News

Dates and locations of US Equestrian Open of Eventing Qualifier Events.

Details: October 1, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the locations and dates for the 2024 and 2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Qualifier Events.

Eventing Final The US Equestrian Open of Eventing will consist of 19 qualifying events around the country leading into the series final, to be hosted at Morven Park International, ultimately crowning the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing champion.

“It is exciting to see the support and collaboration from the U.S. Eventing CCI4*-S Organizers around the country, and we thank them for their participation in the US Equestrian Open Eventing Series,” said USEF Managing Director of Eventing, Amber Braun. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the top of our sport to a broader audience. The Open also marks an unprecedented amount of prize money available to riders in the U.S. competing at the CCI4* level, which shows further investment into the future of our sport. Morven Park and their team share our vision and excitement for the potential of this series and the venue offers a world-class CCI4*-L cross-country course to create an exciting finals experience.”

The following locations will host qualifying events for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing.

This list may be subject to updates throughout the Qualifying Period.

Nations Cup team for Frontera, Spain

Details: September 30, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Vejer CSIO3* hosted from Oct. 23-27 in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.

Nations Cup team for Frontera The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski and Team Leader Erin Keating.

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Anna Dryden of Towson, Md.

Raleigh Hiler of Boston, Mass.

Taylor Kain of Ommen, Netherlands

Vani Khosla of Portola Valley, Calif.

Zayna Rizvi of Wellington, Fla.

Competition Information

Competition for the U.S. Jumping Team will begin on Thursday, Oct.24, and will feature the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Andalucía October Tour CSIO3* on Friday, Oct.25, featuring two rounds of competition at 1.50m in height.

The week will conclude with the Grand Prix of Vejer de la Frontera on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Alex Matz is on League of Nations Jumping Nations Cup Final team

Details: September 25, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the United States at the League of Nations Jumping Final hosted in Barcelona, Spain, from Oct. 3-6.

N C Final team The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson.

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Lucy Davis Kennedy of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Alex Matz of Coatesville, Pa.

Spencer Smith of Wellington, Fla.

Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla.

Competition Information

The League of Nations Jumping Final will take place at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain, and feature the top eight teams from the qualifying season along with a team representing the host nation of Spain.

The Grand Prix of the City of Barcelona CSIO5* will take place on Friday, Oct. 4, beginning at 9:00 p.m., which is 3:00 p.m. ET, while the first annual League of Nations Jumping Final will begin at 2:00 p.m., which is 8:00 a.m. ET. on Sunday, Oct. 6.

The League of Nations Final will be live streamed on ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV with a ClipMyHorse.TV Premium Membership.

USEF Subscribers, Competing Members, and Fans receive a 10% discount on ClipMyHorse.TV Premium Memberships.

Janon Fisher III, champion steeplechase rider, died Sept. 9

Details: September 18, 2024; By Staff Writers

FREELAND, Md.--Janon Fisher III,90, a champion steeplechase rider and horse trainer, died of heart failure Sept. 9 at his Freeland home.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Mr. Fisher grew up fox hunting and training horses with his father, Janon Fisher Jr. His mother was Margie James Fisher.

He attended Gilman School until the 12th grade.

He joined the Marine Corps in 1952 at the age of 18 and was an aerial photographer stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.

“He captured the attention of steeplechase fans as the rider of the bay gelding Mountain Dew, trained by his father, Janon Fisher Jr., against rival Jay Trump, ridden by Tommy Smith, in the 1960s,” said his son, Janon Fisher IV.

Fisher rode Mountain Dew for eight seasons.

He won three Maryland Hunt Cups, in 1962, 1965 and 1967 and finished second to rival Jay Trump in 1963, 1964 and 1966.

New series for jumping, eventing and dressage to offer over $1 million in finals

Details: September 11, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--U.S. Equestrian is beginning a new series for the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping that is aimed at increasing the visibility of equestrian sport in the United State.

But w Marcus Orlob on Jane Allen MacMillan Marcus Orlob on Jane, an up and coming dressage competitor who made it to the Olympics (Photo by Allen MacMillan)hat it may end up doing might be even more important.

It may draw more new and younger competitors into eventing and dressage.

Jumping already has programs in place to introduce new competitors to international competition between the young rider Nations Cup series with Ann Kursinski as chef d'equipe and chef d'equipe Robert Ridland's system of using one or two young riders with veterans in Nations Cups.

Both eventing and dressage need more new, young riders introduced to the level at which international competitions are held, and this series may help by offering over $1 million at the series final.

Each discipline’s series will consist of qualifying events that lead up to a final that names a US Equestrian Open champion.

All three finals will be broadcast globally on ESPN.

The US Equestrian Open series will officially commence with the first qualifying event in the discipline of eventing during fall 2024.

Laura Chapot heads the list of competitors at the Devon Fall Classic

Details: September 9, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J., leads the list of show jumpers who will begin competing at the Devon Fall Classic on Thursday, Sept. 12,

Laura Chapot on Calafornia KindMedia 1 Laura Chapot on Calafornia winning at Lake Placid (Photo by KindMedia)
Chapot has won the Grand Prix at the Fall Classic a number of times, and she is taking three horses to the Fall Classic this year to try to win it yet again.

Chapot, who is a favorite with Devon spectators, has also been Leading Rider at the spring Devon Horse Show and Country Fair a number of times.

She will competing on C & C Willow, Calafornia and Ginola at the Fall Classic, which runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 15.

The prize money for the Open Speed Stake on Friday evening has been doubled to $10,000, and Chapot, who is known for her prowess is speed classes, will certainly be aiming to win that class, too.

The Open Jumper sections begins with the $5,000 Welcome Stake at 7 p.m. Thursday evening, and the featured $25,000 Devon Fall Classic is at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

The featured class of the Junior/Amateur section, the $7,500 SJHOF 1.45m Jr./Amateur Classic, is the last class Saturday afternoon.

A spectator favorite is the Devon Leadline Competition, the cutest class of the show, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, not before 1:00 pm.

U.S. is one of the favorites in team Para Dressage

Details: September 5, 2024; By Staff Writers

VERSAILLES, France--The U.S. and Netherlands are favored to win a team gold at the para Dressage on Friday, Sept. 6.

Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes by Sarah Miller MacMillan Photography DSC 0173 Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes(Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan Photography)
Teams will consist of three riders, with eah rider competing at his or her level and with all three scores to count to a team total..

Roxanne Trunnell goes at 7:10 a..m Eastern followed by Fiona Howard at 9:35 Eastern and Rebecca Hart at 10:48.

Great Britain has won the team gold in all seven previous Games since Para Equestrian joined the Paralympic programme at Atlanta in 1996, but that streak will be threatened on Friday, the third day of competition at Versailles.

The Brits winning margin at Tokyo 2020 was only 0.656, scoring 229.905 overall with the Netherlands on 229.249.

The Dutch have enjoyed a strong opening two days in the Individual events at Versailles, with Rixt van der Horst winning silver on Royal Fonq in Grade III on Tuesday, while Demi Haerkens won Grade IV gold on Daula and Sanne Voets wiinnng silver on Demanturon Wednesday.

But the United States has done even better, with golds for Hart on Floratina in Grade III and Howard on Diamond Dunes in Grade II, plus silver for Trunnell on Fan Tastico H in Grade I.

Para Dressage begins Tuesday, Sept.3, with Roxanne Tunnell, defending Olympic champion, at 9:15 a.m.

Details: September 2, 2024; By Staff Writers

VERSAILLES, France--Para Dressage begins Tuesday, Sept.2 with five categories of competition, rated one to five based on degree of disability, with 1 being with the worst disabilities, competing only at a walk, and IV and V being the least, competing at a walk, trot and canter.

Roxanne Trunnell wins gold Roxanne Trunnell won gold on Dalton in Tokyo
Grades I, II, and III go tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept.3, with Grades IV and V going on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Grade !!! begins at 3 a.m., Eastern, with Rebecca Hart on Floratina competing at 4:49 a.m. as the 12th of 13 competitors.

Grade II begins a 5:45 a.m., with Fiona Howard, in her first Olympics, going at 6:03 Eastern on Diamon Dunes as the third of nine competitors.

Grade I begins at 7:45 a.m., Eastern, with defending Olympian gold medalist Roxanne Trunnell on a new mount, Fan Tastico H, going at 9:15 a.m., Eastern as the 11th of 22 competitors.

On Wednesday, Grade IV begins at 4a.m., Eastern,, with Kate Shoemaker on Vianne going at 5:58 a.m., Eastern as the 13th of 15 competitors.

Grade V begins at 6:55 a..m., Eastern with no American competitor.

Young Riders and Junior Riders for Youth Nations Cup in Belgium

Details: August 20, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders and horses selected to represent U.S. Jumping at the 2024 FEI Youth Jumping Nations Cup Final to be hosted in Lier, Belgium, from Sept. 12-15.

youth team Both the U.S. Jumping Young Rider Team and U.S. Jumping Junior Team and will be led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski and Team Leader Erin Keating.

The following riders have been selected to the U.S. Jumping Young Rider Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Mia Bagnato of Fishkill, N.Y., on Ballyoskill Big Bucks, a 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Royal Concorde x Lux Z) owned by Elan Farm

Hunter Champey of Far Hills, N.J., on High Hopes SFN, a 2012 KWPN gelding (Numero Uno x Lupicor) owned by MDHT Equestrian, LLC

Stephanie Garrett of New York, N.Y., on Darius de Kezeg Z, a 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Darco x Heartbreaker) owned by Postage Stamp Farm, LLC

Lola Head of Houston, Texas on her own Chelaine de Blondel, a Selle Français mare (Non Stop x Kassidi)

Laurel Walker of Copper Canyon, Texas on her own Armani, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Namelus R x Lester)

Temple Gwathmey Foundation's Ireland trips keep youngsters in steeplechasing

Details: August 15, 2024; By Staff Writers

By Betsy Burke Parker

As far as an investment strategy, American steeplechasing's unique young rider training experience to Ireland gets a gold star rating.

Virginia Korrell with Richard Valentine at Radnor (Photo by Tod Marks)From the first International Developing Rider trip in 2014 to today’s group (which, at press time, were just returning from Ireland), the unique program continues to pay huge dividends to the sport.

Co-founder Sam Slater says the infusion of knowledge gathered by young riders exploring Irish racing, steeplechasing, bloodstock and culture benefits the domestic product in myriad ways. Executive director of the sponsoring Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, Alissa Norman agrees, explaining that the trickle-down process could takes years, decades even.

But it’ll be worth it.

“The ultimate goal of this trip is to help grow the sport. We're delighted to retain a vast majority of our participants as owners, supporters and general steeplechase enthusiasts,” Norman says. “For our sport – any sport, to be successful, we need more up-and-coming owners, officials, even fans.”

The past performance lines tell the tale: most of steeplechasing's owners, trainers, officials and sport executives of the future – even turf writers – begin their development as junior and amateur riders.

Laura Kraut and Mclain Ward head team for Dublin Horse Show

Details: August 13, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the RDS Dublin Horse Show CSIO5* hosted in Dublin, Ireland, from Wednesday, Aug.14, through Sunday Aug. 18, 2024.

Team for Dublin HS The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson.

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.
• Lucy Davis of Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
• Spencer Smith of Wellington, Fla.
• Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla.
• McLain Wardof (Brewster, N.Y.

Competition Information

The RDS Dublin Horse Show will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 14, and continue with top-level international jumping classes through the week, concluding with the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, Aug 18.

The Jumping Nations Cup of Ireland CSIO5* for the Aga Khan Trophy is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on Friday, Aug. 16.

Letter to the Editor

Details: July 30, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

The fact remains that our Three Day team would have won a silver medal if Blake had not had a 20 point penalty on a glance off runout with 10 accompanying time faults In the cross country.

The Cross country was too easy so that one runout by one horse was enough to take a team from second to seventh.

The dressage scores should not determine the medals.

Dressage should count fo 25% cross Country for 50% and Stadium jumping for 25% and the difficulty should be weighted that way.

The 5 star event at Fair Hill is a much better competition and better test of a horse and rider than this Olympics.

Cynthia McGinnes

Dressage start times for U.S. riders

Details: July 29, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

VERSAILLES, France--Dressage competition begins Tuesday, July 30 with competitors in the Grand Prix team and individual competition divided into six groups, with Groups A, B, and C competing on Tuesday beginning st 5 am Eastern, and Groups D, E, and F competing on Wednesday beginning at 4 am Eastern.

Adrienne Lyle on Helix Andrew Ryback Adrienne Lyle on Helix (Photo by Andrew Ryback)For the U.S., Marcus Orlob on Jane competes in Group B at 7:57 am Eastern, and Adrienne Lyle on Helix competes in Group C at 9:52 am Eastern on Tuesday.

Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper competes on Wednesday in Group F at 9:01 am Eastern.

Others on interest include Germans Frederic Wandress on Bluetooth OLD at 7:09 in Group B on Tuesday and Isabell Werth on Wendy at 5:25 am in Group D on Wednesday, and Great Britain's Carl Hester on Fame at 6:25 am in Group A Tuesday and Charlotte Fry on Glamourdale at 4 am in Group D on Wednesday.

Germany is the favorite to win Dressage Olympic gold, with U.S. vying for a medal

Details: July 27, 2024; By Staff Writers

Olympic Dressage has long been dominated by Germany.

Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper (Photo by Susan Stickle)Since the first edition of the team event in Amsterdam in 1928 only four countries - France, Sweden, what was then the Soviet Union and Great Britain - have ever succeeded in beating Germany.

And with a phenomenal 14 team golds from 21 team contests, Germany arrives at the Paris 2024 Games with a pep in their step once again.

That extra energy is due in no small part to the emergence of a really exciting new partnership between the most decorated rider in the history of equestrian sport and an exciting new horse.

At CDIO Aachen 5* a few short weeks ago, Isabell Werth created a sensation with her performances from the 10-year-old mare Wendy which she only started riding six months ago, posting a hat-trick of victories in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Scoring 89.95 in the Freestyle, she threw down a marker clearly indicating her intentions, and the pair’s selection has given the German team a whole new dimension.

Will Coleman now scheduled to ride Diabolo at the Paris Olympics

Details: July 24, 2024; By Staff Writers

VERSAILLES, France--US Equestrian announced a change to the Eventing team for Paris.

Will Coleman on Diablo Allen MacMillan Will Coleman on Diabolo at Kentucky 3-Fay Event (Photo by Allen MacMillan)U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello has confirmed U.S. Eventing Team rider Will Coleman will now compete direct reserve selection, Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Aljano 2) owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Hailey Burlock & Erin Jarboe.

Diabolo will replace Coleman’s initially selected mount, Off The Record.

Diabolo will now join the three-member team ridden by Coleman, along with Boyd Martin on Fedarman B and Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake.

Diabolo finished first in the competitive CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, finishing on his dressage score as one of only two to ever achieve that honor.

Coleman had very lightly competed Diabolo in 22023, electing instead to get to know the horse at home before entering an Event.

“We bought the horse last year and I can’t thank the people enough who came together to acquire him for me,” he said of the Diabolo Group LLC. “I think we’re only just getting started and I really hope that we can just continue to bring him to his full potential.”

Phoebe Fisher, Beverly Alcock and James Wyatt chosen for Temple Gwathmy young rider trip to Ireland

Details: July 22, 2024; By Staff Writers

The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation announced the three participants in this year's developing rider training trip to Ireland in an article by Betsy Burke Parker.

Following are excerpts from Parker's articles.

Phoebe Fisher on Go TakeCharge in a training flat race a Winterthur TodMarks Phoebe Fisher on Go Take Charge in a training flat race a Winterthur (Photo by Tod Marks)Past participants such as Dr. Jacob Crotts, a 2014 program participant, current leading international jockey Taylor Kingsley, 2022, and Skylar McKenna, Chloe Hannum, Virginia Korrell and Elizabeth Scully from the 2019 trip have gone on to contribute to the success of steeplechasing.

There is a long, detailed application process over a few months used to choose the participants.

This year's trip, from July 20-27, includes Phoebe Fisher, Beverly Alcock and James Wyatt, all three with ties to the U.S. jump racing world.

The trips include visits to the top training yards and racecourses in Ireland.

PHOEBE FISHER of Unionville, Pa., is the daughter of Rush and Phoebe Fisher, her uncle is Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher, and her grandfather is Dr. John Fisher.