Natalie Dean and Acota M (Matt Turer/US Equestrian) Omaha, Neb. – As the start of competition at the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 approaches, the U.S. jumping combinations took one step closer with the completion of Monday’s jumping horse inspection. All U.S. horses passed and head into Tuesday, April 4’s jumping training at 1 p.m. CT. The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final competition officially begins Wednesday, April 5, at 7:15 p.m. CT with the First...

Carol Lavell, a renowned international dressage athlete, trainer, and instructor, passed away on March 27, 2023, at her home in Fairview, N.C., at age 79. Carol Lavell and Gifted at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. ©Bob Langrish Lavell was a frequent U.S. Dressage Team member from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. With the Hanoverian gelding Gifted, Lavell led the U.S. team to team bronze at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The pair were part of the U.S. dressage teams for the inaugural FEI...

Lexington, Ky. -- Kevin Freeman was a renowned and distinguished equestrian in the United States, competing in three different Olympic Games for the U.S. Eventing Team. Freeman was born in Portland, Ore., in 1941 and grew up riding on the west coast before attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He received his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, Pa., before beginning his professional riding career in California after his graduation....

Lexington, Ky. -- US Equestrian (USEF) announces the appointment of Laura Roberts from Director of Dressage Performance and Event Support to Managing Director of Dressage. Roberts assumes the duties of former Managing Director of Dressage, Hallye Griffin, who was named Director of FEI Sport on March 22. Laura Roberts, US Equestrian Managing Director of Dressage. (©Taylor Pence/US Equestrian) “Over the past five years, I have worked closely with Hallye Griffin, alongside our USEF...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes who will represent the U.S. in dressage, jumping, and vaulting at the 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals. The Finals will be held in Omaha, Neb., April 4-8, 2023. U.S. Dressage The following athlete-and-horse combinations will represent U.S. Dressage and are listed in alphabetical order: Anna Buffini (San Diego, Calif.) and FRH Davinia la Douce, her own 2007 Hanoverian mare Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and...

Lexington, Ky. -- US Equestrian announces the appointment of Anna Brooks Thomas as Director of Driving. Thomas joins the organization after nearly two years with the University of Virginia athletics department football office in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where she most recently served as Director of Player Engagement (March 2022-23) and previously served as Assistant Director of Football Operations (June 2021-March 2022). Anna Brooks Thomas, US Equestrian Director of Driving (©US...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to welcome six new USEF Community Outreach Organizations to become part of the USEF Community Outreach Program . The USEF Community Outreach Program, launched in 2021, is dedicated to supporting organizations across the country that provide equine-based learning opportunities and support the positive impact horses can have within their local communities. These organizations will be recognized as USEF Community Outreach Organizations and are united...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian (USEF) announces the appointment of long-term US Equestrian employee Hallye Griffin as Director of FEI Sport. Griffin will assume the duties of former Director of FEI/High-Performance Sport, Graeme Thom, who has chosen to step away from his role to attend to personal matters. “Over recent months, I have encountered some evolving personal obligations that are limiting my ability to commit the necessary time in my role as Director of FEI and High-Performance...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent the NetJets ® U.S. Jumping Team at the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of USA at San Juan Capistrano CSIO5*. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. The following athletes have been named to the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order: Karl Cook (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) Nick Dello Joio (Wellington, Fla.) Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) Laura...

Ocala, Fla. – Chester Weber earned a milestone victory this weekend, posting his 20 th career USEF National Championship title in the Advanced Four-in-Hand division. The win took place on home soil for Weber at the 2023 Live Oak International, held on his family’s scenic farm in Ocala, Fla. ©Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian Weber drove his team of bay KWPN geldings, First Edition, Julius V, Kadora, and Kasper D, in the dressage and cones phase. The veteran competitor Amadeus...