by Nancy Jaffer | May 27, 2025
Reacting to “recent opinion pieces that raise critical concerns and alarming allegations regarding the unethical treatment of horses in our sport,” the U.S. Equestrian Federation Tuesday sent out a strongly worded statement calling on “every member of the equestrian community…to stand up for our horses.”
USEF CEO Bill Moroney and COO/Legal Counsel Sonja Keating advise that “When we unite, we can transform the sport, making it stronger and more sustainable for the future.”
Click here to read an article on this website about discussion involving governmental oversight of horse sports.
Moroney and Keating noted, “We call on every member of the equestrian community to join us and stand up for our horses. When we unite, we can transform the sport, making it stronger and more sustainable for the future.”
Here is what else they had to say: We unequivocally agree that we cannot tolerate mistreatment or doping of horses. Such actions are harmful to horses and bring our sport into disrepute. As a community, we are responsible for holding each other accountable to ensure the respectful treatment and proper care that horses deserve.
USEF maintains sport integrity and horse welfare through regulations. We are focused on strengthening our enforcement mechanisms while maintaining integrity in our processes. We want to share the following most recent measures and efforts to improve our sport and safeguard horses.
• Establishment of stricter penalty guidelines for rule violations.
• Expansion of rule enforcement for unethical treatment of horses.
• Adoption of the requirement that members must participate in investigations.
• Introduction of a new warning card system, with real-time online updates for issued warnings.
• Allocation of additional resources for investigating and resolving reports of horse abuse and doping.
• Simplification of reporting methods through electronic reporting forms online and an anonymous texting platform for making reports. Learn more here.
• Redesign of the USEF website for more user-friendly access to information regarding the unethical treatment of the horse and the disciplinary process. Learn more here.
• Innovative advancements in operations for the equine anti-doping sample collection and case management system.
Additional efforts for implementation by January 1, 2026:
• Enhance the equine anti-doping program by collecting and testing hair samples to detect prohibited substances.
• Expand educational resources on unethical treatment of the horse and demystifying the USEF disciplinary process.
• Create resources on what a good life for horses means, such as providing adequate nutrition, recognizing signs of exhaustion, distress, or onset of illness, and proper veterinary care.
• Educate licensed officials, participants, and competition management on the unethical treatment of horses and the new warning card system.
• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of USEF licensed officials and appropriate actions to take for unacceptable conduct.
• Enhance sports governance structures, transparency, compliance, and training for USEF stakeholders.
• Host live town halls on USEF’s horse protection efforts.
• Establish opportunities for dialogue and improve communication.
Your vigilance will promote a safe and respectful environment for our horses to train and compete. Our equestrian community must unite and uphold standards of good conduct, where every member actively fosters an environment of accountability and respect.
We need you to promote respect and make a positive impact in the following ways:
• Always be a role model of good sportsmanship and horsemanship.
• Verify facts. Fact-check headlines and emotionally charged social media posts from credible sources before sharing to avoid misinformation and hasty judgments.
• Don’t gossip or spread information you have not verified. It harms our sport and further threatens our social license to operate. Second-hand or third-hand information is often unreliable information.
• Report incidents to USEF that you see or know to be true; we rely on your awareness. Know your reporting obligations and Know how to report.
• Immediately document the incident with a photo or video and notify a Steward, TD, or Competition Management if on competition grounds. Always notify USEF whether the incident occurs on or off competition grounds.
• Text 28733 (2USEF) or complete a report form to report any concerns.
• Familiarize yourself with the four-step resolution process for reports and the timelines for resolving reported rule violations.
• Disciplinary proceedings are legal proceedings. Initiating disciplinary action requires a logical and rational unbiased assessment of the facts and circumstances. Thoroughness in the fact-finding stage is crucial, and it takes time. USEF affords members a fair and equitable process, which is time-consuming. The resolution may extend longer when criminal authorities or civil litigation is involved. USEF collaborates with but does not interfere in criminal investigations or civil lawsuits. As a private association, USEF lacks subpoena power. Criminal and civil proceedings have greater access to compel witnesses and information, leading to the discovery of evidence. Information from those proceedings aids in resolving matters through USEF disciplinary processes.
• Recognize that USEF cannot take disciplinary action based solely on gossip, a tip, or video posted to Facebook or other social media platforms. Eyewitness testimony or other evidence must corroborate an incident to prove a rule violation and withstand legal scrutiny.
• Educate yourself on USEF drug and medication guidelines.
• Keep informed of the latest research and evolving best practices for training techniques and equipment use.
• Provide constructive feedback by emailing feedback@usef.org. Your constructive feedback is essential. We ask that you provide it respectfully and thereby contribute positively to the improvement and growth of our community.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 6, 2025
Things went well for the USA in one discipline in Europe over the weekend, but not so well in another.
At the Hagen, Germany CDI 3-star Friday, the U.S. was 1-2-3 in the Grand Prix Special, with Kevin Kohmann winning the class, just as he did in the Grand Prix on Thursday. His ride, the elegant Dünensee came close to breaking 70 percent with a score of 69.170. The formidable black Hanoverian looked even better than he did in September, when he won the FEI World Cup qualifier during Dressage at Devon.
Kevin Kohmann has an appreciative pat for Dünensee after the Grand Prix Special.
Kasey Perry-Glass, an Olympic team medalist, finished second with 68.681 on Heartbeat WP. Her score was lowered by a jumble of one-time changes on the center line between the pirouettes, for which she got a mark of 4 from every judge.
Jennifer Williams and Joppe K were right behind with 68.021, making quite a comeback from the Grand Prix, where they were fifteenth after problems in their initial passage/piaffe/passage . Further back in the Special in sixth was Benjamin Ebeling on Bellena (65.340) while Marcus Orlob and Jane had a few problems to finish seventh on 65.213. Jane received two marks of three for the final passage/piaffe/passage transition and a number of 4s sprinkled among that movement, her entrance and the line of one-time changes.
In the Grand Prix, Jane — who is known for her sensitivity — reared at the first halt, and ran into trouble at the end of the line of one-time changes. She was fourth in that competition, behind Bellena.
Click here for Grand Prix Special results
At La Baule France, Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix went to Daniel Deusser of Germany on Otello de Goldenblum. Clocked in 37.22 seconds in the eight-horse tiebreaker, he was well ahead of Colombia’s Rene Lopez de Lizarazo on Londina in 38.36.
Had Rene won, it would have been the greatest victory of his career for the 61-year-old South American rider, who has been living in the Lorraine region of France for more than 30 years.
The USA’s McLain Ward on his new star, Imperial HBF, was third with a time of 39.17. Spencer Smith was the next-best American, fifteenth with Cassina.
As McLain noted, “I could have perhaps gained several tenths of a second, but Daniel was too good today. I haven’t been riding Imperial for that long – it was just our third competition together. He’s shown that he is capable of great results, such as at the Nations Cup in Rome with a double clear round. As a result, this podium finish is a great joy, especially here in La Baule at a wonderful competition in front of outstanding crowds”.
The winner knew what he had to do with his stallion to take the top prize of $165,000 Euros ($188,000).
“To be honest,” said Daniel, “I did not watch Rene’s ride-off. I was lucky enough to start the ride-off last. I drew up my plan after having seen Mclain’s round. I knew the right amounts of strides it would take.
“I’m really very happy with my horse because he did exactly what I wanted him to do. It’s a great day for me. Stephan Conter bought this horse three years ago because he was convinced about his potential. He had already won events but never at this level. It’s his first victory in a 5-star grand prix and all the team is very proud of it.”
Click here for grand prix results.
The U.S. Senior Nations Cup winning streak ended Friday when the team didn’t make the cut for the second round. Only eight of 10 nations qualified, and the USA’s 13-penalty score was higher than that accumulated by the countries with 12 penalties that got to round two.
“Today did not go exactly to plan. There were some highlights but there were also some things that were not up to par,” Coach Robert Ridland mused after his squad’s ninth-place finish.
“Of course, we always look to learn from these days and aim to come back with better results next time. We have had a great run of three Nations Cup wins, and today was a day of lessons learned.”
In the first round, the best American score on the course laid out by Olympic designer Gregory Bodo was Lillie Keenan’s single time penalty on Argan de Beliard, Spencer Smith had 8 with Cassina, while Laura Kraut logged two jumping penalties with Dorado and additionally had an expensive time penalty that made her the drop score. McLain Ward and Ilex were going well until they dislodged a rail at the last element of the double on the final line.
McLainn Ward and Ilex at La Baule.
The Cup went to Ireland, which had just won a Cup in Langley, British Columbia last month. The Irish had three clear trips in the second round, which meant anchor rider Cian O’Connor didn’t have to start in that segment. Belgium was second on 4 and Brazil made the podium with 8.
Click here for La Baule Nations Cup results.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2025
It was a morning of peaks and valleys at the Devon Horse Show on Thursday for Colin Syquia and Jennifer Hannan, as the couple shared a wide range of emotions.
There were smiles for Colin’s victory with Front Page in the show’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, and tears as Jennifer’s beloved mount, Mindful, was given a farewell ceremony in the same arena.
But as she wiped her eyes, Jennifer noted the way it happened was “actually a double high, so great for Colin to win today” and “for Mindful to retire that way.”
Front Page, a Belgian warmblood, moved up from seventh place in the classic first round, earning a mark of 101from one of the two sets of judges, followed up by a 100 in the second round, the handy. The derby was a major goal for Colin, as Front Page is shown primarily in the amateur division by his owner, Cynthia Sulzberger. She’s a member of the family that publishes the New York Times; hence, her horse’s appropriate name.
Colin Syquia and Front Page. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Front Page, who was champion in the second-year green hunters at Devon two years ago, “loves this venue. like I do. It’s iconic. You feel the energy. It makes you want to perform better. It’s a special place,” said Colin.
Referring to the historic trophies on display at the showgrounds, he noted, “If you’re lucky enough to have your name and your horse’s name engraved on that trophy, it’s immortalized.”
He said he and Front Page “have gained a great relationship.” He didn’t focus on every single class in the run-up to the derby, instead opting to get him stronger and looser. “So in the end, he’s fresh and happy.”
The horse knows when a competition is special.
You might not even notice him at an ordinary show, Colin said but “When he comes here, Kentucky or the National, he just grows a hand, he’s alert, his jump is electric.”
The next goal Colin has with the horse is the finals of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in Kentucky this summer. There he will meet up again with Hunt Tosh, a three-time winner in Kentucky, who settled for second at Devon with the Wheeler family’s Cannon Creek, and Michael Britt-Leon, third Thursday with Mark Dorfman’s well-behaved stallion, Prime Time. Like Cannon Creek, he is a Holsteiner.
The leader after the first round, which drew 31 starters, was Four Aces, ridden by David Wilbur. But the momentum didn’t last and that combination wound up ninth after the top 12 came back for the handy round.
“It was a great course today I thought, both rounds,” said Hunt, noting he had a rub in the first round.
“It was a great atmosphere we all have a good time in the schooling area and watching each other go. Every great hunter, I believe, has a story behind it at Devon.”
People who have horses at the level of the top performers in the Derby “start planning their careers and their show schedules around Devon,” Hunt mentioned.
Michael felt like “a little bit of an underdog coming out” because the horse is new for him since last fall, when he rode him at the indoor shows. But he said Prime Time is “very, very mellow…you know he’s going to get to the other side of all the jumps.”
Since this was their first derby together, he had “low expectations and just wanted to have a nice smooth round today.”
He said the course designed by Alan Lohman offered many possibilities.
“The jumps were large and there were definitely a lot of questions on the course that you could kind of make your own and keep it exciting,” said Michael, admitting to being “a bit of a ham,” adding he felt Hunt and Colin had the same inclination.
Mindful, a 21-year-old Hanoverian who could be 10 if you judged by his well-kept looks, was surrounded by friends as his saddle was removed for the last time and replaced with a blanket of white roses.
Jennifer Hannan wipes away her tears as she leads Mindful out of the arena after his retirement ceremony. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
His owner, Selma Garber, and former rider, Kelley Farmer, were on hand to wish him farewell for his retirement in Rhode Island. He will be turned out with his buddy, Olympic Fire, another hunter, and get plenty of his favorite treat, Publix iced oatmeal cookies.
Mindful’s former rider, Kelley Farmer, and his owner, Selma Garber, were on hand at his retirement. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
He was imported from Europe as a jumper, and ridden by Canadian Jay Duke. He switched to the hunters and was an immediate success. Jennifer started riding him 10 years ago.
“He’s really sound and he’s great, but he’s 21 years old,” said Jennifer, explaining the decision to retire him.
Then she added quickly, “He’s still spry and very happy.”
At age 20, Mindful won a hunter derby at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. But at the beginning of their relationship, it took some time for Jennifer to connect with him.
The first year, she got bucked off regularly, and then realized “I was going to learn from him. We ought to look inside our horses and figure out what makes everything tick.”
Jennifer added she is, “Grateful for an incredible experience with him. He has changed my whole career.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2025
They are the Devon Horse Show’s ultra hunter champions: Nick Haness, Leading Hunter Rider for the third year in a row; Scott Stewart, who piloted the show’s Grand Hunter Champion for the umpteenth time and Amanda Steege, High performance Hunter Leading Lady Rider (for the third time in four years).
They share an appreciation of their horses’ intelligence and desire to be in the game. You can see the though process of one racehorse trying to outrun another, but do show hunters understand the more subtle nuance of victory in their arena? Amanda thinks so; Scott and Nick agree.
Amanda believes that Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte de Muze, the Belgian warmblood by Darco that she has ridden for eight years, “just really has a desire to win. I’ve never had a horse that I feel is trying to win every class as much as he is. I think that’s the thing that makes him extra special. He’s really intelligent and I think he knows when he goes in there that he’s performing.”
Lafitte was the show’s High Performance Hunter Champion, scoring a career best of 96 in the division’s final class, the stake.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Devon was the only show where he hadn’t taken that championship, said Amanda, speaking of the “elusive white cooler.”
Nick, who was aboard the Ingram Family’s Odette, the show’s Leading Mare and Green Conformation Champion, is “amazing, probably one of the smartest horses I’ve ever ridden. She’s incredibly in tune with the rider. I don’t think I’ve ever asked her to do something that she didn’t do for me,” he said of the Oldenburg, who won all the jumping classes in her division. If you have a great mare, she can do anything.
Leading Hunter Rider Nick Haness with Odette. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m so excited and blessed to be riding her again this year, especially at venue like Devon,” said Nick, who was primarily in California over the winter, while Odette was in the East, ridden by Emily Williams and trained by Tom Wright.
Betsee Parker’s Grand Hunter Champion, California Love, is described by Scott as “beautiful, scopey, athletic.” The horse he bought as a three-year-old “is very laid back. When it’s a little more (atmospheric) environment, he picks up in a good way.”
Although Scott has been a winner repeatedly over the decades at Devon, the thrill remains.
Scott Stewart and California Love with owner Betsee Parker. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s still very special. The ring has great memories for me,” he observed.
Amanda’s connection with Devon started long before her personal involvement.
“This show is important to my family,” she explained.
“I have a picture of my great grandfather showing here in 1913 on his pony. My mom’s family, the Smiths, they’re from Blue Bell and Fort Washington (Pa.).
“My mom showed here when she was growing up. It was the same course every year. She jumped the first jump, then her pony he stopped at the second jump.” She would fall off and “had to walk the whole way back to the ingate.” Amanda did add that her mother persevered and finally made it around the course.
Click here to go to the results website, then click on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28, to see hunter champions
by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2025
As I was on the rail taking photos of the jumpers at the Devon Horse Show, I heard an older woman in the seats behind me telling her friend as a certain star rider entered the arena, “That’s McLain Ward. I saw him on TV at the Olympics, and now he’s at Devon!”
McLain has fans in many places, but nowhere more so than Devon, where he gets the loudest cheers when he enters the ring and also when he leaves, win or lose.
Wednesday night, it was a win, as he and a newer horse, the Holsteiner La Serra “a very nice, careful mare,” finished ahead of 34 other starters in the two-phase $38,700 Main Line Challenge Stake, which we used to call a power and speed. The fences were set at 1.45 meters (as opposed to up to 1.5 meters for Thursday’s 4-star Grand Prix) and both segments were timed. La Serra was fault-free in 31.32/31.05 seconds.
The complicating factor was the drenching rain and cold, very uncharacteristic for late May in the Philadelphia suburb. McLain was totally soaked, and still dripping after he dismounted. You can see the downpour in the lead photo on this website.
I asked about the weather as a factor affecting the competition and Mclain said, with a smile,”It’s part of the game. Cold and wet, but we have to make a living. So…”
For awhile, he was first and second. Snapchat van de Broekkant Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheide finished just behind his stablemate (0/0, 30.78/32.76). But Kaitlin Campbell had something to say about it and ended as the runner-up on the Oldenburg gelding Bull Run’s Hesed (0/0,32.20/31/76).
Kaitlin Campbell and Bull Run’s Hesed. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Jessica Springsteen, appearing at Devon for the first time in 10 years, was third with the Swedish warmblood mare Galaxy Girl (0/0,31.88/31.91).
McLain is in the process of building his string of horses. His longtime partner, Contagious, will be retired, he revealed, but he has a new star in Imperial HBF, who put in the crucial clean anchor round last weekend at the Rome Nations Cup to insure victory for the U.S.
Even though he will be on the team in La Baule, France, next week, McLain flew home to be part of Devon.
“These are important events and I enjoy them. It’s good for developing horses to get the experience as well,” he explained.
The grand prix is named in memory of Sapphire, the mare who won it twice with McLain in the saddle. She also retired at Devon, which strengthened her connection with the show.
McLain Ward and Sapphire at her retirement during Devon, 2012. Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer
His 10 employees are divided between Europe and the U.S., so he has excellent strings of horses both here and abroad.
Kaitlin is used to winning at Devon, where she was an achiever in the junior jumpers. She has been riding Bull Run’s Hesed since last fall and called him “a very fast horse, very elastic. It took a little bit of time for him to get to know me and me to get to know him, but it’s really come together in the last couple of months.”
Based in California where she finds the shows at Thermal a good place to “put all the pieces together” and bring horses along, she is originally from Doylestown, Pa., and rode with Patty Miller.
Thinking back to her pony days at Devon, she said riding in the show “definitely feels like coming home.”
A new owner, Mirasol Equestrian, has invested in horses for her, so she’s putting a string together with horses available for every type of class. She did the World Cup finals in April, her first senior championship.
“It was definitely eye-opening, the level of competition and the size of the fences,” she commented.
Kaitlin is hoping to qualify for the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, next year.
Jessie never had competed in the open jumper division at Devon, and always wanted to do it. She has had her horses stabled at her family farm in Colts Neck, N.J., a short commute from Devon. Her parents, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, have their own horses at the farm, and like to ride western on the trail.
Jessica Springsteen and Galaxy Girl. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Devon has special meaning for Jessie.
“I’m so glad to be back,” she said, noting she has had flashbacks to when she competed in the ponies at the show.
“It was so much fun.”
In the grand prix, Jessie will be riding her 2021 Olympic team silver medal mount, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, who was out for a while with an injury. She has been building him back up so he can compete in shows at the level of Devon.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2025
The Bluman cousins made a real statement in the Devon Horse Show’s opening show jumping competition, sweeping the top placings for the Jet Run Devon Welcome Stake.
Daniel took the one-round class on his longtime partner Gemma W., while Mark finished as runner up with Ubiluc, less than a second behind the winner’s clocking of 56.21 seconds over the Anderson Lima-designed course.
Daniel Bluman enjoys his victory lap on Gemma W. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Another Bluman, Ilan, was further down in the 43-horse field, winding up thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth with his two mounts.
There is naturally a bit of rivalry among the cousins, who grew up like brothers in Colombia, but they’re all part of the same business, so a winning finish by one is a winning finish by all.
“It’s probably the first time we’ve been 1-2 in a class. It’s always nice to have a family win, it feels great,” said Mark.
Mark Bluman and Ubiluc. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We really love this show, we try to come every year,” noted Daniel. “We all want to be competitive, so we’re just having fun, doing what we love.”
Daniel became an Israeli citizen nine years ago. His cousins are still Colombian, but are working on switching their citizenship.
More than a dozen of the riders entered the class on two horses, with a goal of being competitive on one mount and giving the other a look at the arena and the spectators, who are always numerous and appreciative.
Daniel took it easy with Hummer Z, his mount for Thursday’s featured Sapphire Grand Prix, but he went for it with Gemma, who will have a few days off until Saturday night’s closing jumper class.
“We’ve been together for many years we know each other great,” he said of the reliable grey mare, “so for me to go at that speed doesn’t take much of an effort. She’s a fantastic horse, she’s won so much. I thought I could win the class without her making a huge effort.
“It’s always fun to beat Markie,” Daniel added slyly.
“He’s a fantastic rider. We’re all competitive. Actually, his plan was not to go fast. I think when he saw I had been fast, he got a little extra competitive and went for it. He was just not enough today.”
Family comes first, before who gets the ribbons.
Seven-year-old Tiris Carlin was thrilled to get Daniel Bluman’s ribbon from the Jet Run class. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“There’s always a rivalry, but a healthy one,” Daniel explained.
“We all work together. We run the business together, we live pretty much together, so it’s a very healthy rivalry. But of course we want to win.”
Even so, “if it had been the other way around — I’m second, he’s first — I’m just as happy. I beat him, maybe tomorrow he beats me.”
Daniel makes Devon a regular stop on his circuit.
“I think the atmosphere is lovely, the people are very nice, the crowd knows it’s like a tradition to come and be part of the horse show. It’s our responsibility as riders and professionals to support and come to these events. It’s what really keeps the sport alive. I love being part of it.”
The class is named in memory of Michael Matz’s famous horse, Jet Run, many times a winner at Devon. Michael’s son, Alex, rode Ikigai in the class, finishing thirteenth, just out of the ribbons.
click here for results
