When the dust settled over Guadalajara, Mexico the USEF's teams had recorded a record Pan American Games medal haul. Ten medals - that is every medal but two - came back to the United States. The U.S. got its third and final team, the show jumpers, qualified for the Olympic Games on the strength of eight double-clear rounds. Four-in-Hand driver Chester Weber won in Europe - a lot - but was unseated from the National Championship throne in surprising fashion as Jimmy Fairclough returned to form. Endurance was added as a championship to the Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North - the long-distance sport enjoyed a renaissance on every level. Reining continued to grow, adding the Ariat Kentucky Cup to the Kentucky Horse Park calendar on the same weekend as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. The Para-Equestrian Dressage Team went on tour, tackling CPEDIs in three different countries on their quest for Paralympic qualification. Vaulting in the U.S. is strong - building on their Team Gold from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with the results at CHIO Aachen.
We will remember the year for the loss of arguably the world's greatest show jumper, as we joined our Canadian friends in saying a sudden good-bye to Hickstead in startling, unexpected and tragic fashion. The Americans struggled in the FEI Nations Cup series - and were relegated for 2012 - but honed excellent Grand Prix results, showing the strength of our horses and riders. Boyd Martin lost his barn and half his horses (and business) in a fire - but demonstrated a resiliency from which we can all learn.
This is how 2011 unfolded.
January
The George H. Morris Horsemastership Clinic kicked off the New Year in Wellington and was incredibly well received by participants and auditors. The U.S. Show Jumping Chef d'Equipe showed once again why he is the ultimate Horsemaster, emphasizing not only excellent riding but also the importance of horsemanship and stable management. For the first time, the clinic was live-streamed on the USEF Network. Learn from the master himself here, all of the sessions are available.
Champions from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were honored at the 2011 USEF Annual Meeting. It was a clean sweep for reining as Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite were recognized for their double-gold medal performance in September with the year's top honors. It was a first for reining, and the celebration of an incredible achievement. The reining community turned out in force to support their World Champions.
Catch the Pegasus and Horse of the Year celebrations here.
The USEF passed a monumental helmet rule, requiring helmets for all competitors at the National Levels of dressage and eventing whenever mounted. The act launched a movement and helmets, even at the FEI level, became more and more prevalent in the competition arena - a win for everyone.
February
A month of training sessions and early competitions consumed the shortest month, when it seemed like every team was in the market for a new chef d'equipe - the search was on in eventing, jumping and endurance. We lost popular show jumping rider Debbie Malloy Winkler in a freak accident in Germany, bid out National Championships, received applications for Young Riders for the Show Jumping Summer Tour and, with the Equus Foundation, began the search for America's Favorite Equestrian.
March
Steffen Peters and Ravel
(SusanJStickle.com Photo)
The madness began in March, and we prayed for Japan as the country was ravaged by a tsunami. At home the U.S. Show Jumpers scored their first Nations Cup victory of 2011 - romping home to win the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. McLain Ward and Sapphire, Mario Deslauriers and Urico, Margie Engle and Indigo and Beezie Madden on Coral Reef Via Volo put an end to Canadians winning on U.S. turf.
"These are four very exciting horses," said Ward. "They jumped very well, very solid. It was a very solid win."
Sadly, Sapphire went to the shelf shortly thereafter with an injury. We missed her in 2011, but are happy to report that as of December 15 she is back jumping in preparation for 2012 - great news for her, her team and the USA.
Lauren Hough kept the Grand Prix honors close to home, picking up the biggest prize on Quick Study. All the action, including the Nations Cup, Grand Prix, the Puissance and PRO Derby Cross is available here.
Steffen Peters wowed the crowd at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach scoring a massive victory in the World Dressage Masters - Palm Beach, presented by the International Polo Club. Riding Ravel, he put in a fantastic effort which included his best Grand Prix score to date.
"It was an amazing ride," said Peters. "It is a ride that I think I will compare all my other rides to."
Joe Yoder (Picsofyou.com Photo).
You can watch THAT ride (and others) here.
Joe Yoder won the USEF National Pair Horse Driving Championship at Live OAK - his first. Jennifer Matheson won the Pair Pony title, Shelly Temple scored a narrow victory in the Single Pony division and Lisa Stroud's white Connemara team stormed to another national title.
April
April began with the recommendation of David O'Connor for the Eventing Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor for 2013 and beyond. Kent Farrington and Uceko won the Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farms. It was an emotional event, run for the first time since the passing of horse-show icon Gene Mische. He continues to be greatly missed.
Land Rover renewed their commitment to Equestrian sport and the USEF - signing on again as the official vehicle.
Three Americans headed to the Mitsubishi Badminton CCI4* in the UK - led by Buck Davidson and BallyNoe Castle RM, who finished 21st. Eventing legend Mark Todd - who retired in 2000 after a tremendous career - won in spectacular fashion, marking a heroic return.
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Show jumpers and dressage horses graced Leipzig for the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final; the Young Riders jumped there too in the EY Cup. The eventing world came to Kentucky for the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone.
Beezie Madden led the jumpers on Coral Reef Via Volo finishing fourth. Three Americans fought their way into the top 12 after a tough week of jumping.
Jan Ebeling led the U.S. dressage effort, finishing 11th with Rafalca.
In the Kentucky Bluegrass, after dodging a very real tornado threat on Wednesday, Mary King made her trip from the Great Britain worth every mile - she finished first and second (a first) with Kings Temptress and Fernhill Urco respectively. A popular winner, she led USEF National CCI4* champion Sinead Halpin on Manoir de Carneville in the victory gallop. Read about the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone here.
With the Ariat Kentucky Cup Reining running simultaneously (for the first time), the entire Kentucky Horse Park was buzzing. Shawn Flarida won the CRI5* event on KR Lil Conquistador, settling a score with the arena in which his stirrup broke in the individual final of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games after he led the Gold-medal Team effort for
Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Saturday night featured reining freestyles, and some of the eventers were coaxed into trying their hand at spinning and sliding. David O'Connor brought down the sold-out house, removing his bridle mid-way through his ride to finish sixth in the $25,000 Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment World Championship Freestyle Competition.
May
The Junior and Young Rider Show Jumping Tour kicked off in Europe with major success at CSIOJY Bonheiden in Belgium. The team of Catherine Pasmore, Ricky Neal, Jessica Springsteen and Reed Kessler jumped to second in the Nations Cup and then all five tour riders jumped in the top 10 in the Young Rider Grand Prix (Karen Polle was the fifth). In the Junior Grand Prix, Victoria Birdsall was second and Meg O'Mara was eighth.
The Young Riders were then second AGAIN at the CSIOY Reims.
Tom McCutcheon maintained his golden form, he and Darlins Not Painted won the inaugural FEI World Reining Masters in Malmo, Sweden. Craig Schmersal and Miss Lil Addy Tude were second. Meg O'Mara ended the week in France on the highest of notes - not only did she place fourth in the Junior Grand Prix with Sinatra IV, she won the overall Leading Junior Rider Award for her performances throughout the week. Katie Prudent served as the chef d'equipe for both of these shows.
Eventer Andrea Leatherman won her first CCI3*at Jersey Fresh with Mensa, while Will Faudree and Pawlow won the CIC3*.
June
The USEF High School Equestrian program celebrated the beginning of its third year, the horse industry weathered a tough EHV-1 outbreak in the western United States bringing many of the competitions in the affected areas to a halt. Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team member Boyd Martin, who was 10th at last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, had his barn ravaged by a fire. He lost six horses - thankfully, the global horse community rallied and helped him put his life back together.
Rich Fellers and Christine McCrea were second and third with Flexible and Romantovich Take One respectively in ridiculously bad weather in the Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland at CSIO St. Gallen. McLain Ward won three Grand Prixes on the trot at HITS Saugerties, and the U.S. Young Riders finally shook off their runner-up status and won a Nations Cup at CSIOY Lamprechtshausen. Michele Grubb served as the Chef d'Equipe.
European Young Riders Tour (Murray Keesler Photo)
Reed Kessler and Jessica Springsteen went one-two on Ligist and Cincinnati La Silla respectively in the Austrian Young Rider Grand Prix, rounding out a banner effort.
The U.S. qualified a record number of Dressage horses for the 2011 FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage, a real statement of the strength of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Program.
Ricky Neal won the Young Rider Grand Prix at CSIOY Hagen with Transmission, finishing off a hugely successful Young Riders Tour. He topped 48 others in the effort.
Sallee Horse Vans was named the official horse transport of the USEF and Chester Weber won his second CAI4 in a row - adding a score at Altenfelden to his victory in Veces, Hungary, earlier in the month.
Clark Montgomery won the Bromont CCI3* on Loughan Glen in Canada. The show jumpers were desperately looking for the stars to align for a Nations Cup win in the FEI Nations Cup Series - they were consistent all week, every week, but couldn't put a winning effort together for a Nations Cup. Emmett Ross was recommended to be the Endurance Chef d'Equipe, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced that the World Equestrian Games had an economic impact of more than $200 million.
July
The USEF National Youth Reining Championships bore three new champions in Oklahoma City. Michael Pope got every ounce out of his horse Whizota to win the 19-21 age group. Elizabeth Cosper and Whata Dream claimed the top spot for 14-18 year olds when Whats Dream rebounded from some less-than-obedient behavior earlier in the week to win when it really mattered. Olivia Hartman won the 13 and under group with Sailing by Starlight - a performance that left her a clear winner. Read about the three National Champions and Will Letner, who won the CRI-Y, here.
We test drove Greenwich Park in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, with three U.S. riders contesting the London Prepares Test Event CIC2*. A stunning venue on a UNESCO World Heritage Site means the upcoming games will be the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience for those involved. The jumpers were winning at a rapid rate in Spruce Meadows with Richard Spooner and Rich Fellers picking up top prizes. Caitlin Zeigler became the youngest rider ever to win an FEI class at Spruce Meadows - the 16-year-old scored with Valencia to win the 1.50m AON Cup.
Vaulting, jumping, driving and dressage took center stage at the prestigious CHIO Aachen.
Vaulting got the good results started, Mary McCormick was third in the Individual Female classification and Devon Maitozo and Rosalind Ross were also third in the new Pas de Deux.
The U.S. sent a Dressage Team to Aachen which finished fourth in the CDIO. Steffen Peters then uncorked a new star, sweeping the small tour with Weltino's Magic in the dressage ring. After winning in California, the combination remained undefeated for 2011 with their Aachen effort. Peters was also second in the Grand Prix freestyle with Ravel - who swept the competition in 2009.
Read more here and here.
McLain Ward won the Yageo Prize on Rothchild in the jumping ring, where Laura Kraut also scored with Woodstock O in the Sparkassen-Youngsters Cup and Chester Weber was third in the CAIO in very tough company.
The Event at Rebecca Farm celebrated its 10th anniversary, running for the first time without its namesake - one of eventi
Racing to the Wire at NAJYRC (SusanJStickle.com Photo)
The 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North returned to the Kentucky Horse Park for its third banner year. Adding endurance as a championship event for the first time, nine championships ran simultaneously. Read the wrap-up here.
Chester Weber won the Fahrderby at Riesenbeck, and moved atop the FEI World Cup Standings in Driving.
Kent Farrington scored the biggest win of his career so far, storming home first in the Longines King George V Gold Cup with Uceko at CSIO Hickstead. Elsewhere in the UK, Heather Reynolds won the test event for the World Endurance Championship in Eustone Park, England, on Opium Lord. She crossed the line first in an impressive victory which bodes well for the 2012 World Championships at the same venue.
Woodburn, Phillip Dutton's wonderful New Zealand Thoroughbred, died suddenly from an internal injury at Dutton's Pennsylvania Farm, stealing one of the world's top eventing horses from the American Team. Dutton reckons he was the best cross-country horse he has ever had, which speaks volumes. Woodburn was the 2010 National CCI4* champion.
McLain Ward continued winning in New York, Catherine Pasmore jumped to the head of a huge field in Chantilly in France and Michael Morrissey won at Kentucky Summer, but Lauren Hough took home the biggest prize of all: the Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland at the Royal Dublin Horse Show. In addition to the huge victory for Hough and her beloved Quick Study, she brought home another win on Blue Angel, Laura Kraut had four victories and Beezie Madden had one.
August
USEF/AVA Vaulting National Champions were crowned in Colorado with the Woodside Vaulters, Mary McCormick and Patrick Stevens all claiming titles. Stevens vaults for Woodside - so it was a banner week for the California club.
"Our team competition was especially good this year, at all levels, from the lowest levels to the highest level," said Linda Bibbler, vice president of competitions for the American Vaulting Association. Read more.
F.A.C.E. vaulters Rosalind Ross and Devon Maitozo backed up their strong finish in Aachen by scoring top honors in the Pas de Deux at the USEF/AVA National Championships.
Beezie Madden scored a huge win on the Global Champions Tour, winning a serious test on Cortes'C', a relatively new ride for her. Will Faudree, Will Coleman and Sinead Halpin were busy preparing for the British fall CCIs at Hartpury - they all received grants to help fund their European tours (Faudree and Coleman as part of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant program and Halpin received the Jacqueline Mars Grant from the USET Foundation).
Lillie Keenan rewrote hunter history by scoring an incredible win in the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals on C Coast Z. The 14-year-old rider outclassed the best veterans in the sport with her flawless performance.
Six USEF National Dressage Championships were vied for at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, and the future of dressage looked promising.
Werner Van Den Brande and Donna Tella (Chuck Swan, Swan Studios, LLC)
In the 5-year-old division of the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship Donna Tella won impressively for Werner Van Den Brande. Furst Fiorano scored in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship 4-year-old division for Alyssa Pitts in a classy effort.
"He's the best horse I've ever ridden," said Pitts.
More information about the first three National Championships of the weekend is available here.
The second group of champions was crowned with Pikko Del Cerro HU and Lisa Wilcox topping a very competitive field in the USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship sponsored by the Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales. Emily Wagner and Wake Up won the Markel/USEF National Young Horse DressageChampionship 6-year-old division - the fact that Wake Up is an American-bred horse broke the tie that found Wake Up tied with Caroline Roffman and Bon Chance (2010 5-year-old Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Champion). Roffman won three Reserve National titles at the competition.
Marlena Kurz won the final USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today, riding Ode to the top spot in the 14-19 year old division.
Read about these victories here.
The same weekend Shannon Lilley and Ballingowan Pizazz topped an impressive field at Richland Park in Michigan in the Mandatory Outing for the 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2011 Pan American Games. Read about Lilley's triumph here.
Beezie Madden made sure the U.S. was winning on more than one continent, scoring the third CSIO5* Grand Prix for the U.S. as she and Coral Reef Via Volo led the victory gallop at the Longines Grand Prix of Rotterdam.
"It was fantastic," said Madden after her win.
Joe Yoder led the U.S. effort at the 2011 FEI Pairs World Driving Championship - and with teammates Katherin Dancer and Misdee Wrigley-Miller, drove to 10th place in wet conditions in Conty, France. All three were representing their country for the first time.
September
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials got underway in England, and six Americans were representing the Home of the Brave. Boyd Martin and his fire survivor Neville Bardos were best of the Americans jumping double clear around a tough cross country track to finish seventh. William Fox-Pitt won for a record sixth time - but the emotional victory was Martin's.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a hotly contested Adequan/USEF National Open Reining Championship came down to a shootout between the Individual Gold and Silver medalists from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This time Craig Schmersal turned the tables on teammate Tom McCutcheon and took home the top prize with Miss Lil Addy Tude.
"I was tickled pink about my ride," said Schmersal. "She's a good mare and I'm glad she got her picture taken tonight. She deserved it."
Cue another busy weekend.
Six more USEF National Dressage Champions were crowned at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at the USET Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.
Steffen Peters swept both the Intermediaire I (meaning he would lead the U.S. Dressage Team to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara) with Weltino's Magicand the Grand Prix with his international superstar Ravel. Weltino's Magic remained undefeated in 2011, Heather Blitz and Paragon - another promising horse with a huge future - were runners up. Cesar Parra and Grandioso were third and Marisa Festerling and Big Tyme booked their ticket to Mexico as well.
Caroline Roffman won the 2011 Young Adult "Brentina Cup" Championship on Beamer, Isabelle Leibler won the National Young Rider Dressage Championship on Watson, classy veteran Pik L gave Kya Endreson her first Junior National Dressage Championship and Allison Cyprus won the very first USEF National Pony Rider Championship on Maple Lane Kero.
Watch all of the tests and read the coverage here.
Three more Land Rover Competition and Training Grant recipients headed to the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and Clark Montgomery (with Loughan Glen), Will Faudree (Pawlow) and Phillip Dutton (Mighty Nice) finished in the top 12. But the story was Tiana Coudray's comeback on Ringwood Magister, rebounding from a disappointing spring and summer to finish second.
"I am so, so pleased," said Coudray. "It's extra special because things have been so tough for quite a while. It was a pretty good way to finish off the season."
More information about Blenheim is available here.
In a surprise return to competition, James Fairclough drove to his first USEF National Four-In-Hand Championship in 10 years. He put a team together after parting ways with long-time owner Jane Forbes Clark after the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and it proved successful. Chester Weber was the reserve champion at the competition, hosted by the Laurels at Landhope.
Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale (Photo Lindsay Yosay McCall 2011/USPEA)
"I do it because I love it," said Fairclough. "I love to drive a four-in-hand and I love to represent our country, and it's been 10 years since I last won the National title so it's pretty cool to win it on 9/11 ten years later."
Read more here.
The teams were named for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the Para-Equestrian National Dressage Championships got going in Saugerties, NY. Jonathan Wentz scored his first national title with NTEC Richter Scale riding in the Grade 1b class to win.
"Going into to today we knew one mistake would cost us the competition," Wentz said, "So the goal was no mistakes."
He won by three-tenths of a point over Dale Dedrick and Bonifatus.
A full report including information about the Para-Equestrian Dressage team's quest to qualify for the 2012 Paralympic Games is available here.
The following weekend, the U.S. Pony Driving Team won Team and Individual Bronze in Slovenia. Led by Chef d'Eq
Lisa Stroud (Marie de Ronde Photo)
Read about the Pony Battle in the Baltics.
Demi Steigler won the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West in classic style; read about her winning performance here.
The Mountain A Team topped nine other teams and won a grueling North American Endurance Team Challenge with an impressive effort in California's Cascade Mountains. In the individual race to the wire, Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above beat Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille by a single second. A full report is available here.
October
Boyd Martin led the Land Rover US Eventing Team again at Boekelo in Holland, this time placing 14th, Samantha Schaefer won the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - East. She found redemption after "giving it away" in 2010 in the final four. The Dressage Developing Program will grow in 2012 thanks to support from the USET Foundation through a generous donation from USET Foundation Trustee Akiko Yamazaki.
The USEF Eventing National CCI2* and CCI3* championships got underway at Fair Hill International in Maryland and a CCI1* champion was crowned in Lexington, KY, the dressage horses arrived in Mexico for the Pan American Games and the endurance horses landed in Chile for the Pan American Endurance Championships.
Boyd Martin triumphed with his old campaigner Ying Yang Yo in the National CCI3* championship, putting to rest a horrific year with his second national title. Kylie Lyman rocketed into the big leagues with Trading Aces. Formerly Bobby Costello's groom, Lyman found herself leading the CCI2*victory gallop in Maryland.
"I'm just super happy," said Lyman. "The horse didn't put a foot wrong all weekend."
The following week the Kentucky Horse Park played host to the USEF National CCI1* Eventing Championship. Robin Walker and Florenz scored a wire-to-wire victory finishing more than 10 points ahead of the other National Championship competition. Walker was competing for the first time under the U.S. flag at the Hagyard MidSouth Three Day after having changed his nationality four days prior to the start of competition. The dressage team swept every medal at the Pan American Games. With Steffen Peters leading the way, again, with Weltino's Magic, they won Team and Individual Gold. Teammates Heather Blitz (on Paragon) and Marisa Festerling (on Big Tyme) pressed him every step of the way and collected the Individual medals. Cesar Parra was a stoic pathfinder, leading off the U.S. Team effort on Grandioso.
The eventing team picked up where the dressage team left off, taking Team Gold after producing five immaculate jumping efforts. Hannah Burnett
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One Lead Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo in th Victory Celebration (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
The jumping team not only had the pressure of continuing a Gold-medal sweep - they also had Olympic qualification on the line. They stared down the pressure and jumped eight clear Nations Cup rounds to secure both. Christine McCrea on Romantovich Take One and Beezie Madden on Coral Reef Via Volo battled until the end for Individual honors - the winning margin for McCrea was less than a tenth of a second. McLain Ward and Antares F came fourth. Kent Farrington put in a spectacular effort, but like Parra, Lilley and Symansky wasn't able to go forward to the individual final due to PASO rules limiting the number of individuals from each country that are eligible.
It was an incredible effort for Team USA; read about how they won a record 10 medals and watch all the action here.
The endurance riders weren't going to let down the cause. They scored Team Silver and Individual Silver and Bronze in Chile, continuing to show the strength of their program. Led by Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross, the team consisted of John Crandall III with Heraldic, Valerie Kanavy and Spectacular Gold and Deborah Reich and Pandor. Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence were eliminated at the mandatory recheck at vet gate three. The team finished less than two minutes off Uruguay's Gold medal pace, while Crandall took Individual Silver and Kanavy Individual Bronze.
Read more here.
November
The Alltech National Horse Show was reborn in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, and Scott Monroe won the USEF National Single Horse Championship at the Katydid CDE in Aiken, SC. Read about all of the USEF Driving National Champions here.
A week later we mourned the tragic loss of Hickstead, who collapsed and died after completing his round in Verona, Italy. One of the greatest jumpers of his generation, he transcended nationality with his dynamic style. The 2008 Individual Olympic Gold medalist with Eric Lamaze also won the coveted "Best Horse" title at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Dates were announced for six Olympic Games Preparation Dressage Clinics in conjunction with the USET Foundation (made possible through a gift by Betsy Juliano) and important changes were made to the Drugs & Medication Rules for Competition Horses.
The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team continued their quest for Paralympic qualification, winning top honors in Mexico CPEDI, the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team updated its High Performance and Developing Rider Lists, Hassler Dressage at Riveredge hosted a Developing Dressage clinic, and Charlie Jacobs - the principal of the Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins in his "day job" - took the CSIO-W Buenos Aires Grand Prix on Leap of Joy.
December
The USEF received six applications for the Jumping Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor position by the time the application period ended at the beginning of the month.
The Endurance Young Riders were an impressive fourth in Abu Dhabi at the 2011 FEI Junior and Young Rider World Endurance Championships. They rode against 19 teams, and their trip wasn't without adversity.
"It is a remarkable accomplishment for the Young Riders," said Vonita Bowers, director of endurance and reining at the USEF, which for the first time sent a full team and support staff to the championship.
Read about the ride in the desert.
U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team won once more, this time in Australia, taking another step toward London. They were awesome again.
Isabelle Leibler represented the U.S. at the FEI Young Rider World Cup Final in Frankfurt, Germany, finishing second in the B Freestyle Final with Watson 108.
American equestrians lost one of their biggest supporters at the end of the year, Elizabeth Busch Burke passed away on December 20. She owned Beezie Madden's wonderful horse Authentic when he won Team Gold at the 2004 Olympic Games. The horse was then sold to Abigail Wexner but stayed in Madden's stable and went on to win 2006 Horse of the Year honors (after winning Team and Individual Silver medals) the FEI World Equestrian Games.
2011 Equestrian and Horse of the Year Nominations are now up for grabs - don't forget to vote! Voting ends today, Monday, January 2, midnight ET!
Equestrians
Horses
Happy New Year from everyone at the USEF.