by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 28, 2026
The definite entries for next month’s FEI World Championships at Aachen were published today, so click on the discipline you follow to see all the names. And check out this link for an overview of the most important competition of the year.
We’ll be covering the competition, which means you can come to the site every day from Aug. 11-23 to find out who’s winning (and who’s not).
To see the listing of jumpers entered, click here .
For dressage, click here, and for eventing, click here.
Go to this link for driving, this one for para dressage and this one for vaulting squads.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2026
An injury to La Contessa has prompted Marilyn Little, named earlier this month to the U.S. world championships show jumping team, to withdraw from the competition.
“Timing is everything,” the rider said on social media.
Marilyn Little and Contessa.
“Unfortunately, Contessa has had a minor injury, which has set back our preparations for the World Games at Aachen. With the interest of my incredible partner in mind, I have withdrawn her from competition to give her any time she needs to rest and feel her best again.
“Though disappointing for today, I look forward to getting back in the ring with her when the time is right. It is the greatest honor to be selected to represent the Team USA at a major championship and I wish USA Jumping the very best of luck next month.”
Marilyn, who won gold in team and individual eventing for the U.S. at the 2015 Pan American Games, was one of five riders selected for the show jumping team that will compete at Aachen in August. Natalie Dean and Mr. Boombastic have replaced her.
Only four riderswill actually compete on the squad. The others named originally were Olympic medalists McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, as well as Lillie Keenan and Katie Dinan.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 24, 2026
Admit it. You’d like to have a voice in who is selected as the next CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the person who will take over when Bill Moroney retires at the end of the year.
Here’s your chance. The consultant on the project, Korn Ferry, has offered the US Equestrian CEO Community Input Survey.
Fill it out by the Aug. 4 deadline to give your views in a variety of areas. Korn Ferry will collect and analyze all responses and the findings will be used in both the search committee’s work and USEF’s broader planning.
The one who gets the job will have a huge influence on the direction of horse sport in this country (and in the process, likely elsewhere as well). You undoubtedly have thoughts on the subject — we them all over social media. So go ahead and click on the link.
Please share your input by close of business on August 4, 2026. It will take only a few minutes, and it will make a difference.
Here’s your chance: to air your views, click on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 16, 2026
The traditional quadrennial Pan American Games will be held in Peru next summer, but first, a new concept of a three-discipline FEI championship for the Americas will come to Ocala, Fla., January 21-31.
The inaugural Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC) Championship of the Americas for jumping, dressage, and eventing, will be held at the World Equestrian Center, with eventing cross-country at the Florida Horse Park. It will run at the same time as weeks three and four of the WEC Winter Spectacular Show Series.
“The championship was created to provide more opportunities for riders across the Americas, grow the sport and build a structured pathway for athletes,” said PAEC President Cesar Hirsch.
“The idea was a continuation of PAEC’s mission of supporting and growing equestrian sport from the grassroots to the elite level.”
The PAEC board believes that the Championship will provide countries with a valuable opportunity to showcase emerging talent and support the development of the next generation of athletes. It also could serve as an opportunity for countries to field their top athletes and refine preparation ahead of major championships such as the Pan Ams.
“PAEC aims serve all of the countries in the Americas with this landmark event, no matter the extent of their high performance program. We want to build a legacy,” said Hirsch.
“This event is a great example of quick action and collaboration undertaken to establish the FEI PAEC Championship of the Americas. This concept has been long overdue but is finally coming to fruition due to exemplary cooperation and coordination among the FEI, USEF, PAEC, and, of course, WEC, whose team set out to offer support, resolve issues, and ensure a viable championship for the future,” said US Equestrian President Tom O’Mara. “It will be a great addition to athlete pathways across all of the Americas and will sync nicely with the Pan American Games going forward.”
Hirsch and PAEC approached USEF for assistance with the event, knowing that the ideal venue for it was WEC – Ocala, which runs numerous USEF licensed competitions across the breeds and disciplines throughout the year.
WEC Senior Director of Equine Operations Tom Hern noted, “We are thrilled to host the inaugural FEI PAEC Championship of the Americas. WEC was purpose-built to hold the best equestrian competition in the world.”
The Championship will feature jumping at the 1.45m-1.50m level, and dressage will be contested as a hybrid of Small Tour and Big Tour combinations. Eventing will be held at the 2-Star Short level. Countries may field teams of up to five athletes, including one reserve, in all three disciplines. Qualification is based on the Minimum Eligibility Requirements, and team and individual medals will be awarded in each discipline at the only FEI medal championship for senior teams in the Americas.
Founded in 2001, PAEC is the official continental authority recognized by the FEI, Panam Sports, and major sports associations. The board includes Hirsch, USEF President and Group IV Representative Tom O’Mara, FEI Group IV Chair Monique Archer (BAR), FEI Group V Chair Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni (MEX), FEI Group VI Representative Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA), FEI Group VI Chair Esteban Abedrabbo (ECU), and Athlete Representative Tiffany Foster (CAN).
Jaime Morillo (ECU), who is part of the FEI Solidarity Program to promote and develop sustainable and structured equestrian culture and sport worldwide, is the PAEC Sport Development Officer, while Elena Couttenye (VEN) is the Games & Championships Coordinator at PAEC.
The vision for the FEI PAEC Championship of the Americas is to be a quadrennial event, with plans to add disciplines such as para dressage and vaulting in the future. The inaugural edition will be held in the same year as the 2027 Pan American Games to immediately expand competitive and preparatory opportunities for athletes across the Americas. After the 2027 edition, the Championship will enter its regular four-year cycle, with the next event scheduled for 2029.
The year after the Olympics traditionally has been quiet without a championship in the Western Hemisphere. Across the Atlantic, the European Championships run every two years, starting with the year after the Olympics.
The strategic objective is for the new championship to become an established qualification pathway for the Pan American Games, alongside the various regional championships. This framework ensures continuity of high-level competition across the region and provides National Federations with a predictable pathway for athlete development and planning.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 19, 2026
Two British eventers died within hours of each other Saturday due to falls on cross-country at separate events in England.
Sophie Fouracre, a three-time veteran of the Burghley 5-Star, was fatally injured while riding a 5-year-old mare, Rhubarbsfox Britannia, at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire. Shortly thereafter at Penrth in Cumbira, Kerry Donoghue died after an accident in the Open Novice while aboard Carneyhaugh Rua, on whom David Doel finished tenth at the Luhmuelen 5-star in 2021.
“At both venues, the event medical teams responded immediately and provided emergency treatment. Despite their best efforts, neither rider could be saved,” a British Eventing spokesperson said.
“Both horses were examined by the attending veterinary team and were found to be uninjured.”
All competition was stopped after the accidents and did not resume at either venue.
BE chief executive Rosie Williams said: “The British Eventing community is heartbroken.
“On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kerry and Sophie’s families, friends and loved ones at this devastating time. Our thoughts are also with their fellow competitors, organizers, officials, volunteers and everyone who has been affected by these tragic events.
“We are immensely grateful to the organizers, doctors, paramedics, veterinary teams, officials and emergency services at both events for the professionalism, compassion and care they showed in the most difficult of circumstances.
“The loss of two members of our eventing family on the same day is almost beyond words, and we know the sadness of these events will be felt profoundly across the sport for some time to come.”
In accordance with BE procedures, “comprehensive reviews of both accidents will now be undertaken”.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 23, 2026
Double clears from Ilan Ferder (Ezarka del Belhame) and Daniel Bluman (Malina) boosted Israel to victory in the 3-star Nations Cup at the Traverse City, Mich., horse show on Thursday. It was Israel’s first Cup win in America.
Israel finished with a total of 4 penalties, to 16 for the Amasé U.S team with newer faces at this level, which had a bit of a rough start but wound up with three clears in the second round. Ireland was third on 24, saved by a double clear from U.S.-based Shane Sweetnam on Pegina VD Bisschop.
The winning Israeli team: Stella Wasserman, Ilan Ferder, Daniel Bluman, Steven Bluman. (Natalie Suto Photography)
The Israeli team was assembled at the last minute.
“When you group the Israeli riders together,” recounted Daniel, the anchor rider, “we’re going to fight with everything we’ve got.
“We ride for our flag, we ride for our country, we know how to ride together and give it our all. Ilan wasn’t even going to show this week. Last Saturday, I told him we lost a rider, we’re going with three, and we needed him to ride.
Daniel Bluman and Malina. (Natalie Suto Photography)
“He showed up and put in a double clear round. That just shows you the energy put forth for this team.”
“It’s always a pleasure to ride for my country,” Ilan said.
“It feels great to win,” added the horse dealer, noting about his double-clear, “there’s nothing better than that.”
The squad also included Daniel’s brother, Steven (Concare PS) and Stella Wasserman, who went from representing the U.S. on its Young Riders team a while back, to riding for Israel this year.
Her father is Casey Wasserman, chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic organizing committee.
For her first Nations Cup, Stella, 21, was aboard Myla, formerly ridden by world number one Kent Farrington. She was fault-free in the first round and had a rail in the second.
Stella Wasserman and Myla. (Natalie Suto Photography)
“It’s an honor to ride with riders like these sitting next to me,” said Stella, who is mentored by U.S. Olympic medalist McLain Ward.
“It’s not like I’m going into the ring as one person with one horse, I have so many people standing behind me. Feeling that makes me want to put my best foot forward every time, and it’s just an honor.”
Israel’s chef d’equipe, Hans Horn, said of his squad’s performance, “It feels great and it was great the way they did it,”
“Five clear rounds and all rounds were good. I’m proud of the riders, especially Stella, who jumped for the first time for the team. I’m really happy. If you keep fighting for your teammates, you can make a difference.”
For the U.S. effort, chef d’equipe Anne Kursinski said, “I am so proud of our team and their phenomenal horses today.
“In the first round, they each had a slight error, which we discussed in between rounds, and before round two, I told all of them to go fight for it. It was so exciting to watch them make an impressive comeback, really demonstrating a “fight for it” mentality and jumping three clear rounds to finish second.”
Traverse City was the second Nations Cup in the U.S. this year. The first, a 4-star in Wellington during March, was won by a U.S. squad featuring Olympic medalists McLain and Karl Cook.
Click here for results
