Lexington, KY – Talk about busy. 2009 has been a whirlwind, new champions of all kinds, title defenders, legends and innovators made headlines this year. The line between winning and losing has become increasingly fine as all the USEF competitors in every discipline continue to up their game, hone their skills and make the US Team proud both locally and across the globe. With the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) looming on the horizon, less than a year away – all eight FEI disciplines have been busy making sure that medals won’t leave our home turf without a fight as the WEG leaves Europe for the very first time.

Here’s how the year unfolded, January seems like a very long time ago:

January:
The US sent four of its most promising show jumpers to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. Taylor Land, Mavis Spencer, Jennifer Waxman and Kylie Wright went across the world, rode borrowed horses and Land came home with an Individual Gold medal. The team barely missed Team Bronze, after jumping off with Great Britain – they settled for fourth: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4011&star=true.

The USEF annual meeting crowned all kinds of champions, none more deserving than Chester Weber’s Jamaica who was named the 2008 Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. The 18-year-old KWPN gelding was rescued on his way to a slaughterhouse in Europe after misbehaving in the tourist carriage industry. He was the stalwart of Weber’s 2008 Silver medal-winning World Championship Team: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4009&star=true. Relive Jamaica’s achievement: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1002639701.aspx and see Weber’s acceptance speech: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1002309339.aspx.

The next night, Gene Mische was honored with the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award. No one may have discovered Wellington, FL without Mische, whose Stadium Jumping Inc. took the sport of jumping and turned it into an industry. Mische’s acceptance speech: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1006266323.aspx .
Look back at his amazing life: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1006325585.aspx.

Steffen Peters won Equestrian of the Year for his amazing accomplishments with Ravel in 2008 – but also for his uncanny sportsmanship. He accepted his award remotely, as he had a longstanding commitment in Florida to honor: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1006266320.aspx.
Vaulter Mary McCormick headed to Europe at the end of the month and took the CVI Leipzig by storm. She vaulted her way to the top of the standings with Tjekko. http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4032&star=true.

The final major event of January was the inaugural Exquiss World Dressage Masters in Wellington, FL. Peters proved how much Ravel had matured since the Olympic Games, beating Individual Gold Medalist Anky van Grunsven in the Grand Prix, US rider Michael Barisone opted for the Grand Prix Special and was rewarded with the win on Neruda: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4047&star=true.

February:
WEF in Wellington and HITS in California and Ocala were busy places as horses and riders jumped in World Cup classes. Ashlee Bond’s name was heard more and more as the 24-year-old dynamo was winning at an alarming rate in California. Beezie Madden won the first Palm Beach Jumping Derby with Crème Brule and Todd Minikus won the ESP CSI2* Grand Prix – momentum was picking up across the country: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4147.

March:
Sapphire stormed to victory in the $150,000 CN CSIO Grand Prix for McLain Ward. The 14-year-old mare was nearly invincible in 2009; it started in Palm Beach: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4165. The following week the pair won the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI4* presented by CN, proving that their Gold medal form from 2008 was holding: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4178. Sapphire completed a trifecta picking up top honors (and a big check) winning the $400,000 FTI Finale Grand Prix CSI5*: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4237.

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Texas was the first to receive USEF Heritage Competition Designation: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4205&star=true.

April:
The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final was the first major international championship of the year and Steffen Peters and Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel swept the Dressage title. Dry eyes were hard to find and the entire Thomas & Mack Arena shook at the conclusion of his freestyle. He was the first American World Cup Champion to be crowned in the US.

Not to be outdone, Sapphire continued her assault on the Jumping title for McLain Ward. She was unfortunate enough to come up against two-time champions Shutterfly and Meredith Michaels - Beerbaum. Ward and Sapphire settled for second despite faultless jumping.

US Dressage legend, Brentina was retired in front of thousands of her adoring fans.

All the World Cup coverage(photos, blogs, photos, videos and news) is available here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/fei_world_cup_2009.aspx.

The next week brought the eventing community to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and Australia’s Headley Britannia took home top honors for Lucinda Fredericks. Buck Davidson was crowned USEF National Champion with Carl and Cassandra Segal’s My Boy Bobby. Relive it here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/rolex_3day_event_2009.aspx.

Before the month was over, Team USA had won Team Silver at the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championships: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4353&star=true. The Team of Steve Rojek, Valerie Kanavy, Gabrielle Mann and Cheryl van Deusen put in an amazing effort in Uruguay and were just six minutes off the Gold medal pace.

May:
The fifth month kicked off with Rebecca Hart and Norteassa successfully defending their title at the 2009 Cavalor/USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship in Chicago: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4411&star=true.

Jumping rider Laura Kraut scored a massive win at CSIO5* Barcelona, winning the Grand Prix with 18-year-old Anthem: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4439&star=true. Closing out the month, Kraut and Cedric were then part of the winning Meydan FEI Nations Cup Team in Rome. Ashlee Bond jumped her second consecutive double clear with Cadett 7, Lauren Hough (Quick Study) and Richard Spooner (who’s clear round with Cristallo secured the win) rounded out the quartet: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4454&star=true.

June:
The jumping riders picked up in St Gallen where they left off in Rome, winning again – this time jumping off against France for the top honors. Spooner’s lightning fast four-fault jump-off round was plenty for the win. Bond ran her streak to a remarkable three Nations Cup double clears in a row, and Christine McCrea jumped instead of Hough: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4477&star=true.

Three days later Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris was bestowed a coveted honor when he was awarded the ‘Golden Whip’ from the Cadre Noir of Saumur.

Dressage took center stage when the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Dressage Championships returned to Gladstone, NJ. With the backdrop of the USET Foundation Headquarters, the best in the US put on an excellent show, despite a deluge of rain. All the coverage is available here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/festival_of_champions_2009.aspx.

Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962 were crowned 2009 USEF National Grand Prix Champions after an abbreviated format was implemented due to the weather conditions. Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Dea II were not going to be deterred by either the competition or the rain in the Intermediaire I Championships, they swept the division and Bateson-Chandler was also third with Rutherford. The Brentina Cup honors went to Jocelyn Wiese and Lamborghini, Kassandra Barteau successfully defended her Young Rider title, this time with the promising stallion GP Raymeister and Meagan Davis and Bentley were the Junior champions.
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4519&star=true
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4520&star=true

Catherine Haddad was busy winning on the other side of the Atlantic, with Cadillac she won the Grand Prix Special at Vidauban CDI3*in France: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4526.

July:
With summer comes the CDIO Aachen, and with Aachen comes some of the best annual competition in the world. Steffen Peters and Ravel cruised into Germany and achieved another first. They were the first Americans to sweep the competition and Ravel, at just 11 years old, cemented his place in history.

Bond wasn’t to be outdone, she won the Warsteiner Prize (one of the most prestigious events at Aachen) jumping to the top of a very competitive field with Cadett 7: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4552&star=true, and Spooner was busy in Monaco, he defended his Global Champions Tour victory at that venue with Cristallo. They picked up a massive check for their efforts: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4555&star=true.

Back in the US, the Young Riders took to the USEF Adequan/USEF National Youth Reining Championships and three National Champions were crowned. Lyndsay Jordan, Jordan Brown and Emile Winegar prevailed in the three age groups: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4556&star=true, In the Adequan/USEF National Reining Open Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach, Craig Schmersal slid to a resounding victory in Oklahoma City on Mr Dual Rey. The competition and the temperatures were scorching: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4557&star=true.

USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today awarded Gold medals to Rebecca Blake and Emma Leestma in the two youth divisions: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4597&star=true.

The USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championships got things rolling at the Kentucky Horse Park in what was going to prove to be a fast and furious summer stretch. Kenny Geisler, Alice Divita, Mt. Eden Vaulting Club’s Sun Team, and the duo of Elizabeth Brigham and Anna Thomas took the highest honors while defying gravity: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4635&star=true, watch the action here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1246.aspx.

The Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North made for a busy week at the Kentucky Horse Park and champions were crowned in four disciplines. Vaulting and Endurance ran competitions alongside the Championships, hopefully a preview of what is to come in the future. Don’t miss any of the fun, videos, news and photos are here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/najyrc_2009.aspx.

The same weekend in Montana featured The Event at Rebecca Farm, one of the premiere eventing competitions in the country. Rebecca Farm offered one of only two HSBC FEI World Cup Qualifiers for Eventing in the continent. Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory booked their ticket to Poland for the Final with a winning effort in Kalispell: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4623.

It was fitting that during one of the busiest weekends on the Equestrian calendar in the US – the sport should lose a legend. Jack LeGoff, who built the US Eventing Empire in the 1970s, passed away in France. Every eventing horse that sets foot on a cross country course, to this day, resonates from LeGoff's influence. He was 78: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4637&star=true, http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1193.aspx and http://www.clubequestrian.com/photos/gallery/jack_le_goff_19312009_/132.aspx.

Leslie Morse, fresh off her USEF National Grand Prix Championship title in June, won the Grand Prix Special at the CDI5* Exquis World Dressage Masters Finale at Hickstead with Tip Top. Catherine Haddad also led the victory celebration in the CDI3*: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4668.

August:
The Mt. Eden Vaulters swept the Kentucky Cup Test Event – with Megan Benjamin and Geisler winning individual honors in the CVI**: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4680&star=true.

Pony madness descended on the Kentucky Horse Park with USEF Pony Finals: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/pony_finals_2009.aspx , and after nearly four months of competition, the US Show Jumpers ended up second overall in the Meydan Nations Cup Series – they picked up wins in Rome and St. Gallen and were very much in the hunt all season: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4712&star=true.

The FEI World Combined Pony Championships got underway in Greven-Bockholt, Germany in the middle of the month – Team USA put in a valiant effort in all the divisions and Suzy Stafford and Courage to Lead did just that leading the charge with an individual Bronze medal effort: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4748&star=true.

The following week the World Pairs Driving Championships got started in Hungary and Keady Cadwell led the charge for the Americans: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4775&star=true.

Back home in the dressage ring: Cabana Boy was invincible in the USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship presented by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International and won his third consecutive USEF National Championship, Pikko Del Cerro HU was crowned top six-year-old in the country: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4771&star=true and Selten HW and Aesthete won the five and four-year-old divisions respectively to become Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Champions for 2009: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4772&star=true.

The Hampton Classic brought the best jumpers in the country to the Long Island and the historic Horse Show was the second show to be designated a USEF Heritage Competition, and McLain Ward and Sapphire were unbeatable again, sweeping the two biggest jumper classes: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4818.

September:
The eventers went to Burghley and Phillip Dutton was best for the US, placing fourth on TruLuck – but the story of the weekend was Oliver Townend, who will come to Rolex Kentucky in April looking to sweep the Rolex Grand Slam: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4836&star=true.

15-year-old Redd Kessler won handily in Belgium at the CSI-YJPCH-A Nieuwpoort, jumping to the top of an international field: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4845&star=true, Sapphire built on her legend winning the $1m CN International for McLain Ward in a jump-off for the ages: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4846&star=true.

Jim Fairclough beat the elements and the competition at the Laurels at Landhope to win the first USEF Observation Trial for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games when a deluge descended upon the driving event in southeastern Pennsylvania: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4853&star=true.

Things continued to look very promising for the US driving program when Tucker Johnson cruised to third place overall after winning the dressage with his team at the CAI-A4 Donaueschingen in Germany: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4871&star=true.

The Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search got underway and Theo Boris took top honors in the West: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4874&star=true while a few weeks later, Matthew Metell wowed the judges in the East: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4926&star=true. Both competitions proved that the future of the sport in the US is bright.

October:
Weber and Johnson went to battle in the USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championships, with Weber winning his seventh consecutive title at the Kentucky CDE. Jim Fairclough was third in the National Championships, which also served as the Test Event for the WEG. Larry Poulin bowed out in classic style, retiring from the sport with a win in the USEF National Pair Horse Championship; Fritz Grupe won the USEF National Single Horse Championship – his first. Lisa Stroud and Tracey Morgan both defended their National Championships, winning the Pony Team and Pony Pair divisions and Stafford continued to dominate with Courage to Lead, winning the USEF National Single Pony Championship. All the coverage is available here: http://www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/kentucky_cup_driving_2009.aspx.

Another horse show was named a USEF Heritage Competition, and the Deep Run Horse Show in Virginia was added to an elite list: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4951&star=true.

Kessler won again – winning the 2009 USEF National Junior Jumper Championships, Zone 10 took home top honors in the team portion of the competition, and Jessica Springsteen won the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal Final. Read all the news from Harrisburg here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4953&star=true and here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4958&star=true.

During the same week the Kentucky Cup Endurance Event (in Lexington, KY) and the USEF National CCI*** Eventing Championships in Fair Hill, MD ran in horrific weather conditions. In the 100-mile- Endurance race, the American swept the medals with Danielle McGunigal and Gold Raven leading the charge: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4972&star=true. In the CCI*** Eventing Champs at Fair Hill International, Aussie expat won his first three-star riding as an American with Neville Bardos: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4976&star=true. Both events ran over modified course due to the deluge. Four more USEF National Eventing champs were crowned in the CCI* divisions the same week at the Hagyard Midsouth Team Challenge: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=4981&star=true.

November:
George Morris and Phillip Dutton were named Coaches of the Year by the USEF, Morris garnered the National title and Dutton was honored for his Developmental efforts: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5047&star=true.

A team of Jumping riders went to the CSIO Buenos Aires, finishing second after a jump-off with Brazil for the win: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5067&star=true.

The WEG disciplines were showcased at the AQHA World Show: http://www.clubequestrian.com/videos/watch/1508.aspx, where jumping rider Will Simpson even rode a reining horse.

December:
Pete Kyle was third at the FEI Reining Masters in Oklahoma City, OK: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5147&star=true, and Kassandra Barteau is representing the US at the World Cup Final for Young Riders in Germany: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5045.

USEF President David O’Connor was inducted into the US Eventing Hall of Fame.

All of the USEF Award winners were announced:
Junior Equestrian of the Year: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5146&star=true.

Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5169&star=true.

Equestrians of Honor:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5175&star=true.

Last but not least, the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year Candidates: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5176&star=true, who represent all the horses that make what the USEF and all of its members do possible.

Finally: Happy Holidays, from all of us at the USEF: http://www.clubequestrian.com/special/holidays_2009.aspx.

ENDS

Please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected] with questions.