Monica Spencer (NZL), riding her own 14-year-old Thoroughbred Artist (Guillotine – Volksraad), was second and the USA’s Boyd Martin and Yankee Creek Ranch’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3 (Connor 48 – Amigo xx) took third. Caroline Pamukcu riding HSH Blake and Jennie Brannigan on FE Lifestyle, both from the USA, were fourth and fifth, respectively. For a complete set of the results from the 2025 Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, visit here.

It was Vogg’s first time competing at the Maryland 5 Star and his second 5* win (he also won in Luhmühlen in 2022 aboard Colero). He is the first Swiss event rider to win twice at the level, the first Swiss competitor to win the Maryland 5 Star, and is only the second Swiss rider ever to win a 5* (Hans Schwarzenbach won Badminton in 1951 which was the top FEI level, but at the time was called a 4*). He joins these past Maryland 5 Star winners on the prestigious list: Boyd Martin (USA) with On Cue, 2021; Tim Price (NZL) and Coup de Coeur Dudevin, 2022; Austin O’Conner (IRE) on Colorado Blue, 2023, and Oliver Townend (GBR) aboard Ballaghmor Class, 2024.  

Vogg and Cartania were in the hunt to win the CCI5*-L division from their first pass down center line in the dressage arena on Friday. They laid down a beautiful test, scoring 28.3 which put them in third after dressage behind Spencer and Artist (23.7) and Pamukcu on HSH Blake (28.2).  

Then, on Saturday, Vogg and Cartania were one of only four pairs to complete new designer Pierre Le Goupil’s (FRA) cross-country course, jumping both clear and within the time. The other three horses achieving a double-clear run were Thoroughbreds (Spencer’s Artist who ranked first after cross-country, Mia Farley’s (USA) Phelps who sat in third at the end of the day, and Sophia Hill’s (AUS) Humble Glory who finished the cross-country in seventh position). Of the 22 starters from six countries (Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, USA), 13 completed cross-country for a finish rate of 59.09% over Le Goupil’s course.

After all 13 of the 5* horses presented passed the final horse inspection Sunday morning, it was on to the show jumping phase. The competitors returned mostly in reverse order of finish from cross-country, with Pamucku jumping her horses out of order since she had two competing (HSH Tolan King in addition to Blake). Entering the arena next to last, Vogg and Cartania did what they had to do, jump clear with only 0.4 time penalties over Michel Vaillancourt’s stadium course.

When overnight leaders Spencer and Artist dropped two rails, the victory was Vogg’s. Martin and Commando 3 also left the rails up and confidently sailed around the course for double-clear to move up from fifth after cross-country to take third. Pamukcu and Blake did the same, advancing from sixth to fourth.

Vogg was able to make the trip to the Maryland 5 Star with support from a Maryland 5 Star International Riders Travel Grant. The Grant program assists elite riders from around the globe to travel to Maryland to compete.

“Many people invite me [to the U.S.] but costs are quite high. To be honest, without that grant, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Vogg said. “I am very thankful that people donated so that we can all come over.” 

Quietly smiling after the win, he admitted that he had a bet with his groom that involved her cutting his hair if he won and him cutting her hair if he didn’t. He was understandably elated on the victory, “It is unbelievable; the horse was unbelievable. Of course, I wanted to win all week, many people wanted that. She was all week mentally so strong.”   

One Degree of Separation from Boyd Martin

Sitting in the final 5* press conference, Martin shared that he, Vogg and Spencer had a connection to the area around Fair Hill. Martin’s farm is only half an hour from the showgrounds.  

“Felix was sort of living with us in America for about a year. He’s a top fella,” said Martin. “Me and Monica are a great mates; she’s my next-door neighbor. So, I love to win, but it’s not so bad being third to these two champion riders, who are both fantastic people. I feel honored to be here with them. They’re well deserved to come first and second. My horse Commando, he’s just a champion.” 

Immediately after the press conference, Vogg hopped on a plane to travel to Pratoni, Italy, (the site of the 2022 FEI World Championships) to compete five horses in a horse trials there. And, Cartania was headed home for some well-deserved rest.  

Spencer has been based in the USA for a little less than two years. All week she had shown emotion about the connection with her long-time equine partner Artist, a.k.a. “Max,” “I’ve had him since he was four and he’s just been a great horse for me. He has taken me all over the world. We come to these big events and I’m just thankful to be here. He just tries so hard.” 

Her plans for after the Maryland 5 Star included a much-deserved vacation for Max and a trip for her and her husband Andrew and son Gus to go on a vacation back to New Zealand for three weeks to visit family and friends. She hasn’t been home since moving to the USA in February 2024.  

Martin jumped on a jet right after the Maryland 5 Star as well, flying to France to compete in the Pau 5* where he will compete Cooley Nutcracker, one of fellow eventer Liz Halliday’s mounts that Martin took on during her rehabilitation from a traumatic brain injury.  

Elsewhere at the Maryland 5 Star

Maryland native Isabelle Bosley, riding Karen Martin’s 8-year-old gelding Oldenburg gelding Conner (Consiro 3 – Concetto), led the CCI3* division from start to finish, winning on a score of 24.8. From Monkton, Md., Bosley comes from an equestrian family with her parents training racehorses. She has also competed in timber racing.

“I couldn’t be happier,” she said, “It means so much to have my family and friends here supporting me this weekend. Conner was incredible; he’s such a good boy. He’s definitely not for sale.”  

Second in the 3* was Alyssa Phillips, who also maintained that spot throughout the weekend, on her 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding Rockett 19. And, third from wire to wire was Olivia Dutton riding Jewelent, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse her father competed before her.  

In the USEA Young Event Horse Championships, presented by Dubarry, the winner of the 5-Year-Old Class was Pine Top Penny Belline ridden by Kylie Cahoon. MBF Mirror Image ridden by Arielle Aharoni won the 4-Year-Old Young Event Horse Division.  

In the Maryland Corgi Cup, around 125 enthusiastic, short-legged dogs made a mad dash over several heats in the morning, then a whittled field raced a final time in the afternoon to determine the victor. First-time winner Cheese took home a trophy and gift basket from Corgi Cup producers Major League Eventing. 

The long weekend was full of other family fun, including a Kid’s Corner area with games, crafts, a petting zoo, and a Hall of Champions tent which housed successful event horses such as Jennie Brannigan’s Cambalda, two of Boyd Martin’s Olympic horses Otis Barbotiere and Black Foot Mystery, and Erin Sylvester’s Paddy the Caddy. During the lunch break on Saturday, Shetland Pony races delighted spectators too. Also on Saturday the Maryland 5 Star hosted a beer, wine and spirits festival, and on Sunday a local food vendors showcase. Throughout, there was a nice variety of shopping and dining choices, as well as live music performances. The Real Rider Cup, a Thoroughbred retraining fundraiser, a dog adoption event, and the Mars Pet Experience chalet were also part of the fun.  

For more news and the dates of the 2026 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill event, visit the Maryland 5 Star website. 

To watch replays of the action at the 2025 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, go to FEI TV via ClipMyHorse (subscription required). 

This article about the 2025 Maryland 5 Star is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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By nature, horses are nomadic herd animals. In the wild, they’re almost always on the move together—grazing and walking, grazing and walking—with short periods of rest in between.

Yet domesticated horses are often stalled, at the very least a few hours each day. They spend even more time in a stall when an injury dictates rest, or in show-circuit situations where turnout may be limited. While in most cases more time outside makes for a happier, healthier horse, there are times when keeping them in is unavoidable.

The challenge is safely maintaining and entertaining a stalled horse to support his mental and physical well-being. This breaks down into four categories: creating a calm environment; adjusting nutrition to meet his current needs; fighting dehydration; and planning activities for the horse to combat boredom.

Think Like A Horse

Carefully think through what your horse needs and wants to be happy, then try to provide that within the confines of a stall. Food, water and attention are top of the list. If the horse is injured or recovering from surgery, then of course medication and physical therapy are probably on the itinerary too. Providing all of these things interspersed throughout the day will help break up the monotony.

“Don’t use a human’s thought process as perception for a horse,” advises Kirsten Johnson, founder and owner of Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (KESMARC) in Versailles, Ky. “Think like a horse. They like to eat. They like their humans—some of them like their humans more than others. Give them a quiet, comfortable environment where they are getting the needed nutrition and grooming.”

Stall Placement & Set Up

Johnson says a horse relegated to stall rest for healing should be moved to a quieter part of the barn; a change of venue to a rehab barn may be an even better idea. She stresses that it’s important for humans working with horses on stall rest to maintain a calm, low-key demeanor, too. Be mindful of any factors that may disrupt the peace. 

“Avoid exposing the horse in full stall rest to over-stimulating situations, including other horses being turned out or ridden,” she says. “A horse on stall rest gets very anxious when he thinks he’s been left behind or isn’t doing his normal riding activity. Sometimes the worst place for a stall-bound horse is in a training barn, or whatever his normal setting is.”

One of her pet peeves is a stall with little or no bedding.

“If a horse has to be in a stall, then give him a proper bed, and make it nice and cushy,” she says. “In most cases, I prefer shavings over straw because there are fewer allergens in it. I find the cleanest, most dust-free shavings I can. But if the horse has severe allergies, then shredded paper is best. I use straw for horses with open wounds. If I have a horse with a fracture, then I want the bedding banked around the sides of the stall.”

Though it may be tempting to introduce a companion animal for the horse on stall rest, Johnson advises against that, citing experiences where it backfired. It might be OK if the horse already has an animal buddy living with him, but don’t add a new animal to the mix.

Feeding Strategies

“Feed smaller meals more frequently” headlines the advice from Tania Cubitt, Ph.D., an equine nutrition consultant based out of Virginia for Performance Horse Nutrition. These are words to live by not only for horses on stall rest, but for any horse. This helps prevent an unhealthy overload on the horse’s digestive system and offers a good distraction to reduce boredom.

Cubitt specializes in feeding strategies for special-needs horses. She says the mantra “forage first” is important. Feed a palatable, dust-free, and mold-free hay suited for the horse’s age and body condition, then augment that with concentrate (equine-specific bagged grain, fat/fiber feed, or ration balancer), depending on the individual horse’s requirements.

“Provide plenty of forage and make it available all the time to mimic grazing,” she says. “Feed hay first to slow down the rate of intake of grain.”

Cubitt says that many people don’t realize that an injured horse has similar nutritional needs to those of a horse in light work because he needs to rebuild his body. Therefore it may not be correct to cut out all concentrates in the stall-bound horse’s diet, although starches and sugars should be replaced by fats and fiber to reduce excitability.

She also recommends the following:

◆ Instead of the full portion of grain that the horse might receive when in work, pelleted ration balancers, which meet protein, vitamin and mineral requirements, may be fed along with hay to a horse on layup.

◆ Feeding treats is fine, but “everything in moderation.” She recommends forage-based or forage-only horse treats for idle horses. And, yes, the occasional carrot is fine too.

◆ Use slow feeders for hay and grain to reduce intake rate. Cubitt prefers the those that rest on the ground rather than hanging ones.

Hydration

Monitoring water intake of horses on stall rest is critical. They may back off on water consumption since their activity level is lower; this can result in dehydration and increase the risk of colic, among other serious ailments.

Cubitt advises giving wet feed, if tolerated by the horse, to increase hydration, and says feeding soaked beet pulp is one good way to do this. Johnson agrees and is a big proponent of soaking hay before feeding, too.

Activities & Hand-Walking

There are many options for in-stall activities to break up the long hours for a horse on layup. Grooming sessions are great bonding time for horse and handler and contribute to the horse’s overall health and relaxation.

You can also try carrot stretches, clicker training and other exercises. Hide treats around the stall. See if the horse responds well to soothing music. Get creative, but also keep safety and maintaining a calm environment in mind.

Johnson says not many rehabbing horses need complete stall rest for the duration of their healing, so if the horse is cleared for hand-walking around the barn or arena, that will help beat the boredom. Just know the horse and be prepared so hand-walking remains as safe as possible for horse and human.

Stall Toys & Treat Dispensers

A wide variety of fun horse treat dispensers and stall toys are available, not only for rehabbing horses; they can be great time-fillers for any horse in a stall or paddock.

There are stall balls and tug toys for the horse to grab and bounce around, hanging toys to nose and swing, rolling balls and puzzle boxes with holes that dispense treats as the horse moves the toy, hanging lickable treat dispensers and entertaining “lollypops” for horses. There are also scratch pads to mount on stall walls that allow horses to reach their itchy spots.

Recent studies in the United Kingdom¹ and the U.S.² included the use of some stall toys and treat dispensers. Both reported a reduction in stereotypical behaviors (also called barn vices, which researchers now believe are initiated by stress) in the studied horses.

Regardless of the enrichment items you choose, make sure that the toy and any mounting hardware are sturdy enough to withstand abuse from an overenthusiastic equine. Johnson cautions that some horses may overdo it with toys, annihilating the object and possibly injuring themselves in the fray, so read all directions and be cautious when introducing new playthings.

Treatment & Physiotherapy

Make sure to include an injured horse’s entire care team during the rehab process. Consult veterinarians, physiotherapists, farriers and nutritionists, as well as grooms and trainers, to create a plan. Prescribed veterinary treatment, massage, and other physiotherapy modalities will help heal the horse while also occupying its mind.

Even with a well thought-out plan to break up the boredom, Johnson says some horses on stall rest may need herbal quieting remedies or long-term sedation for their own safety if they become overly exuberant. Don’t be shy about speaking with a veterinarian if these options are necessary.

About the Experts Tania A. Cubitt, Ph.D., is an equine nutrition consultant with Performance Horse Nutrition who specializes in feeding broodmares and senior horses as well as those afflicted with gastric ulcers, metabolic syndrome, and developmental orthopedic disease. Kirsten Johnson is the founder and owner of Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (KESMARC) in Versailles, Ky. KESMARC offers a wide variety of treatment options, including a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a swimming pool, cold therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), Theraplate, and more.

¹ “The effect of a stable toy, ‘The Boredom Breaker,’ on the behaviour and welfare of stabled horses”; Ball, M.; School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol

² “Effects of environmental factors on cribbing activity by horses”; Whishera, L. et al.; 2011; Applied Animal Behavior Science 

This article about solutions for stall boredom appeared in the September 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The folks in Aachen are old pros at big equestrian events. The iconic venue has been home to equestrian competition since 1898 and they hosted the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, so expect a well-organized Championships next year. For nearly 100 years they have staged several international-level shows each season, most notably their CHIO Aachen in July when the riders, drivers, vaulters and spectators from around the world gather for top-level sport.  Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll tell you, “Aachen is not to be missed! You’ll love it there.” 

Stefanie Peters, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger, talked about their commitment to hold the 2026 Championships in an August 11 press conference, “It is a great honor for us to host these important Championships. We will do everything in our power to offer equestrian sport a stage that will do more than justice to this international highlight.”  

She listed some of targeted investments, partly funded by the German government, that are to be made in time for the World Championships. These include installing a cover over Arena 3 and modernization of the cross-country course (which is being designed by Italian Giuseppe Della Chiesa), to name just a few. “Our goal is for Aachen to continue to be seen as the global flagship of equestrian sports in the future and to set new standards for major international events.”  

FEI 2026 Aachen World Championships Schedule & Venue

The fourteen days of the 2026 Aachen World Championships competition is divided into two weeks with three sports each week. Week one features dressage, eventing and vaulting, then in week two show jumping, four-in-hand combined driving and para-dressage fill the calendar. 

There will be three competition stadiums and an outdoor course where eventing cross-country and driving marathon will be run. The Main Stadium will host the opening ceremonies, dressage, show jumping, and the final show jumping phase of eventing. Stadium 2 will be the home of the driving dressage and cones phases and eventing dressage. Stadium 3 will stage the vaulting and para-dressage classes.  

Rave Reviews for Aachen

Germany’s Isabell Werth, the most decorated dressage rider of all time, had nothing but praise for the 2006 Championships during a press conference to mark the one-year until Aachen 2026, “The FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen were the greatest championships we, as riders, have ever experienced.” 

“Aachen is the mecca of show jumping. It’s one of the greatest shows in the world,” said Olympian and U.S. Show Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, after a U.S. Team Nations Cup CSIO5* win in Aachen in July. “There’s truly nothing like winning as a team here in Aachen.” 

Six-time Olympian for the USA, McLain Ward commented on his affinity for showing at Aachen while competing there in 2024, “I think I came to Aachen for the first time 30 years ago, not to date myself, and it just never gets old.” 

2024 Olympic show jumping gold medalist Christian Kukuk from Germany attended the 2006 Aachen Championships as a 16-year-old spectator on the stands and looks forward to making a bid for his country’s team in 2026. He said he had always hoped that a Championship of this magnitude would be staged in Aachen again. “I have not forgotten that breathtaking atmosphere.”  

Tickets, Travel & Housing Tips

Tickets for this every-four-years event are selling fast with over 50 percent already purchased, so don’t wait if you want to attend in person. Ticket prices run from the 15-Euro Village Passes (with no competition seating) up to 620 Euros for a show jumping all-access pass in the Mercedes Benz Grandstand, with many affordable pricing options in between.  

Eventing cross-country and driving marathon tickets cost 50 and 30 Euros, respectively. Para-dressage tickets are free with the purchase of another ticket (stadium seating for another sport or a village pass). Reasonably priced standing-room-only stadium tickets are also available for dressage and show jumping. Ticket prices may also include local bus fare for the date on the ticket.  

Closest airports to Aachen are Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany (53 miles), Düsseldorf Airport in Germany (62 miles), Maastricht Aachen Airport (17 miles) in the Netherlands and Liège Airport (37 miles) in Belgium. Aachen transportation options include trains and buses as well as car rentals, taxis, ride share companies such as Uber and FreeNow, and bicycle rentals. When looking for housing, in addition to looking in Germany, also consider hotels and rentals in Belgium and the Netherlands due to the close proximity of Aachen to those borders. The address of the Aachen showgrounds is: Albert-Servais-Allee 50, 52070 Aachen, Germany.  

More About Aachen

The city of Aachen is located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia directly bordering Belgium to the southwest and the Netherlands to the northwest. The city has approximately 261,000 residents and is situated in the northern foothills of the High Fens and the Eifel Mountains and along the Wurm River. 

Links to More information

Ticket Sales

◆ Ticket Sales Brochure
◆ Online Ticket Sales

Television Coverage

The competition will also be available live and on demand on FEI.TV via ClipMyHorse (subscription required).

General Information

For more information about the 2026 FEI Aachen World Championships, visit their website or the 2026 Aachen FEI page.

◆ Aachen 2026 World Championships E-Newsletter
◆ Aachen Tourism (includes housing and travel information) 

2026 FEI World Endurance Championships

Fans of the seventh FEI sport, endurance, should note that the 2026 FEI World Endurance Championships will be in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, on October, 17, 2026. For more information about that competition, visit here. 

But Wait, There’s More!

Aachen 2026 also begins another exciting three-year cycle of top-tier equestrian championships with the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games following. Ticket sales for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Lima 2027 Pan American Games should open soon. (Anyone considering a trip to the Lima Pan Am Games could easily tack on a side excursion to see the historic Machu Picchu site in the Peruvian Andes too. It’s well worth the effort and organized tourism packages are readily available through approved tourism vendors listed on the Games website.)  

But before all of those, to whet the appetite of equestrian fans for international sport here in North America, the Maryland 5* at Fair Hill Three-Day Event happens October 15-19, 2025, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event April 23-26, 2026, and then April 8-12, 2026, the USA will host FEI World Cup Finals for dressage and jumping at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Watch for further updates on all of these competitions, as well as event coverage, on HorseIllustrated.com and in print in Horse Illustrated magazine. 

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While this article is specifically about showing sport horses in hand, many of the basic concepts and potential benefits also translate to showing hunter horses on the line, in western halter classes, or presenting a horse for ground jury inspection in eventing.

In-hand work also provides the basic framework for later at-liberty training and will certainly make it easier if a horse needs to be shown to a veterinarian for a pre-purchase or lameness exam.

“For me, the basis of in-hand work starts with groundwork; this leads to desensitizing, the concept of boundaries, and responsiveness to pressure or aids—all things that translate to a more well-adjusted horse and are hugely beneficial to any horse once starting under saddle work,” says Quinnten Alston. Alston is a professional rider and handler who runs his own breeding program at Quantico Sporthorses in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which has produced an impressive string of breeding class champions at prestigious shows, such as Dressage at Devon. He is also an in-house rider and sales manager for Iron Spring Farm, a successful sport horse breeding facility in Coatesville, Pa.

Purpose & Process of Showing in Hand

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) rules for Dressage Sport Horse Breeding lists the purpose “To encourage the breeding of horses suitable for dressage and to provide an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of breeding programs.”

Horses are judged on their conformation and movement and are given a “general impression” score (which may be influenced by the behavior of the horse, turnout, and other factors). The handler’s job is to present the horse in a way that can show his best qualities.

An important consideration is that the handler must be able to keep up with the horse in order to show him well in competition, so be honest in evaluating your capabilities. If in doubt, ask someone to video you working with your horse to see if you are negatively restricting his forward motion. If you aren’t physically able, it may be better to hire someone else to show your horse.

Each animal is presented one at a time in the ring (except for group breeding classes, such as “Produce of Dam” or “Get of Sire,” where related horses are shown together). The handler walks the horse into the ring for examination by a judge. The horse is first stood up for conformation evaluation; the judge walks around the horse looking at him from both sides as well as from the front and back. Next, the horse is walked around a triangle pattern, followed by trotting the triangle. Finally, the horse is set up again for evaluation before exiting the ring.

The judge stands at the apex of the triangle. He or she observes how “true” the horse travels, looking first from the back as he goes away down the first short side and then from the front as he returns on the other short side. The judge evaluates the horse’s more extended gaits as he travels on the long side of the triangle.

Getting the horse to move in a straight line is very important.

“The judge is analyzing the correctness of the gaits, which is harder to do if the horse is not moving on a straight line to or from the judge,” says Alston.

Getting Started with Showing a Horse in Hand

The aids a handler may use to communicate with the horse in hand include the handler’s body language, gentle touch-pressure applied to the body of the horse, guidance from the reins or lead, voice commands, and encouragement or direction (not punishment) using a whip.

Alston says he starts teaching a horse groundwork as early as he can, many when they are foals, after they are familiar with leading.

“Small introductions to moving away from pressure is the foundation,” he says.

The lessons start with responding to pressure applied to the front and hind end. Then, once the horse progresses on to walking and trotting in hand, he asks the horse to do both gaits on zig-zag lines. This helps the horse learn to change direction and teaches him to be more in tune with Alston’s body movement.

He also uses “square” drills: walking in a straight line, turning a 90-degree angle, continuing on a straight line again, and repeating until a square has been created. This teaches the horse to be respectful and to take into consideration where his handler is and will be going.

Alston advises that it’s easiest to have help from a whip person walking behind the horse the first couple of times so that the horse can figure out confidently walking and trotting in hand. He explains that some young horses may not understand the first time you ask them to trot in hand, but once they have a clear understanding of that, it’s as simple as asking them to be adjustable within the gaits.

“I use the terms ‘big walk/big trot’ and ‘small walk/small trot,’ but you are essentially asking the horse to cover more or less ground based on stride length,” says Alston. “I will also change my own stride length to match the horse. To accompany a bigger walk by the horse, I make my stride bigger, not faster. I always want to have the feeling that the horse is marching within his gait if I am asking for more ground cover. The movement has purpose and energy.”

Teaching your horse to stand in an open stance, then to stand square with front and back legs, and finally to go back to an open stance on the other side, is important so he understands the concept, according to Alston. However, since most of the horses he shows are young, and shows can be busy environments, he doesn’t get too focused on whether the horse is always standing perfectly in front of the judges.

He advises keeping training sessions short, 15 minutes or less, especially with younger horses, and to always end on a good note.

Equipment & Attire

USEF rules state that foals, weanlings, and yearlings may wear a leather halter with lead, but starting at age 2, horses must wear a bridle. Alston says he knows some handlers who use a bridle for yearlings, but he doesn’t until the horse turns 2. Regardless, he stresses that the halter or bridle should be well fitted to the individual horse.

“If in a bridle, the bit should be appropriate in size for the horse,” he says. “Every part of the bridle should be fit to the horse: noseband, flash, throatlatch, browband. The bridle should be practiced in prior to the show. Nothing is worse than a horse’s first introduction to a bridle being at the show.”

According to USEF rules, handlers and/or assistant handlers are allowed to carry either a dressage whip or longe whip to help direct the horse. Although Alston chooses not to carry one when he is showing, he does use a trusted assistant handler moving behind the horse with a longe whip at shows and inspections.

“I don’t always need a whip person at home, but you want to practice having that second person before you go to a show,” he explains. “If you have a horse that isn’t confident or is less forward, having a whip person while practicing can definitely be advantageous.”

The USEF rule book directs “conservative sports attire and a helmet” for handlers. Beyond that, Alston advises that the helmet be well-fitted and to wear comfortable running shoes. He doesn’t wear gloves, but knows some handlers prefer to.

For more tips from Alston and a list of USDF learning resources, visit our Introduction to Showing Sport Horses in Hand.

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Finding Connection with Therapy Horses

Horses possess a remarkable ability to connect with humans: to comfort, teach and heal. A wide variety of people are helped through equine-assisted activities at centers across North America. Special needs children and adults, veterans recovering from physical and emotional trauma, and abused women and children are just a few examples of those who benefit from spending time with these exceptional equines.

Kate Storjohann is lead instructor at the Marianna Greene Henry Special Equestrian Program (MGHSE) in Talladega, Ala., where she works with deaf, blind and multi-disabled students. She has witnessed many examples of the healing power of horses, but one story stands out. She was teaching a blind, autistic student who in the three years she had been going to MGHSE, had not spoken to anyone there.

“I was working with her one-on-one about how to groom horses when something wonderful happened,” shares Storjohann. “As we brushed, I started to guide her hand over different parts of the horse and tell her what she was feeling. After a few minutes, she started reaching out on her own. I could tell she was beginning to take an interest, so I repeated the parts of the horse. Then she said, ‘Mane?’ I had never heard her speak before. Since that day, I can ask her to find the ear, eye, nose, mane, tail, and many other parts, and she can show me where they are.”

That student has progressed to using voice commands to her therapy horse when riding as volunteers lead and walk alongside. Storjohann says that students at MGHSE learn much more than horsemanship: they gain confidence and independence, learn teamwork, refine balance and motor skills, develop character, and discover that all things are possible.

Smiling Again

At Therapeutic Riding Incorporated (TRI) in Ann Arbor, Mich., Program Director Jennifer Beyer has seen her share of miracles worked by their horses. The TRI program offers mounted adaptive horsemanship classes, work-from-the-ground wellness sessions, and para-dressage lessons, to name just a few of their activities.

Beyer recalls many examples, but the story of one young man and his bond with TRI’s Quarter Horse gelding, B Smiley, illustrates the restorative abilities of an equine companion.

Liam had been a student at TRI for several years when ongoing neurological issues caused him to be hospitalized for weeks at a time, diminishing his strength and balance.

“With every hospital stay, Liam looked forward to time at TRI,” recalls Beyer. “Coming to the barn to see ‘his’ horse, B Smiley, became his motivation to get better and stick with physical therapy. Smiley has impeccable ground manners and loves attention. When the doctors gave him the ‘all clear,’ Liam wasn’t strong enough to ride, but he came to every lesson to groom and walk Smiley. Fast forward a year, and Liam is now strong enough to ride and has made great strides with improved balance. He and Smiley are still a team, both in and out of the saddle.”

Meet the Experts Jennifer Beyer is the Program Director for Therapeutic Riding Incorporated (TRI) in Ann Arbor, Mich., where she has been on staff since 2010. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI); a bronze-level United States Equestrian Federation Para -Dressage Coach, and a Level 3 Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor of Riders with Disabilities (CHA-IRD). Kate Storjohann has been the Lead Program Instructor at the Marianna Greene Henry Special Equestrian Program in Talladega, Ala., since 2015. She first volunteered there as a high school senior, then was hired as an assistant instructor. She is a PATH Intl. CTRI, a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and a CHA-IRD.

What It Takes to Be a Therapy Horse

Beyer and Storjohann explain that their program horses come from various walks of life, but most often they hail from show, lesson barn and trail riding backgrounds. Both emphasize that to be considered, a horse needs to be sound and in current work because the job is both mentally and physically challenging. These equines work with a variety of students on any given day, and their gaits need to be even, their minds calm and willing, and their bodies able to hold up to the work.

Beyer says that there is a misconception that adaptive riding horses simply give glorified pony rides.

“This is not a cushy retirement opportunity, but a rewarding assignment for sturdy, patient and well-loved horses,” she says. “Above all else, we seek horses that have friendly, people-pleasing personalities.”

A great therapy horse is sound at the walk, trot and canter, and the quality of the horse’s movement is what benefits the participants the most, according to Storjohann.

“We utilize a wide range of input [from the] movement from our horses,” she says. “With some of our students, it is preferred that the horse have a low amount of movement as they learn to ride and acquire a proper seat. In other cases, more exaggerated movement is needed to stimulate a rider and meet their sensory needs.”

Other qualities that Beyer and Storjohann look for in ideal horses for their therapy programs:

◆ Trained, adult horses (ages 5-18 for TRI and 8-20 for MGHSE)

◆ Height range between 14-16 hands, with some exceptions

◆ Healthy, sound, a negative Coggins test, and up to date on vaccinations, deworming, dental and farrier care

◆ Rhythmic gaits; able to smoothly transition from one gait to another

◆ Comfortable being handled and ridden by a wide variety of people

◆ Good ground manners; leads, ties and stands well

◆ Stands quietly for mounting and dismounting

◆ Respects human leader’s personal space, and tolerant of multiple sidewalkers

◆ Accepting of beginner riders; tolerant and even-tempered so a student riding may be safely led around an arena

◆ Obedient to both voice and leg aids

◆ Accepting of assistive devices and equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, et cetera)

◆ Able to calmly deal with new sights, sudden sounds, and unexpected/uneven movement by the rider

◆ Must display “therapy heart” and show enjoyment in their work.

Other selection criteria may vary from program to program. For example, TRI uses some gaited horses with good results, whereas MGHSE does not accept gaited horses.

They both advise that horses with dangerous habits (i.e. bucking, kicking, biting, rearing, bolting, spooking) or horses that stumble regularly are not well-suited to this job.

It’s important to note that the qualities that make a great therapeutic riding horse may differ from a winning para-equestrian competition horse. To win nationally and internationally in para-dressage, for example, may require bigger, flashier gaits and more contact.

Donation & Training

Both MGHSE and TRI accept donated horses, and also purchase a few horses, but ask for a trial period in each case. Visit their websites for more information.

“Donating a horse to a therapeutic or adaptive riding program will change the lives of people with disabilities,” says Beyer.

Program horses go through training and desensitization exercises once they arrive, as well as refresher courses as needed. They are regularly conditioned and also get “vacation time” to decompress.

English actress Pam Brown said, “Horses lend us the wings we lack.” Talking about her students, Storjohann puts this in perspective.

“They are no longer restricted by their disabilities,” she says. “There is a freedom that can only be experienced on the back of a horse. Our students understand it best.”

This article about therapy horses appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Therapy Horses: Equine Miracle Workers appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After a long wait, accompanied by much speculation and a final dramatic turn, the official equestrian sports venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28) was finally announced by the International Olympic Committee and LA28 Organizing Committee today. Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will be the site of Olympic equestrian action for all three sports (dressage, eventing and show jumping), and likely also for the para-dressage during the 2028 Paralympics. The LA28 Olympic Games are slated for July 14-30, 2028, followed by the Paralympic Games August 15 to August 27, 2028.

Arcadia is located in Los Angeles County about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Santa Anita Park, a prestigious Thoroughbred racetrack, also hosted equestrian sports during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.  

“Santa Anita Park will be a spectacular venue for the LA28 Olympic equestrian events,” said Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) President Ingmar De Vos. “The FEI has very fond memories of Santa Anita, which had hosted the equestrian events at the 1984 Olympic Games. The venue is set to offer a breathtaking stage for all the Olympic equestrian competitions and the proximity to LA City will undoubtedly attract many spectators to Santa Anita. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with LA28 to deliver spectacular equestrian events at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.”

The Santa Anita property covers 320 acres (about 129.5 hectares) and already has grandstands that can hold 26,000 people, in addition to a park-like infield which can accommodate approximately 50,000 more. Sixty-one existing barns at the facility can house up to 2,000 horses, far more than needed for the Olympics and Paralympics.  

Unlike 1984, when the eventing cross-country was held off site on a then-brand-new golf course, for LA28 the cross-country course is planned to be staged on ground surrounding the racetrack. This will necessitate the construction of a new cross-country track.  

The announcement of the selection of Santa Anita came to big surprise to the owners of Galway Downs (Temecula, Calif.), and local and state officials who supported Galway Downs, as the previously nominated and expected venue for LA28 equestrian sports. As recently as March 28, the Los Angeles City Council had voted to accept Galway Downs as the venue.  

Two weeks later, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the LA28 Organizing Committee announced the selection of Santa Anita instead. They notified Galway Downs representatives on April 11 that they were no longer in consideration as an Olympic venue before announcing the new venue selection on April 15. 

Galway Downs owner Ken Smith issued this statement after being notified, “We are extremely surprised that we were suddenly removed from consideration. We don’t understand how, based on the March 28 City Council’s vote of approval, that this could happen. When we started this process more than four years ago, we understood the equestrian venue selection for LA28 would be a highly competitive, evolving process. Being selected as the proposed equestrian venue put Galway Downs and Temecula Valley on the world stage. We’re very proud of that, and we’re just getting started. Galway Downs will continue to host elite national and international competitions as well as additional sporting events.” 

When the 2028 Olympics were awarded to Los Angeles, the first venue for equestrian sports put forward was Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, but that would have required an entirely new equestrian sports facility be built. In June 2024, plans to use Sepulveda for LA28 equestrian sports were abandoned in favor of Galway Downs. A few other facilities were also considered briefly.  

The LA28 equestrian venue will have big shoes to fill after the splendor of the Palace of Versailles as a backdrop for the 2024 Paris Olympics equestrian sports. But, Santa Anita has sunshine, palm trees and the eye-catching San Gabriel Mountains as scenery, as well as a long history of legendary racehorses like Seabiscuit and Zenyatta—plus Hollywood movie stars attending races and investing in the track. It certainly fits the bill for iconic horse sports in the land of stars.

More Information on the LA28 Olympics

◆ LA 2028 Official Site 

◆ Ticket Information

◆ FEI Olympic Games Page

◆ IOC LA 2028 Page

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Santa Anita Park Officially Announced as LA28 Olympics Equestrian Venue appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Americans in Switzerland doing the “planes, trains and automobiles” whirlwind tour of a beautiful country filled with mountains, lakes, rivers, farms, and some pretty cool towns and cities―that’s what we were. The scenery was breathtaking looking through the windows of our Eurostar train from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, through Belgium and France where we changed trains in Paris, and finally on a national SBS train to Lausanne, Switzerland.

Honored to be working on assignment for Horse Illustrated magazine and website, I was accompanied on the trip by colleague Alan Whinery who helped me tote the luggage and equipment, planned our train routes and hotel stops, and assisted with photos and notes at the World Cup Finals. A huge thanks to him for keeping the trip running smoothly, and to my editors at Horse Illustrated, Mary Cage and Holly Caccamise!

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Swiss Stop #1: The FEI Sports Forum

In Lausanne I had the opportunity to attend the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sports) Sports Forum for two days before going on to Basel for the FEI World Cup Finals. Staged by the FEI staff and committee members, and attended by various stakeholders from around the world, the Forum is held annually in the spring. It provides a platform for presentation of current equestrian sports topics with time for open discussion from the audience. It was great to see the FEI encouraging their members to offer their thoughts and opinions for the betterment of our sport.

The Forum gives the FEI Board of Directors valuable feedback from members before they meet again later in the year to conduct the business of the organization. Topics of discussion from this year’s Forum included equine welfare, a strategic plan going forward for dressage, athlete quotas for equestrian sports at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the process to elect a new FEI president, a plan for FEI officials development and retention, and rule changes for show jumping, eventing, and driving and para-driving.

During the breaks I had the chance to interact with not only helpful FEI staff members, but also equestrians from around the globe. For instance, I met a lady from Algeria who was representing the African Equestrian Federation at the Forum. She was quite interested in knowing more about our show hunter divisions as they don’t have that competition discipline in Africa.

Located in the French speaking part of Switzerland, and situated on scenic Lake Geneva, which is bordered by snowcapped mountains, Lausanne is known as “the Olympic city” because it is the home of both the International Olympic Committee headquarters as well as the Olympic Museum. Strategically, it is also the location of the FEI headquarters in the HM King Hussein Building (sold to the FEI for 1 Euro by King Hussein’s daughter and former FEI President Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan). Alan and I made time to take photos (with my Horse Illustrated tote bag in hand, of course!) in front of the FEI building and the Olympic Museum.

As we strolled around town in the evening, we saw several LA28 Olympic countdown clocks. One displayed “1200 days, 16 hours, 50 minutes and 14 seconds” as we passed it, hinting that it won’t be long until the world’s best athletes gather in California for another Olympic and Paralympic Games. As one of the speakers at the Forum said regarding the work ahead to be done in a relatively short time before LA28, “The days are long, but the years short.”

Swiss Stop #2: The 2025 FEI World Cup Finals

After two nights in Lausanne, it was time to board another train for Basel, Switzerland, and get settled in to report on the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals for dressage, show jumping and vaulting for the next five days. The sun was setting as we boarded the train so we didn’t get much sightseeing in as the train made its way from the French-speaking section of Switzerland to the German-speaking area. (There is also an Italian-speaking region in Switzerland, and although we didn’t get there, our hotel offered television stations in all three languages as well as a few in English.)

Basel is Switzerland’s third most populous city behind Zurich and Geneva, with roughly 177,500 residents. The Rhine River runs through the city which boasts both large and small “old city” historic sections as well as many museums featuring art, history, natural history, antique and classic automobiles, toys, and other interesting things. There are also many beautiful cathedrals, one of which is the Basel Münster that has a particularly interesting history (once a Catholic cathedral, it is now Reformed Protestant church). Offered in restaurants there were Swiss specialties such as fondue, raclette (a hands-on dish where they bring you a burner to melt slices of cheese to use to smother accompanying potatoes) and, of course, Swiss chocolate.

The large, modern multi-use St. Jakobshalle (St. Jakob’s Hall) was the venue for the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals. Two short tram rides (free to visitors staying in local hotels via a “Basel Pass” you receive at check in) took us to the venue each day. St. Jakobshalle hosts a big horse show each year in January, which is one reason it was selected for the World Cup Finals this year.

The indoor main arena was bordered by seating on two sides, with VIP dining tables overlooking the arena on both ends. Quite steep stairs filed spectators up and out of the seating areas and made it seem to the competitors that the audience was right on top of them. This factor contributed to the heightened “atmosphere” and affected some of the horses’ performances, U.S. riders Adrienne Lyle’s Helix and Geñay Vaughn’s Gino among them. Riders warmed up their horses in outside arenas, then entered the hall to compete.

During the World Cup Finals, for the most part the stands were packed with knowledgeable fans (except for the dressage Grand Prix held during the work/school day on Friday afternoon when the seats were about half-empty). We noticed a surprisingly large group of U.S. fans in the audience who made the long trip to support our athletes. Many shopping booths and food vendors both inside and outside the building offered attendees many choices.

Each day, Swiss musicians and trainers from a Swiss equestrian act, staged a “Swiss Show” performance in between competition sessions. A band, complete with an Alpenhorn soloist, played traditional music and a Swiss choir belted out perfectly pitched a cappella yodels and songs. National-Circus Knie presented an at-liberty 28-horse carousel using Arabian, Andalusian, Friesian, and Lusitano stallions. The Swiss Show was capped with rhythmical beats of the Basel-based Top Secret Drum Corps, a group so impressive that actor Tom Cruise recruited them to appear in his Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning movie. It will be interesting to see what entertainment offerings the organizers in Texas will have in store for us for next April.

As journalists, we were lucky to be included in the complimentary meals offered in a large dining hall inside the building where other credentialed individuals also took their meals. The group dining there included athletes, coaches, grooms, volunteers, costumed entertainers and others―a rare opportunity to see them all interacting in the same space.

2025 FEI World Cup Finals: U.S. Athletes & Their Results

Though not a team event, U.S. athletes at the World Cup Finals are selected to compete representing the USA as individuals. This year, US Equestrian supported athletes in all three sports competing in Basel. They are listed in alphabetical order below along with their placings.

In a year with no major games (no Olympics or Pan American Games or World Championships), the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals was a chance for our U.S. athletes to gain valuable international experience to build our ranks for the Aachen (Germany) 2026 World Championships, the 2027 Pan American Games in Peru, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Our riders and coaches took full advantage of the opportunity and glimpses of great things to come shined through from our U.S. contingent.

U.S. Dressage Competitors:

◆ Kevin Kohmann (Wellington, Fla.) and Duenensee, a 2009 KWPN gelding (Dancier x Davignon I) owned by Diamante Farms and cared for by German Rodriguez, 14th in the Grand Prix (69.130%), 10th in Grand Prix Freestyle (75.535%)

◆ Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Helix, a 2012 KWPN gelding (Apache x Jazz) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, 9th in the Grand Prix (72.565%), 16th in the Grand Prix Freestyle (71.255%)

◆ Geñay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Gino, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Haarlem) owned by Michele Vaughn and cared for by Alex Levine-Nevel, 17th in the Grand Prix (62.978%), 14th in the Grand Prix Freestyle, (73.765%)

Lyle’s top-ten finish with Helix in the Grand Prix on day one, and all three U.S. combinations scoring above 70% in the Freestyle (with Kohmann and Duenensee in the top ten) on the second day were highlights for the USA.

“It was amazing walking into the arena. I had so many people here to support me―it meant a lot,” said Kohmann after their Freestyle. “Our relationship together [with Duenensee, a.k.a. Denzel] has grown so much over the past few years. I’ve never had a horse that I thought could ever take me to the places Denzel has and it’s really an honor to be able to experience moments like this with my best friend in the ring. He’s given me everything, and while tonight may not have been our most perfect performance, I could still feel him enjoying every movement and feeding off the energy of the crowd.”

U.S. Jumping Competitors:

◆ ​Kaitlin Campbell (Temecula, Calif.) and Castlefield Cornelious, a 2011 Oldenburg stallion (Cornet Obolensky x Contender) owned by Mirasol Equestrian LLC and cared for by Erick Garcia,  24th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 25th in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III, but eliminated in Round B due to a rider fall, Final result of 20th overall

◆ Shawn Casady (Harriman, Tenn.) and Cool Quarz, 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Quarz x San Patrignano Cassini) owned by Morning-Star Sporthorses, LLC and cared for Cristofer Mendoza, 28th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 30th in Class II, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 30th overall

◆ Katie Dinan (New York, N.Y.) and Out of the Blue SCF, an American-bred 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare (Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini) owned by Grant Road Partners LLC and cared for by Lou Beudin, 11th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 21st in Class II, Only combination to go clear in both Round A and B of Class III to finish 1st in that class, Final result of 8th overall and best US finish

◆ Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) and Kick On, a 2014 British Sport Horse stallion (Warrior x Caretino Glory) owned by Chansonette Farm and cared for by Kelly Rohe, 3rd in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 9th in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III and 12 faults in Round B for a tie of 17th in that class, Final result of 15th overall

◆ McKayla Langmeier (Wellington, Fla.) and Mimosa vd Rollebeek, a 2012 Belgian Warmblood mare (Castelino van de Helle x Toulon) owned by Rafferty Farm LLC and cared for Beth McGranahan, 35th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 29th in Class II, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 31st overall

◆ Alise Oken (Charlotte, N.C.) and Gelvera, a 2011 KWPN mare (Quality Time TN x Numero Uno) owned by Hi Hopes Farm LLC and cared for by Gail Sheperd and Lucile Thomas, 25th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), Eliminated in Class II for refusals, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 33rd overall

◆ Kristen Vanderveen (Wellington, Fla.) and Bull Run’s Jireh, a 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman) owned by Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. and cared for by herself, 21stin Class I (Speed & Handiness), 23rd in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III and 12 faults in Round B to finish in a tie for 17th in that class, Final result of 19th overall

◆ Alessandra Volpi (Woodside Calif.) and Gipsy Love, a 2014 Silesian Warmblood mare (Guidam Sohn x L’Espirit) owned by Cedar Fox Farm and cared for by Yuliya Pachtsennay,  ​12th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 3rd in Class II, Did not compete in Class III due to mare sustaining a heal grab injury during schooling, Final result of 26th overall

U.S. rider Laura Kraut was nominated to compete on Baloutinue, but pulled out at the last minute, stating that Baloutinue had a minor injury that was already on the mend, but said that she wanted to allow him full time to heal before the rest of the upcoming 2025 outdoor European circuit.

Notable among the U.S. jumper performances were Keenan and Kick On finishing third on the first day, Volpi and Gipsy Love taking third on day two, and Dinan’s two clear rounds (the only combination from any country to achieve that) on the final day with American-bred Out of the Blue SCF (bred by Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky).

U.S. Jumper Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland commented on the week in Basel after the final round on Sunday, “We had some really great results this week in Basel, and a few of our younger combinations really stepped up and showed off some class riding. I was really impressed today in the first round when all four of our combinations laid down clear rounds. For Katie to finish the way she did with Out of the Blue SCF was very impressive, considering none of the other combinations in the whole class delivered two consecutive clear rounds today.”

U.S. Vaulting Competitors:

◆ Daniel Janes (Stanwood, Wash.) and Caretes Auhoern, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Caretino 2 x Colman), owned and lunged by Jana Leib, and cared for by Leona Schreiner, 8th in the Tech Test (7.294), 8th in the Free Test (7.798), 8th overall

◆ Caroline Morse (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Rey Rubino, a 2017 Hanoverian gelding, (Rotspon x Christ 3) owned by Claire Bartell, cared for by Isabell Nowak, and lunged by Lars Hansen, 8th in the Tech Test (5.846), 7th in the Free Test (7.397), 8th overall

◆ Kimberly Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) and Rosenstolz 99, a 2007 Rheinlander gelding (Rosencharmeur x Fidermark), owned by Club Ippico Monzese A.S.D., cared for by Kevine Moneuse, and lunged by Laura Carnabuci, 5th in the Tech Test (7.419), 5th in the Free Test (8.765), 5th overall

There was also a vaulting Pas de Deux (pairs) division, but the USA didn’t send a pair to compete.

The U.S. vaulters were really just starting their competition season, so for them the World Cup comes early in the calendar. All three vaulters improved their scores significantly on day two in the Free Test.

Janes was chosen by the FEI for an interview for an upcoming video production called RIDE. While photographing action in the main arena, I stood near the FEI videographer who spoke with him. When she learned that I was from the USA, she told me how much he impressed her as one of her favorite interviewees and praised him for his articulate comments and his regard for and rapport with his horse.

Winners from Basel

The top three in dressage at the World Cup were Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale of Great Britain, first; Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz of Germany, second; and Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD of Norway, third. It was the first top-three finish in Dressage World Cup Finals history for a rider from Norway. Read more here.

Winners in the jumping were Julien Epaillard of France riding his home-bred Selle Français gelding Donatello d’Auge. Second was Ben Maher (despite competing with a broken foot) of Great Britain who guided Point Break to that great finish. Third was another Frenchman Kevin Staut on yet another Selle Français gelding Visconti du Telman. Read more here.

German vaulter Kathrin Meyer captured first in Individual Female Vaulting with Capitain Claus OLD, her third consecutive World Cup title. Topping the Individual Male Vaulting division was France’s Quentin Jabet with Goldjunge. Italian vaulting pair Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella proved they were the best in the Pas de Deux performing their routines aboard Orlando Tancredi. Read more here.

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Find all of the competitor lists, orders of go, results and jumping course maps from the 2025 Basel FEI World Cup Finals here.

View replays of all of the Basel World Cup action on FEI TV via the ClipMyHorse platform (premium subscription required, but a free trial may be possible) here.

On To Fort Worth 2026

So, now it’s our turn―on to Fort Worth, Texas a year from now, April 8-12, 2026, when they will host the FEI World Cup Dressage and Jumping Finals. Derek Braun, of the Fort Worth 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee and founder of Slit Rock Jumping Tour, was in Basel.

He participated in the closing ceremony there, where the FEI flag was handed off from the Basel organizers to him. In his acceptance speech he invited the world to Fort Worth to experience the Finals “Texas style.” We can only guess that means bigger than life!

“Our Split Rock team and the City of Fort Worth have been hard at work planning a world-class event unlike anything the sport has ever seen,” said Braun. “My team and I are deeply honored to be able to organize a championship like this, and we look forward to showcasing the best in jumping and dressage in one of the most impressive cities anywhere in the world! We are fully committed to making this World Cup Final the best one ever.”

Tickets and hospitality packages are already on sale. For more information, visit here.

As the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals wrapped, we packed up and hopped yet another train for our final Swiss stop, Zurich. From there it was a day’s worth of airport layovers and airplane rides before we touched down again in the USA. While we enjoyed the journey and the competition very much, it was great to be home. Now, we look forward to reporting on all of the action from Texas next spring!

This article about the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 2025 FEI Basel World Cup Finals Hands Reins to Fort Worth 2026 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Dates for the LA28 Olympic Games are July 14-30, 2028. The total quota of equestrian athletes for LA28 remains the same as for the Paris Olympic Games last year, 200 (75 for jumping, 65 for eventing and 60 for dressage). For countries who qualify to send teams, each of the three sports will have three athletes per team. And beyond that, some other countries will earn the right to send individual athletes.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos welcomed the announcement, citing the success of the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Games. “We are extremely pleased with today’s IOC decision. The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a historic success for equestrian sport, which proved very popular with the live crowds and TV and online viewers worldwide. It’s great news that our numbers remain unchanged, and we are looking forward to delivering exciting sport at the same level of excellence.”

The qualification systems for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games were just discussed at the recent FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 31 and April 1. The resulting proposals by the FEI General Assembly will be put forward to the IOC for discussion, and hopefully approval, later this year. A summary of FEI Sports Forum discussions, and the presentation made during the session dedicated to the LA28 Olympic qualification systems, are available here.

In 2026, the FEI will discuss and put forward to the IOC the rules for equestrian sports at the LA28 Games. Any day now, the IOC should confirm the equestrian venue for LA28. The Galway Downs facility just outside Temecula, Calif., and an equestrian venue in Moor Park, Calif., are being considered.

Similar confirmation announcements will be forthcoming for the LA28 Paralympics soon. The dates for the LA28 Paralympic Games will be August 15 to August 27, 2028.

Key Olympic Facts & Figures From The FEI

Equestrian will be one of the 31 sports on the program of the LA28 Olympic Games. The six medal equestrian events (3 team and 3 individual competitions, one for each sport) will be part of the 25 mixed events across all sports and the 351 events overall in LA28.

The LA28 program maintains the core athlete quota of 10,500, with an extra 698 allocated for the five new sports proposed by the LA28 Organizing Committee (baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash).

A record-breaking 50 nations participated in equestrian at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The number of nations at Paris 2024 was 49. The number of nations competing in equestrian in Los Angeles in 1984 was 30.

Equestrian sport is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete as equals from grass roots all the way up to Olympic level.

With the completion of the 2028 Games, Los Angeles will have hosted the Olympics three times (1932, 1984, 2028). The only other three-time hosts are Paris (1900, 1924 and 2024) and London (1908, 1948 and 2012).

More Information on the LA28 Olympics

◆ LA 2028 Official Site

◆ Ticket Information

◆ FEI Olympic Games Page

◆ IOC LA 2028 Page

This article about equestrian sport at the LA 2028 Olympic Games is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post All Three Equestrian Sports Receive Final Confirmation for the LA 2028 Olympic Games appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The bookends to this 10-day equestrian extravaganza are the Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping Tournament held at the beautiful 5,000-acre Weber family Thoroughbred breeding farm (this year March 13-16), and the FEI Longines League of Nations week of 5* international show jumping held at the impressively massive, bright-and-shiny World Equestrian Center (this year March 19-23). At both events, fans can see elite human and equine athletes from around the world under stately live oaks, waving palm trees and the glorious Florida sun.

Mark your calendars for these events in March 2026 and get ready to immerse yourself in the equestrian scene in the Horse Capital of the World®. (Yes, Ocala, and surrounding Marion County, Fla., have registered this title with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.) The county boasts more horses and ponies than any other in the USA with over 15,000 Thoroughbreds among them and over 600 Thoroughbred breeding farms. But, beyond that, Arabians, Quarter Horses, Gypsy Vanners, Clydesdales, European Warmbloods, and many other equine breeds call the county home, too.

2025 Live Oak International Report

It’s difficult to beat the ambience of the Weber family estate with huge, Spanish-moss-bedecked live oaks and grassy-green fields as far as the eye can see. Attendees of the Live Oak International Tournament have the rare opportunity to visit the private estate during the annual event. This year was the 34th renewal of the competition which features four days of international-level (2* and 3*) and national-level combined driving, plus three days of international-level (CSI4*) show jumping―the only event in North America showcasing the two sports together.

Hosted by the Weber family with champion driver Chester Weber and his niece and FEI show jumper Chloe Reid (daughter of Chester’s sister Juliette) as co-presidents of the tournament, there is much to do and see for sports fans and families alike. Find a great introductory video about the history of the Live Oak Tournament here.

In addition to the driving and jumping competition, Live Oak featured an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdale eight-horse hitch on Saturday afternoon, and daily performances by enthusiastic dock-diving dogs who launched into a specially-constructed pool chasing their favorite toys. The NetJets airplane simulator was also available for walkthroughs and the children’s play area with huge white sand pile and a bouncy house was a hit. A host of shopping tents, a food court featuring barbecue, wood-fired oven pizzas, Cuban food and more, and a beer garden, rounded out the fun. Event organizers reported record crowds of more than 15,000 over the four days.

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The Live Oak combined driving drew participants from five countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and United States) and 18 U.S. states (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Live Oak has become a circle-the-date event for many drivers, because it offers more atmosphere with the large crowds, a world-class venue much like those encountered in Europe, and both national and international divisions including additional classes for youth and para drivers. Many of the drivers in the international divisions were also striving to qualify for the World Championships later this year.

Two days of driven dressage tests on Thursday and Friday opened the Live Oak combined driving event, followed by the marathon phase on Saturday and then the cones class concluded the competition on Sunday.

Winners of the Live Oak international driving classes were: FEI2* Pony Single, Tina England, Odessa, Ontario, Canada; FEI2*Horse Single, Marcus Holzinger, Metamora, Mich.; FEI3* Pony Single, Janelle Marshall, Australia (now based in South Carolina); FEI3* Pony Team, Bram Chardon of the Netherlands driving American Mary Phelps’ four pinto ponies; FEI3* Horse Single, Raymond Helmuth, Cambridge, Iowa; FEI3* Horse Pair, Jacob Arnold, Paris, Ky., and FEI3* Horse Teams, Chester Weber driving his own four-in-hand, Ocala, Fla.

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The Live Oak international FEI5* show jumping classes ran Friday through Sunday with the CSI5* $190,000 Live Oak International Grand Prix, presented by Lugano Diamonds, capping the long weekend. Competitors from at least nine countries entered the jumping classes. The winner of the Lugano Grand Prix was Ireland’s Christian Coyle riding Extravaganza Semilly owned by Alexis Bodo. His brother Daniel Coyle rode Canadian owner Ariel Grange’s Farrel to second and the USA’s Will Simpson guided Imar, owned by Elizabeth Phillips, to third. The Live Oak jumping series Leading Rider Award went to Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, the Leading Lady Rider Award to Jenny Rankin (IRL), and the Leading Owner Award to Aaron Vale (USA).

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During Sunday’s Grand Prix with only five riders out of 21 starters left to go, the skies opened up and over two inches of rain fell in a little over an hour. Since lightning was also present, for the safety of all, the show committee called a pause in the competition and sent competitors back to the barn to wait out the weather. The organizers and FEI ground jury, along with several competitors, walked out into the arena as the rain slowed and talked at length about options as water covered the arena surface. The decision was made to wait another hour, which paid off since the arena surface drained incredibly well and it was safe to continue, a real testament to the construction and maintenance of the ring surface there.

“This was an exceptional day of competition, proving once again that when tested, Live Oak International is equipped to thrive,” said Weber. “Despite the weather challenges, we came together as a community of competitors and organizers to ensure the safety and success of the event. I couldn’t be prouder of our arena and our team.”

Simpson spoke of his admiration for the Live Oak show, “The organizing committee did an amazing job managing the weather and the footing. It was an incredible day of sport, and the grass fields here are second to none. I’ve always loved this show; we really have to keep these grass fields.”

For a complete list of all of the 2025 Live Oak International combined driving and show jumping participants, course maps, and results, visit here.

To watch replays of the 2025 Live Oak International Tournament go to FEI.TV on ClipMyHorse. (A paid subscription is required, but you may be eligible for a trial period. Some events are available through USEF Network via ClipMyHorse, so if you are a USEF member, check to see if you are eligible to view through that membership.)

The 2026 Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping Tournament will return for the 35th year on March 12-15, 2026. For more information, click here.

USA Wins: 2025 Longines League of Nations Ocala Synopsis

Just a couple of days after the Live Oak competition ended, international jumper riders and horses took center stage just a few miles down the road at World Equestrian Center (WEC). The current 387-acre WEC facility, completed in 2020, is designed as an equestrian community onto itself with two major hotels, a general store and other vendors, restaurants, a chapel, a huge gas station, feed and bedding suppliers, medical facilities for horses and humans, more than 15 outdoor arenas, six indoor arenas, 20 barns with over 3,000 stalls and more. The Roberts family, owners of the WEC facilities in both Florida and Ohio, actually own 6,000 acres in Florida with plans for more expansion.

This year was the second for WEC Ocala to host a leg of the FEI Longines League of Nations (LLN) show jumping series. The FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale or International Equestrian Federation) created this new Nations’ Cup competition in 2024. Riders on teams from 10 nations compete at four qualifiers in 2025: Abu Dhabi (UAE) in February; Ocala (USA) in March; Rotterdam (NED) in June, and St. Tropez-Gassin (FRA) in September.

Of the ten competing in the four qualifiers, only eight teams will ultimately qualify for the Longines League of Nations Finals in Barcelona (ESP) this October. The winner of the LLN Final of last year’s season (Germany) was automatically qualified for this year’s season series regardless of their ranking on the relevant qualification list. The remaining nine places were allocated to the nine best-ranked teams in the LLN Ranking list (excluding last year’s winner). Qualified nations for 2025 are: Belgium; France; Germany; Great Britain; Ireland; Italy; the Netherlands; Sweden; Switzerland, and the USA.

As with the other older Nations’ Cup formats, the LLN competition is run over two rounds, with identical courses. Both rounds are run according to FEI jumper rules Table A, against the clock. The ten competing nations’ teams (four riders each) all jump in the first round, followed by a rest period. Then, three riders each from the top eight teams from the first round return to compete in the second round. The team with the lowest combined score (faults) wins. The LLN competition rules can be found here.

For more information on the FEI Longines League of Nations competition, including information about each leg of the series, competitor photos, news, statistics, current standings, dates for the remainder of 2025 and the 2026 series, and more, go to their website here.

While the March 22 Ocala FEI Longines League of Nations two-round competition was a standalone event, there was a week of international 2* and 5* show jumping classes at WEC designed to augment the show for both competitors and spectators. After the first horse inspection on Tuesday, March 18, international jumper classes kicked off on Wednesday, March 19 and finished on Sunday, March 23. To find starting orders, results and course maps for the entire week of 2* and 5* jumping at the WEC, including the LLN Ocala competition, visit here.

On Thursday, March 20, a CSIO5* $350,000 Lugano Grand Prix featured many of the same riders who would compete in the LLN on Saturday. The top three finishers in that Grand Prix were Germany’s Christian Kukuk on Just Be Gentle in first, Ireland’s Cian O’ Connor riding Iron Man second and Nina Mallevaey from France on Nikka vd Bisschop third.

Kukuk talked about Just Be Gentle (an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Ludger Beerbaum Stables in Germany) who he has been riding for two years after the Grand Prix, “She’s a sharp lion and, in the ring, she wants to go fast. The more you ask of her, the more ability she gets. I am very, very happy to have her in my stable. She will step up in the Nations Cup on Saturday, and I’m excited for the rest of the year.”

The course designer for this year’s Ocala LLN leg was Alan Wade from Ireland. His courses showed his knowledge of the sport and the teams involved, and were designed with the welfare of equine and human athletes in mind. The arena was also visually appealing with gorgeous aesthetic design including jumps featuring Florida attractions as well as event sponsors.

Saturday’s Longines League of Nations main event played out in front of packed stands with spectators cheering for all competing, but cheering even louder for their home teams, of course. Riders for the U.S. team, coached by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, were Lillie Keenan on Argan de Beliard (a 15-year-old Selle Français gelding by Mylord Carthago owned by her family’s Chansonette Farm) going first, Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 (a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cascadello owned by the Carissimo Group) second to go for the USA, Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 (a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Diarado’s Boy owned by St. Bride’s Farm) in the third spot, and anchor U.S. rider McLain Ward on Ilex (a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Baltic VDL that he owns in partnership with Bonne Chance Farm and was his 2024 Paris Olympic Games mount).

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They all jumped very well in round one, with only Vale and Carissimo having one rail down and the other three clear and within the time. So, the U.S. team was sitting of a low score of only four faults after round one and in the lead by just one point over Germany. The pressure was on and the U.S. riders really stepped up in round two, with Keenan, Kraut and Ward returning to jump a second time (Vale and Carissimo were the team’s drop score from round one so didn’t return for round two).

Keenan was first again to jump for the USA in round two; she and Argan de Beliard put in another flawless round. Eight rides later, Kraut and Dorado 212 entered the ring and started off beautifully, but as Kraut worried about making the tight time allowed, she decided on a sharp turn back to the big wall (fence number 10) and Dorado unfortunately knocked some blocks off the top for four faults.

The USA and Germany remained neck and neck in the competition when Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair, going next to last in the order, turned in their second clear round of the day. So, it was all up to veteran rider Ward and Ilex to clinch the win for the USA as they entered as last to go in round two. That’s just what they did, turning in a perfect round for the USA to remain one point ahead of Germany to win the Ocala Longines League of Nations.

In a press conference after the League of Nations competition, U.S. riders and Chef d’Equipe Ridland commented on the competition and the win. Ridland praised the LLN and his team, “I’ve said it many times before, I love the format that the League of Nations has, specifically for the excitement. Of course, it’s always nice to be on the right end of the excitement. It was great that Laura added to that [when she and Dorado dropped fence 10] just to make sure McLain had some real pressure on him going out there. How things can change in that second round. We have a veteran team here and these are horses that have done it before. There’s a reason why we picked the team we have here. It’s our home Nations’ Cup, and we had some incredible competition that we had to beat. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Keenan, 28, who trains with Ward and is currently ranked number 25 in the Longines World Rankings, reflected on being the newest rider on the Team, “Anytime I get to ride alongside these riders who I have looked up to for as long as I’ve ridden a horse is pretty special. To win on home soil and to have everyone see one of the best venues in the world, and the best venue in America, is so special because we all share an incredible sport. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate it here and with a home win.”

Ward, 49, said he also loves the new LLN competition design, “I think the drama at the end is a testament to the format; it makes for excellent sport and competition. I don’t know how many times now I’ve been in that position of having to jump clear. I’d be lying to tell you it isn’t filled with some nerves and anxiety. I was going down the ramp, and when Sophie [Hinners from Germany] jumped clear, I got a smile on my face and my thought was, ‘Okay, game on. This is what we do.’ You focus. That’s what you live for.”

The win gave USA 100 points to add to the 40 they accrued in Abu Dhabi during the first leg of the 2025 LLN. This moved them up to fourth in the LLN order after the first two competitions. Ireland and Germany are currently leading the series tied on 170 points each and France is in third with 150. To see the current LLN standings after these, visit here.

All legs of the League of Nations competition may be viewed (both live and on-demand replays) on FEI.TV via Clip My Horse (paid subscription required, although a free 30-day trial is available).

View replays of the 2025 LLN Ocala competition here.

More Horsing Around Ocala

Additional equestrian competition venues in Ocala include the Florida Horse Park, and the HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) circuit. The Florida Horse Park features a large eventing course, outdoor and indoor show arenas and lots of stabling. The Park hosts virtually any kind of equestrian competition you can think of from Western to English and everything in between. These include, but are not limited to, a large draft horse show in February (the Grandview Invitational), trail and ranch horse classes, eventing, dressage, hunter-jumper, breed shows, cutting, contest classes, mounted games, polo, United States Pony Clubs rallies, and more. The HITS circuit specializes in hunter-jumper competition.

For more equestrian fun stuff in the Horse Capital of the World, consider scheduling a trail ride at one of several farms in the area or touring local farms, then cap the day with meal at one of several equestrian-branded eateries (these include places like Horse & Hounds Restaurant, Stirrups Restaurant and Yellow Pony Pub & Garden to name few). Outdoor activities, museums and cultural events abound to round out the agenda for a trip to Ocala. Find ideas for planning these activities at the Ocala-Marion County Visitor’s’ Center website or call them at (352) 438-2800, as well as the Visit Florida website section on Ocala.

One other tip for animal lovers visiting Ocala―for great wildlife viewing, check out the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and its Three Sisters Springs, located near the town of Crystal River, Fla. The refuge is located less than an hour’s drive from WEC. It is one of the best places in the world to see the endangered West Indian manatee, especially during the months of mid-November through about the end of March.

To get more nature and outdoor fun packed into your travel itinerary, Rainbow Springs State Park and Silver Springs State Park are both located near Ocala, too. Find these and more through Florida State Parks resources.

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Ten Magical Days in Ocala: From Live Oak International to Longines League of Nations & More Horsey Adventures appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

As he opened the 2025 Annual Meeting general session, President Tom O’Mara explained why the horse should be put above all else as the focus. “The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is quite simple, but also quite powerful. It’s all about the horse,” he stated. “Our industry is completely dependent on the horse. It is the reason we are all here, and the reason we were all drawn to this sport.”

In today’s social-media-filled world, a righteous and very public spotlight shines on the treatment of equines by their owners, riders, trainers and caretakers. It was reported in a recent Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sports) Ethics and Well-Being Survey that 52 percent of the non-equestrian public believes that the welfare of horses used in sports needs improving. When asked the same question, 78 percent of equestrian stakeholders stated that they think horse welfare standards need to be higher. View the study here.

So, while the general public definitely thinks that horse welfare should be better, those in the horse world are even more passionate that change needs to happen. “There is no question that horses, horse welfare, and safety need to be our top priorities,” stated Bill Moroney, US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer during the general session.

Education & Horse Welfare Sessions

Prominent on the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting agenda were two days of “It’s All About the Horse” workshops moderated by Olympic gold medalist and US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O’Connor. Day one of the workshop included an insightful panel discussion on sympathetic training methods with FEI dressage competitor Katherine Bateson-Chandler, noted horsemanship trainer Dana Glass (and husband of Olympic dressage rider Kasey Perry-Glass), and Olympic jumper Beezie Madden.

Each equestrian on the panel shared stories of how they have approached training challenges using ethical methods designed to fit the way a horse thinks. Tidbits of wisdom filled the room as they spoke. These ranged from Madden’s “The slower you go, the faster you get there” to Glass’s “The reward side [of training] for me is the ability to get there together; the horse seeks out that reward and any try they make gets rewarded” to Bateson-Chandler’s sharing that she regularly uses groundwork with the horse wearing a simple rope halter to establish trust and communication.

Day one of the “About the Horse” workshop ended with a report by Keith Dane of the Humane Society of the United States in regards to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Horse Protection Act requirement changes for 2025. The HPA is federal law prohibiting “soring” (the applying of mechanical devices or caustic substances to an animal with the intent to artificially enhancing performance) of horses at shows. The act was created to prohibit these practices at Tennessee Walking and racking horse shows.

During the second day of the “About the Horse” workshop, O’Connor challenged the various breed and sports discipline representatives in the room to outline what their groups are doing to promote equine welfare and humane training practices. One by one spokespersons from the Western Dressage of America, the Arabian Horse Association, the United States Dressage Federation, the American Morgan Horse Association, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America, and others, stood and listed their action points.

Eventually the workshop discussion led to certification of equestrian trainers and coaches. “I’m a full-on believer that our coaches should be educated and licensed, but how do we get that done?” posed O’Connor as he invited attendees back later that day for a presentation on how to be an effective coach by Dr. Cam Kiosoglous, Assistant Professor at Drexel University and long-time U.S. Rowing National Team and Olympic coach.

Other engaging educational sessions during the first two days of the convention included:

◆ “Pictures (and video) say 1,000 words―and they all matter. Viral news, social license, and the importance of communications” by Sarah Hamilton, a specialist in political campaign management and strategy, crisis communications, media relations, and message and policy development. View her full presentation here and here.

◆ “Biosecurity and medications, an explanation of microchipping and the new biometric-measuring microchips and how they safeguard horses by aiding in biosecurity and health care” by Dr. Katie Flynn, US Equestrian Senior Staff Veterinarian Equine Health and Biosecurity. Watch her presentation here.

◆ “Biosecurity and medications, a presentation on the use of pharmacology (the science of drugs and medications, including a substance’s origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology) to improve the health of equines” by Dr. Stephen Schumacher, US Equestrian Chief Veterinary Officer. View his presentation here.

Watch for posting of additional videos from the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting workshops and educational sessions as they become available here.

Nuts & Bolts Review

A statistics-packed general session, chock-full of colorful slides and upbeat videos and led by President O’Mara and CEO Moroney, rocked the house on the second afternoon. Among the impressive growth measurements cited from 2023 to 2024 were an 8 percent increase (to over 500,000) in memberships (a combination of competing, subscriber and fan membership categories), and the total number of followers on US Equestrian social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X) passing the 1.65 million mark, up 22 percent. Another impressive increase was the more than 73 million video views across all US Equestrian platforms, up more than 189 percent.

Also included in the general session was a “Journey to Gold” presentation by the US Para Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Michel Assouline about the team’s unprecedented success at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games (their first team gold and four individual golds, plus an individual silver and bronze). The depth of the seven-year strategic plan for the U.S. Para Dressage Team leading to Paris was stellar. His “Midas touch” is well-worth noting since he guided not only the U.S. team to gold in Paris last year, but before that the British Para Dressage Team to gold in all the other Paralympics offering para equestrian competition. Thankfully, Assouline’s contract to lead the U.S. Para Equestrian Team has been extended through the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.

Catch up on other 2024 US Equestrian benchmarks, and Assouline’s entire “Journey to Gold” presentation included in the US Equestrian USEF General Session video here or read the US Equestrian General Session news release here.

Additionally, a PDF document of the US Equestrian’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2028 may be downloaded here.

The International Disciplines Council meeting (which includes representatives from all of the FEI sports), held on the first day, also highlighted the U.S. Equestrian Team’s performance from Paris 2024, and other world championships from last year. Hallye Griffin, US Equestrian Director of FEI/High Performance Sport, opened with an overview of 2024 accomplishments and plans for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, plus upcoming world championships in driving, endurance and vaulting.

US Equestrian Managing Director, Sports Logistics, Steven Morrissey followed with an explanation of, among other tasks, the logistics of booking athlete and staff lodging and transportation for upcoming Games. Then, individual reports for the various FEI disciplines for the coming four-year competition cycle were delivered by the US Equestrian Managing Directors for dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, show jumping and vaulting and by Assouline for para dressage. Will Faudree, U.S. athlete representative to the FEI Eventing Forum, also gave a quick report. A National Breeds and Disciplines Council meeting was held the same day.

The final session on day two of the Annual Meeting was a rule change forum allowing attendees to weigh in on the proposed rule changes before they were presented at the Board of Directors meeting the next day. Most of the rule changes were either horse welfare or human athlete safety related.

US Equestrian Paris 2024 Media Campaign Skyrockets

Another presentation jam-packed with impressive accomplishments was “Measuring Media Success from the Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games” presented by Griffin and Carly Weilminster, US Equestrian Senior Director of Sport Communications and Social Media. During their presentation they displayed the tools and media platforms used to engage and inform the public about the US Equestrian Teams competing in France. The fan participation and views stats for Paris 2024 easily topped previous Games. One example was that US Equestrian TikTok video views increased by a whopping 965 percent.

In addition to clever use of behind-the-scenes reports and athlete spotlights, US Equestrian was able to take advantage of several celebrity visits and endorsements for their Paris media campaign. The fact that NBC sent Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg to the equestrian venue at Versailles gave a huge, positive boost to the sport. And when NFL football great Tom Brady and his daughter Vivian visited the U.S. stabling in France, US Equestrian benefitted from Brady’s huge fan base as well (95.7 percent of Brady’s followers were not US Equestrian members, so this exposed horse sports to a whole new audience). Another NFL player, Devin White who is a horse owner, sent well wishes to the the team via his social media, bringing more attention and his fans on board too.

Board Embraces New Technology

A US Equestrian Board of Directors meeting capped the convention on the final day with two sessions open to the public. Along with the normal business of running the Federation, these four newly adopted technology tools were introduced:

◆ EquiRatings: A comprehensive data analytics and content plan focused on the fan experience for the new US Equestrian Open competition.

◆ Black Horse One: A US Equestrian platform of sports data designed to give breeders, buyers, sellers, and fans information on performance and bloodlines.

◆ EZ Entry: Currently in development for proposed rollout in 2026; designed to provide a free, user-friendly, centralized entry system for organizers and members to use.

◆ USEF App: New features will be included in a rebranded US Equestrian mobile app this year.

Find an expanded report of the Board of Directors meeting actions, including adopted rule changes, and these new tech tools here.

2024 US Equestrian Equine & Human Honorees

The US Equestrian Annual Meeting features two awards banquets, one to honor the accomplishments of human equestrian athletes called the Pegasus Awards on Thursday, and the other to recognize outstanding equine athletes called the Horse of the Year Awards on Saturday. Evening wear and a festive atmosphere were the order of the day for both events. Check out this brief, very cool video review of the 2024 US Equestrian breed and sports discipline group National Champions here.

US Equestrian’s newest equine honor, the Heart Horse Award presented to a horse serving the public at one of the US Equestrian’s community outreach partners, was bestowed during the Pegasus dinner. The winner of that inaugural award, sponsored by Neue Schule, was Kilcarna French Fancy “Arnie”, a 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding from Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs in Aiken, S.C. Learn more about Arnie in this video and read more about him here.

Mette Larsen from Neue Schule Bits USA, explained why they decided to sponsor the award, “We are all about the connection between horse and rider. I have known many service horses in therapeutic programs and I’m always amazed how much they give to people, both physically and mentally. Recognizing our Heart Horse nominees, and of course, our winner, just seemed like a good fit. It’s our way of saying thanks to these amazing animals.”

Other 2024 US Equestrian Heart Horse finalists were: Bear, a 1996 Haflinger gelding from Special Equestrians, Warrington, Pa., Buck, a 1998 Paint gelding from Prancing Horse Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship, Southern Pines, N.C., and Tigerlily, a 2002 Welsh Pony from Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, Chatsworth, Calif.

During the Pegasus banquet, among the many award recipients, US Equestrian recognized 11 Equestrians of Honor and from that pool a National Equestrian of the Year and International Equestrian of the Year were chosen. Winner of the National Equestrian of the Year was hunter rider Nick Haness of San Clemente, Calif., and of the International Equestrian of the Year was Olympic eventer Liz Halliday of Lexington, Ky.

Among the many other top honors given during the Pegasus banquet, notable were the USEF/Equus Foundation Humanitarian Award won by Mary Elena Moran, the Junior Equestrian of the Year won by hunter rider Paige Walkenbach, and the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Lendon Gray.

For more about the Pegasus Award winners, visit here and see a video from the Pegasus banquet here.

For Saturday’s Horse of the Year dinner, riders, trainers, horse breeders and owners turned out in droves to celebrate the accomplishments of their favorite horses with a treasure trove of trophies. Chief among these prizes were the two National Horses of Honor, with one of those being named the National Horse of the Year, and the four International Horses of Honor, from which the International Horse of the Year was chosen.

National Horse of the Year was McQueen, a 10-year-old KWPN hunter gelding ridden by Lanie Walkenbach and Nick Haness. “There is no horse quite like him,” Walkenbach remarked, “[He] has without a doubt created a special place in my heart and I am so thankful to be his owner.”

The final award of the evening, the International Horse of the Year, went to the 2024 Olympic jumper Caracole de la Roque, a 12-year-old Selle Français mare owned by Signe Ostby and ridden for the U.S. Jumping Team by Karl Cook of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. In her acceptance speech, Ostby shared that the mare is known as “Roly Poly” around the barn and, as feisty as she is in competition, she is the opposite at home, often laying down in her stall or pasture for naps.

She said that Caracole normally jumps barefoot, but they had to use custom-made 3D-printed, glue-on plastic shoes and titanium studs milled by Cook for some pre-Olympic competitions which were held in grass arenas. She also explained that the mare competes in a bitless hackamore after warming up in a bitted bridle. “It’s an incredible honor to own a horse like Caracole,” Ostby remarked, “I am full of joy and thrilled to be her owner.”

See more about the 2024 USEF Horse of the Year winners here and watch a video of the awards program here.

2026 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Dates

Next year’s US Equestrian Annual Meeting will be held January 15-18, 2026 at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, Ky. For more information, visit here.

This article about the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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