The United States Equestrian Federation’s 2018 Annual Meeting, which ended Saturday, celebrated the achievements of equine and human athletes and provided reason for great optimism about equestrian sports’ future. Themed “Bringing Joy, Embracing Change,” this year’s convention honored champions, delivered updates on key strategies and initiatives, hosted a number of popular educational forums, and welcomed lively open discussion on topics of interest to members and...

Representatives from the United States Equestrian Federation’s 29 breed and discipline affiliates convened Friday at the Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky., for a vibrant Affiliate Roundtable discussion on a broad range of topics. The Roundtable agenda was based on feedback from the affiliates, who submitted topics of interest they’d like to discuss. The meeting covered such subjects as opportunities for collaboration, growing membership, and sponsorship ways to improve communications...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce Old Salem Farm as the host site for the 2018 Dressage Adequan® FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC), as well as the 2018 and 2019 Jumping Adequan® FEI North American Junior Children and Young Rider Championships (NAJChYRC) presented by Gotham North pending FEI approval. Rebecca Farm will host eventing, the NAJC and CICOY in 2018 and 2019, pending FEI approval. Photo...

The USEF Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Equestrian Team Awards took place Saturday during the President’s Luncheon at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting. The awards recognized the 2017 championship team for each of the USEF-affiliated collegiate and scholastic organizations. Each winning team, its coaches, and its individual team members showed great commitment and dedication to reach their achievements in 2017. SCAD assistant coach Abbie Gibson and US Equestrian President Murray...

Lexington, Ky. – The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte will compete in its second competition of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) winter circuit, taking place January 19-21, in Wellington, Fla. The U.S. will compete against Canada beginning with the FEI Team Test for all grades on Friday, which will count 50% toward the overall team score. The FEI Individual Test for all grades follows on Saturday, which will count 50% toward the overall team score. In...

Mark Bellissimo, the guiding force behind the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG), gave a presentation to US Equestrian Annual Meeting attendees on Wednesday. He provided his background, the vision for his properties, and details about the WEG and accompanying World Equine Expo. Bellissimo and his team operate five equestrian venues, including the Tryon International Equestrian Center, the home of the 2018 WEG, and several major competitions, such as the 12-week Winter Equestrian...

US Equestrian’s "Competition & Member Summit: Facing Challenges Together" got the organization’s Jan. 17-20 Annual Meeting started a day early on Tuesday in Lexington, Ky. The summit grew out of feedback from US Equestrian’s members, competition organizers, licensed officials, experts, and staff. It brought the equestrian community together to address some of the issues expressed by individual members, licensed officials, competition organizers, experts, and staff...

Lexington, Ky. – With an emphasis on identifying, selecting, and supporting U.S. combinations, the US Equestrian (USEF) Eventing High Performance Program has recently undergone revisions and changes that emphasize strategic development for the immediate and future goals of U.S. eventing athletes and team success. USEF announced Erik Duvander as the newly hired Eventing Performance Director in October 2017. Duvander brings with him 30 years of strategic planning and program development at...

Lexington, Ky. – The Deloitte U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team has been named for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* taking place January 4-7 at Equestrian Village in Wellington, Fla. The U.S. team will begin their competition on Friday, January 5, with the FEI Team Test for all grades. The FEI Individual Test for all grades will take place Saturday, January 6, followed by the FEI Freestyle Test for all grades on Sunday, January 7. Michele Bandinu and Soulman 13 (Tamara Torti)...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2017 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online .The 2017 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 18 at the Pegasus Awards dinner during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. Learn more about the eight 2017 Equestrians of Honor: Nancy Leigh Fisher Oconomowoc, Wisc. American Saddlebred The C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy is presented to those excelling in under saddle show breeds. In her final...