.) and Noah, Ingrid Avera’s nine-year-old Warmblood...

Rancho Santa Fe, CA – April 8, 2019 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announced today it will host a fundraising event at the beautiful Pomponio Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, California on Friday, April 26, 2019. Dubbed the Spring Soirée, the evening fundraiser will benefit the US Equestrian High Performance programs and give attendees the opportunity to bid on unique silent and live auction items and experiences. Purchase tickets here . The USET Foundation...

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Badminton, England – Land Rover/USEF Eventing Grant recipient Lauren Kieffer and Veronica became the first American combination to finish in the top-10 of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday in more than a decade. 2007 was the last time a U.S. combination broke the top-10 barrier, when Kim Severson (Charlottesville, Va.) and Winsome Adante finished third. Placing ninth overall, Kieffer (The Plains, Va.) and the...

Lexington, Ky. - The United Professional Horsemen's Association, American Saddlebred Horse Association, American Hackney Horse Society and the American Road Horse & Pony Association joined the United States Equestrian Federation in supporting and applauding the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of new rules added to the Horse Protection Act (HPA) designed to end the practice of soring Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses. Together we commend USDA's...