“Every time I ask this horse to come through for me, she is just so clutch. She’s just an incredible competitor and I’m so lucky to have her by my side and in that arena. We’ve been working together for a year now and we’re just continuing to build this synergetic and symbiotic bond,” said Ebeling. “I’m just so proud of her. As I’ve said, a rider is nothing without their horse, so really, thank you, Belle.”

“Our freestyle really highlights her personality as a diva mare and is a testament to strong powerful women. The freestyle includes sections of songs from artists like Rihanna, Beyonce, and Gwen Stefani, and honestly, I don’t think anyone can do it better than a mare and that’s been the inspiration behind this freestyle,” said Ebeling of his musical selection.

Of the evening and monumental achievement, Ebeling noted the format of the competition and the opportunity to highlight the Grand Prix Freestyle a positive push the sport needs to be able to connect with more people and attract a broader audience.

“I think it’s such a great way to capture the hearts and minds of a wider audience. It’s an amazing opportunity for our sport and to show that we can make it fun and entertaining, while highlighting the incredible attributes of our horses. Getting to have my name inked on this trophy with other greats, including two Olympians, it just motivates me more to keep going and keep pushing.”

With Drombusch OLD and her own 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Destano x DiMaggio), Felicitas Hendricks (GER) set the tone in the second half of the class, earning a 78.260% to put the pressure on both Ebeling and Marek to deliver. Hendricks, who earned her qualification during the Wellington season in her campaign last spring, competed in the desert for the first time and was thrilled with both her horse and the experience.

“I’ve been with this horse for a long, long time and he just never stops impressing me. I think today was one of the best feelings we’ve had together,” said Hendricks of her ride. “It’s special when you have been partners for as long as we have and you still feel like you’re continuing to grow and develop together – getting better with every ride. I’m so thankful for him and to be able to experience this together.”

Marek (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Fayvel, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Zizi Top x Houston) owned by Cynthia Davila, finished their week with a strong third-place finish in the final class of the week, capping an incredibly strong season for the pair, which included their overall series win, alongside their FEI Grand Prix CDI5* win on Friday evening.

“What’s really fun about showing this horse is that he’s uncomplicated to ride. He lets me really ride and not hold back. With Fayvel, I can really go for it and on a night like tonight, when the pressure is on, I know I’m going to fight for it and he’s going to be right there with me every step of the way and we don’t need to hold back,” explained Marek. “It’s been an amazing week here for us in California and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete here with him.”

A total of twelve combinations moved forward to contest the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5* under the lights, with four different combinations earning personal bests, with competitors across the competition representing the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

View the full results here.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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“It’s an incredible feeling to win here,” said Martin. “This event has been so well organized, and Morven Park is one of the best venues in the world. For years, we’ve all seen the potential here. Morven Park has beautiful cross-country tracks, great rings, and a world-class facility. The US Equestrian Open has brought in amazing prize money and attracted the country’s best horses and riders and to win this inaugural event is a huge honor.”

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and the Miks Master C, a 2012 U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF), owned by Ocala Horse Properties, LLC., Deborah Palmer, and Rachael Isaacson, and cared for by Stephanie Simpson, completed the weekend on a final  combined score of 28.7 after producing a clear round int the main arena secure their win and take home the lion’s share of the $200,000 prize pot. Both Martin and Miks Master C’s names will now be added to the perpetual US Equestrian Open trophy, marking their place in history as the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final’s first-ever champions. Additionally, Martin was also awarded the MARS American Bred Talent Trophy which was award to the top-finishing U.S.-bred horse in the competition in the CCI4*-L division.

Miks Master C is a newer mount for Martin, having previously been campaigned by fellow U.S. Eventing Team athlete Liz Halliday before joining Martin’s program just over a year ago. The partnership has now found its rhythm at the top levels of the sport, with Martin noting this victory holds special significance for him, personally, his team, and the supportive team behind Miks Master C. Martin reflected on the journey of taking over the ride following Halliday’s accident in 2024, and the growing partnership he’s developed with the talented gelding.

“I’m so grateful to the owners for trusting me with one of Liz’s top horses. Miks Master C is a legend. He was Liz’s top hopeful, and this whole year we’ve just been getting to know each other. He’s an incredible horse with the right mix of power, grit, and heart.”

Martin shared that though he was still getting to know “Mikki” this year, he has always admired him. “When Liz first bought him, I was extremely jealous,” he said with a laugh. “Mikki is totally my type of horse. He has a lot of Thoroughbred in him. He’s one of those horses that moves like a Warmblood, but thinks like Thoroughbred – a true three-day eventer with an amazing gallop.”

After a thrilling cross-country phase yesterday, which featured a traditionally challenging and technical Derek di Grazia (USA)-designed track, Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and his veteran partner Off The Record entered Sunday’s jumping phase as the overnight leaders on their impressive dressage score of 25.1 However, one rail at B of the triple combination ultimately opened the door for Martin and Miks Master C to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Coleman’s strategic and polished riding across all three phases secured both second and third place aboard Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay), owned by Off The Record Syndicate, and cared for by Erin Jarboe, and  Very Dignified, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse mare (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Kateys Gem), owned by Jerome Broussard, Elizabeth Lendrum, and Gloria Callen, also cared for by Jarboe, respectively. Coleman piloted both horses to just two of the three clear rounds yesterday around the CCI4*-L track, keeping both horses competitively inline on the leaderboard. Ultimately, Off The Record would finish on a final three-phase score of 29.1, while Very Dignified, earned a 35.4, in the pair’s CCI4*-L debut together.

For the Virginia-native Coleman, the introduction of the US Equestrian Open concept to the already historic importance of the Morven Park venue in the region’s deep traditional connection to horses and horse sport, allowed the competitive atmosphere to be elevated while also offering the opportunity to showcase the sport at its best.

“It’s an awesome cross-country course on one of the best eventing-specific venues in the U.S.,” said Coleman. “Anyone who is curious about eventing or wants to see what eventing all is about; they got such an awesome taste of that here at Morven Park this weekend.”

Both riders commended course designer Chris Barnard’s (USA) track on the final day for its technical demands and tight time allowed, which kept the pressure of the moment palpable to the very last ride of the class.

“The course was good and very technical,” Martin noted. “You had to ride it almost like a jump-off. It rewarded forward, efficient riding and showed how beneficial it is to practice pure show jumping on the side.”

When asked about the future of the US Equestrian Open Eventing  Final and Series, and what the athletes hope to see as it continues to evolve and grow, Coleman shared his optimistic outlook.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “What US Equestrian has built with this series is something that’s going to continue to grow, build more momentum, attract bigger crowds, and more prize money, which is really exciting for us as athletes, for our owners, and for our teams.”

View full US Equestrian Open Eventing Final results here.

— Edited Press Release

The post Boyd Martin Makes History as First-Ever US Equestrian Open Eventing Final CCI4*-L Champion Aboard Miks Master C 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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Lexington, Ky. — Current U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello has made the difficult personal decision to step away from the role at the start of the new quadrennial. Costello will remain active in his role through the conclusion of his contract, which ends on November 30, 2024.

“It has been an incredible journey with this program and this role has brought me so much purpose over the past two years. For both personal and professional reasons, I have decided it’s time to step away and allow a fresh face to continue moving this program forward towards the success I know we’re capable of producing as a country and program,” said Costello. “It’s been an honor to work alongside our athletes, team staff, owners, and supporters to bring some incredible moments of success back to the U.S. over the past two years. It’s bittersweet, but I am looking forward to continuing to support our U.S. Eventing Team in the years to come.”

Costello has been a key figure in the program since his appointment as interim Chef d’Equipe in 2022, before transitioning full-time into the role in 2023. Under Costello’s tutelage, the U.S. Eventing Team experienced several major successes, which included, producing the first team medal at an FEI World Championship in nearly twenty years, two podium finishes at CHIO Aachen, a team silver medal at the 2023 Pan American Games, and a recent podium finish at the 2024 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Boekelo CCIO4*-NC-L. The U.S. Eventing Team finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Costello as Chef d’Equipe.

“I know I speak for everyone when I say Bobby’s commitment and leadership in this role helped the program find its feet and has set us on the upward trajectory towards future success,” said Amber Braun, Managing Director of Eventing at US Equestrian. “We’re incredibly sad to see Bobby depart this role but have nothing but gratitude and respect for the achievements and contributions he has made to U.S. Eventing during his term. We wish him all the best in his next chapter, and we will continue to focus on the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”

The search and appointment for a Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe will be announced in the near future. For additional questions, please contact Amber Braun, Managing Director of Eventing, at abraun@usef.org.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the continuation of the US Equestrian Safety Awareness Week, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to promoting safety within equestrian sport.

Scheduled to take place September 16-22, 2024, this annual week-long campaign serves to raise awareness and educate members and fans on the importance of prioritizing safety, the use of safety products, and best practices for safe riding.

Throughout the week, US Equestrian will collaborate with industry leaders to provide educational resources, industry standard updates and research, original content stories, and discounts on safety products provided by brand partners of Safety Awareness Week.

“Safety is a paramount concern for US Equestrian,” states US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “It’s imperative our members prioritize their safety when riding and interacting with horses. The information and resources provided during Safety Awareness Week are vital in our continued efforts to keep our community informed and safe when participating in the sport.”

In 2023, Safety Awareness Week was supported by US Equestrian Partners Charles Owen, Dover Saddlery, and SmartPak with other major support being provided from safety product brands.

This year, members and fans will have multiple opportunities to access educational content and information on product discounts by tuning into US Equestrian’s social media channels, Equestrian Weekly, and other platforms during the campaign.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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USEF Intermediate Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship

Reitz of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and Awesome George began the competition by scoring 66.15 penalties in the dressage phase to sit in fourth on the overall leaderboard. Dressage is not Awesome George’s favorite phase, but he went to work for Reitz.

“Dressage is not his strong point, but it is what we worked on all year, and it had gotten better,” explained Reitz. “It kept us close enough to be in the hunt.”

Reitz and her 13-year-old Dutch Harness-cross gelding had a fast, efficient marathon phase to score only 71.62 penalties. Their strong performance allowed them to win the phase and climb to the top of the standings.

“He was super game on marathon,” said Reitz. “We took some really short, technical routes. We always say, ‘One second from hero to zero.’ It is either going to work, and we are going to end up heroes, or it is not going to work, and we are going to end up zeros. We took some short, different routes in the obstacles, and it paid off in the end to give us a lead going into cones.”

Reitz and Awesome George closed out their weekend by adding only 3.00 penalties in the cones phase. Their final score of 140.77 penalties clinched the champion title.

“He was super, super relaxed and game to play along, because it was a technical cones course, and they sort of had to wait in some of the corners,” said Reitz. “Sometimes he likes to think for all of us, and he likes to get thinking too far ahead, but today he was really listening and right there in my hand.”

Allison Stroud of Kennett Square, Penn., and Enzo won the dressage phase with a score of 51.03 penalties to start of their weekend. The duo had a solid marathon phase, tallying 88.84 penalties. Stroud and Willow Star LLC’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding collected 3.72 penalties in the cones phase, finishing on an overall score of 143.59 penalties and earning the reserve champion title.

Stacey Giere of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, and Gartijn, her 9-year-old KWPN gelding, finished third on an overall score of 152.21 penalties. Judy Canavan of Limekiln, Penn., and Emily, her 17-year-old Friesian/Thoroughbred mare, finished fourth with an overall score of 158.93 penalties.

USEF Intermediate Pair Pony Combined Driving National Championship

Harris of Woodbine, Md., guided Suki, her 8-year-old Welsh Pony-cross mare, and Morwell Amber, her 14-year-old Welsh Pony mare, to the national champion title. Harris and her Welsh ponies lead the division from start to finish. They kicked things off by winning the dressage phase with a score of 62.59 penalties.

“The ponies felt really good,” said Harris of her dressage test. “They were working well together. I did feel a little bobble in one of the movements, but they recovered from that and carried on. They did really well. I was very pleased with them.”

Harris and her Welsh ponies tackled the marathon phase and maintained their position atop the leaderboard. They were the top finishers in the phase with a score of 87.24 penalties.

“I loved the course,” said Harris of the marathon. “The weather was awesome for a marathon. The ponies were listening well and were amazing.”

Harris drove a solid cones round with Suki and Morwell Amber to clinch their victory. They tallied 11.26 penalties in the cones phase to finish on an overall score of 161.09 penalties.

“They did a great job,” said Harris of her ponies. “It was very tight between me and Megan Fullgraf. She beat me in the cones, but I was able to pull it off. It was a lot of fun. I worked really hard in preparing for it. I was really excited to come and hoping for the best.”

Megan Fullgraf of Reidsville, N.C., partnered with Bayshore Pastime, her 9-year-old Dartmoor Pony mare, and Dunbarton Double Stuff Oreo, her 14-year-old Dartmoor Pony gelding, to take home the reserve champion title. They began the competition with 66.27 penalties in the dressage phase followed by 89.71 penalties in the marathon phase. Fullgraf and her Dartmoor Ponies won the cones phase after collecting 11.19 penalties, ending on an overall score of 167.17 penalties.

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U.S. Equestrian’s new headquarters were celebrated with an official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-completed, state-of-the-art headquarters located at the Kentucky Horse Park. U.S. Equestrian is the national governing body for equestrian sport in the United States. The new building will provide a collaborative work space for more than 155 employees and service the organization’s 145,000 members, 11 breeds, 18 disciplines and 20 affiliates. As part of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee family, the building proudly displays the official designation of the Olympic rings and the Paralympic symbol, and is located directly inside the main entrance at the iconic Kentucky Horse Park.

“We believe this building sets the stage for a bright, new future for U.S. Equestrian and reflects our commitment to service for all of our members, affiliates, and partners every single day,” said Murray Kessler, President of U.S. Equestrian. “This is the first time ever that the Olympic and Paralympic marks are proudly and prominently displayed on our building, which is representative of the role we play as the national governing body for equestrian sport in the U.S.”

The design and construction process was a two-year undertaking. The final product highlights the history and heritage of equestrian sport while promoting the overarching vision of U.S. Equestrian to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. The interactive and educational lobby, which also includes a ShopUSEF retail and merchandise space, provides a unique display of the diverse activities encompassed by equestrian sport in the United States.

“Our new headquarters provides a space where you can see the productivity happening,” continued Kessler. “When you have a building like this, where people can interact and you put the right departments together, the ideas flow and great things happen. We’re passionate about our vision, and our vision is to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. I truly believe this building will help us do that better than ever before.”

The Importance of U.S. Equestrian’s New Headquarters

The decision to construct a new building was the result of a thorough cost analysis by the U.S. Equestrian Board of Directors and executive staff, leading up to the expiration of the long-term lease on the former office site within the Kentucky Horse Park. The new headquarters is estimated to generate more than $200,000 in annual savings, which will be repurposed to better serve the needs of the organization’s membership and re-assert U.S. Equestrian’s commitment to preserve its location at the horse park.

“This day is monumental in that not only does it talk about our relationship, but the commitment the U.S. Equestrian Federation has made to the horse park, to our state, to our sport, and to our city,” said Laura Prewitt, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park.

U.S. Equestrian has worked closely with both state and local government officials to support the organization’s desire to have their key operational space continue to be located in the state of Kentucky. Lexington’s Mayor Linda Gorton spoke to the impact of the equine and agricultural industry on the Central Kentucky region, and the importance of ensuring a successful future here for U.S. Equestrian.

“The Kentucky Horse Park is home to dozens of equine-related associations,” said Mayor Gorton. “Organizations that represent different breeds, different professions, different activities, and we are so proud to say that one of these organizations is the United States Equestrian Federation, which has now built what we hope will be a permanent home at the horse park. I’m a strong supporter of our equine industry – it’s a key part of our signature brand here in Fayette County and Central Kentucky, as is the horse park. The farms that surround our city sustain our economic health and quality of life.”

Secretary Don Parkinson of the Kentucky Tourism, Art & Heritage Cabinet also spoke to the profound importance the presence of U.S. Equestrian’s headquarters has for the tourism industry and for the other associations and businesses that reside at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“This organization is so important to all of us here in Kentucky, as well as here at the horse park,” commented Secretary Parkinson. “Having this anchor all of the horse industry here is so very important to everyone at the horse park. We have over 30 organizations that are officed here, and it was really important that we have the big capstone with U.S. Equestrian.”

U.S. Equestrian extended its sincerest thanks to the following contractors, individuals and partners for their continued support and dedication to this project, as well as to the U.S. Equestrian staff for their flexibility and patience as construction completed.

• DW Wilburn: Doug Wilburn, Kim Blethen, Kevin Taylor & Mitchell Roe
• Integrity Architecture: Joey Nolasco, Joe Rasnick, Aaron Bivens, Adam Gillett and Carrie Hendrickson
• ID&A: Jessica Hardin, Abby Hall, Alicia Hester and Jordan Hope
• PNC: John Gohmann and David Kidd
• Nomi Design: Matthew Brooks, Melody Jackson and Jeremy Clements
• Kentucky Horse Park: Laura Prewitt and Jonathan Lang
• Kentucky State Department: Don Parkinson, Secretary of Tourism, Arts, and Heritage; and Regina Stivers, Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Arts, and Heritage
• Sarah Lockwood-Taylor
• U.S. Equestrian Staff – David Harris, Vicki Lowell, Jessica Strayer, Ian Thornton, Ryan Hays, Josh Talboo and Will JUSohnson

To learn more about U.S. Equestrian, please visit www.usef.org.

The post U.S. Equestrian’s New Headquarters Was Celebrated at the Official Grand Opening of the New Building at the Kentucky Horse Park appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.