San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Twenty-three athletes completed the first phase of competition at the 2022 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West on Friday, kicking off a weekend of competition designed to showcase young riders with a promising future in the sport. Nicole McMillion and Campitello 5. ©McCool Photography After a warm-up round in which entrants have 90 seconds to practice over jumps, the competitors completed the flatwork phase of the...

Lexington, KY- US Equestrian (USEF) announces the appointment of David O’Connor to the newly created position of Chief of Sport beginning October 3, 2022. O’Connor, a decorated Olympian, is no stranger to US Equestrian, having earned individual gold and team bronze medals in eventing at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and a team silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Additionally, David served as the USEF President from 2004 to 2012 and currently serves on the FEI Board...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) announces the appointment of Graeme Thom as Director of FEI/High-Performance Sport Programs beginning October 3, 2022. This start date will allow for a smooth and collaborative transition as Will Connell remains with USEF through the 25th of November. Thom has worked in the financial industry, ridden to the CCI4* level in eventing, and was shortlisted for the Canadian Eventing Team. He served as chair of the Canadian High-Performance Committee and has...

Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – Chester Weber and team received a 41.52 from the ground jury to finish their first day of competition at the 2022 FEI Driving Championships for Four-in-Hands, holding first place overnight with one more day of dressage competition to come. Weber and team will now look to the marathon phase on Saturday to continue their pursuit of an individual medal. Chester Weber and team compete in the dressage phase. ©US Equestrian The team looked polished and precise...

Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and team have been accepted through the first horse inspection at the 2022 FEI Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hand and will begin their quest for a third consecutive individual medal with three phases of competition to come. Dressage will begin tomorrow on Thursday, September 22 and continue through Friday, September 23, with marathon starting at 10:00 a.m. GMT+2 on Saturday, September 24, and the cones phase beginning at...

Roscoe, Ill. – The first of three USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals of 2022 took place on September 10 at Showplace Fall Classic, welcoming a field of junior equestrians to compete in a unique three-phase final. The top 50 ranked athletes from each of three regions who have applied for the USEF/NCEA Medal are invited to compete in the finals each year. Jackie Stary and Conenzo. ©Andrew Ryback Photography Jackie Stary (Oswego, Ill.) earned the win in this year’s...

Le Pin-au-Haras, France – The 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses concluded on Sunday at Haras National du Pin in Le Pin-au-Haras, France. The U.S. contingent, led by Chef d’Equipe Dee Aldrich and Team Coach Suzy Stafford, had solid performances against a world-class field. The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team of Taylor Bradish and Katydid Duchess, Raymond Helmuth and Kendro, and Carrie Ostrowski and Gellerduht finished seventh out of 16 teams, with the combinations...

Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team has officially secured qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, capturing the first team world championship medal for the program since 2002, as they hoisted the silver medal on the podium. The team finished on a final score of 100.3 behind the German team who took gold on a 95.2. New Zealand followed closely in third on a combined total of 100.7. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team captured the first team medal since 2002...

Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team had a fantastic day on cross-country in the hills of Pratoni, finishing all four team combinations and individual combination around the course designed by Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITA). The team currently sits in second behind Germany on a team score of 77.4, while Tamie Smith and Mai Baum hold third place individually overnight on their score of 24.0. “Today absolutely met my expectations and I think everyone leading up...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce the five recipients of the USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships for graduating high-school seniors. Created to support students who are committed to continuing their involvement in equestrian sport while in college through an equestrian-related degree, volunteerism, or internship; riding on an intercollege equestrian team; or other equestrian-related activity, the scholarship awards a $1,000 grant to each recipient to...