by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 16, 2026
The price of showing has become an ever-more urgent issue for equestrians, who all too often must limit their opportunities to compete because it is growing increasingly expensive.
For some, word last year that the U.S. Equestrian Federation would be raising fees was, if not the last straw, news of another financial obligation they didn’t need. Although the fees are not as burdensome as what it costs to compete in a licensed show, the increase made some feel the federation is not sensitive to their needs and situation.
Hunter/jumper judge Mary O’Connor, a Virginia horse breeder, called it “ironic” that after raising fees, USEF made competition costs the focus of a forum at the organization’s annual meeting this week.
She noted USEF “has solicited comments from membership on this topic, when no opinions were sought and no discussion took place with membership before USEF announced that fees would be increasing.”
To read another story about how people are coping with horse industry issues, click here or go to the second feature on this website.
Mary called the hike “extreme,” adding it comes “at a time when the general membership is reeling from increased costs for everything associated with keeping horses,” and as such, “only serves to exacerbate the problem of rising cost.”
She started a petition asking USEF “to consider rolling back or limiting the size of those fee increases, which are far too steep in the current economy.”
The petition got more than 550 signatures and thousands of views.
She contended, “USEF is about to price even more people out of sanctioned equestrian sport, with zero discussion or feedback from its membership. The costs of entering a USEF show continue to rise, making participation in the sport at any level more and more expensive. It has become a struggle to justify the expense of competing!
“Rather than increase fees, let’s consider cutting back USEF’s budget, taking a hard look at which programs are genuinely necessary, and streamline staffing in a way that makes sense. Do we really need 23 people in the Marketing department vs. seven in Member Services? Salaries should be open to discussion when across the board everyone else from grooms to licensed officials are asked to do more for less on a regular basis.”
Reacting to the petition, USEF Director of Communication Natalie Voss wrote to Mary, “The response to our increase in membership fees is precisely why we wanted to include this panel in our annual meeting slate. The vast majority of member response to the fee increase — including your petition — make clear that increased costs are not just an issue USEF experiences, or that our members experience with regards to USEF membership fees, but is part of a broader change in the costs of horsekeeping and putting on a horse show, which is impacting the whole industry.”
She explained USEF officials are “hoping the panel can shed some light on what the factors are influencing that rise in costs for them and how that translates for competitors.”
Following the meeting, a summary and recording of the session will be released, Natalie said.
The petition maintained, “The stated fee increases are extreme. That our sport is reliant on the ultra wealthy often masks the reality that many who are involved in it are barely sustaining themselves. Those who exist in the real world, whether boarding our horses or keeping them on private farms or operating training facilities, must stop to analyze every dime spent on feed, hay, bedding, farrier, vet, farm staff, lessons, attire, equipment, safety gear, transport, and hotels, all while endlessly attempting to conjure up savings that are more and more difficult to find.
“The ultra wealthy among us won’t be bothered about fees going up,” the petition notes.
“But the multitude of local and regional trainers, riders, families, and lesson stables are already being driven away from a sport we all love, not to mention breeders and those working with young horses, already facing the highest expenses worldwide to develop their offspring.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 21, 2026
The Global Champions Tour show jumping held in Liberty State Park, with the sparkling New York City skyline as a backdrop, was a huge hit last September.
It attracted an enthusiastic group of spectators, many of whom had never seen the sport before. After the final class, organizers were optimistic about bringing the competition back in 2026. But the venue is not on this year’s GCT schedule, which includes a Cairo, Egypt, location for the first time. Miami Beach, a regular stop that wasn’t held in 2025 because of scheduling issues, is back on the calendar and will be the tour’s only U.S. competition.
The absence of the New Jersey location is disappointing. Many of those attending hoped to return to a spot in the grandstand in 2026, while others who saw coverage wanted to attend in person. But they may be able to do that next year.
Jessica Springsteen was among the big-name riders who competed at Liberty State Park last year, with the Statue of Liberty in the background
“The inaugural event was a great success, and we remain very much committed to returning in the future. We continue to maintain a close and positive dialogue with the Liberty State Park authorities and are currently looking ahead to 2027,” Colm McKay, GCT’s technical director, told me on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately,” he explained, “the reason the event will not take place this year is due to the FIFA (soccer) World Cup, with Liberty State Park being designated as a major fan zone. While the tournament (at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.) itself will conclude later in the summer, there remain significant uncertainties around ground conditions and venue availability following such large-scale use. Without the necessary guarantees, it was not possible for us to proceed this year.”
However, he added, “Looking ahead, we have some exciting new ideas planned for our return, building on the strong foundation established at the first edition. In the meantime, our focus turns to delivering an outstanding event in Miami Beach this April, which continues to be a very popular destination with athletes, owners, and fans alike.”
Stay tuned…
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 29, 2025
After five years, the Maryland 5-star three-day event at Fair Hill established itself as a well-respected fixture, attracting a healthy entry for its accompanying 3-star division, as well as good crowds for cross-country day tailgating and the show jumping finale, in addition to other competitions and activities.
But the number of horses competing in the featured 5-star itself has been lighter in its recent editions, down to 22 entries last October. While it brought in 32,000 spectators in 2025 and gained $18 million for the state’s economy, the event was projected at one time to have an impact of $30 million and 80,000 spectators..
The 2025 winner Felix Vogg, with Monica Spencer, runner-up, and Boyd Martin, third. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Michael Frenz, executive director of the Maryland Stadium authority said initially of the Maryland 5 Star, “all involved are committed to maintaining the tradition and legacy of this important event.” But he did not reply when asked if that meant the 5-star would continue. He also did not respond to questions about the departures of Hasseltine and Newman, saying that was a personnel matter. The Sports and Entertainmen Corp. of Maryland, which ran the 5-star, now has no employees.
David O’Connor, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s chief of sport, said last month he was “blindsided” by word that Hasseltine and Newman were gone.
“We don’t understand what happened, why everybody’s left. We’ve not been party to the conversations or given any heads up,” said O’Connor, the USA’s only Olympic eventing individual gold medalist (Sydney/2000).
“We’ll be calling there trying to figure out whether they are looking to continue. That would be a big question for the sport and for us. As of now, we don’t know if that’s their intention or they’re just replacing the staff,” O’Connor continued.
The 5-star is the discipline’s ultimate test, but “The number of 5-star horses has gone down kind of around the world,” O’Connor noted. Although Great Britain’s famed Badminton 5-star fielded 82 starters last spring, it no longer had a waiting list. And the USA’s other 5-star, Defender Kentucky, had just 34 starters.
“Is it great to have another 5-star? Absolutely,” O’Connor said.
“But we have to look at what’s happening worldwide.”
Caroline Pamukcu, who finished fourth in the Fair Hill 5-star with her 2024 Olympic horse, HSH Blake (and eleventh with HSH Tolan King), is a “huge fan”of the (Maryland) event. She explained, “We’re so lucky to have two 5-stars in the country. I love the event. I hope we will continue to have two 5-stars.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake in the 5-star.
“I think the 5-star is a really important part of our sport. Going 5-star really helps prep me and my horses for big championships”
Is the schedule too crowded? Pamukcu doesn’t believe that’s the case.
“When you do the schedule, you do whatever suits your horses. If you think the U.S. Open is better for you and your horse, you can do that. But then the great thing about our country is you can also pick a 5-star, if you think that would suit you and your horse. You pick and choose what’s best for you and best for your horse. That’s horsemanship.”
Maryland has attracted top riders from Europe over the years, including Oliver Townend, Harry Meade (now ranked world number one) and this year, Switzerland’s Felix Vogg, the winner on Cartania, who came to the competition with the help of a travel grant.
The 2025 MARS Maryland winner Felix Vogg on Cartania over the giant crab that has become a symbol of the event. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
O’Connor called the Maryland fixture “a great weekend of eventing, with all of the things they have there. The 5-star is only one piece of it. You would hope it would be worthwhile for them to continue to run it. But I have no idea what their thinking is.”
Hasseltine told me at this year’s event that he was looking for a calendar adjustment for the 5-star after wondering, “How do we get back to having 40-plus 5-star (entries)?
There were 45 entries at the first Maryland 5-Star in 2021, but that was a different time, following the Covid shutdown, when the idea of participating in a brand new event was intriguing.
Hasseltine said he was seeking “serious conversations” with the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the FEI (international equestrian federation) “about logistics leading up to our event. Are we on the right calendar environment, are we sitting in the perfect space to make sure we can have bigger fields or grow our competition level?”
The USEF scheduled its first U.S. Open of eventing, a 4-star, at Morven Park in Virginia right before Fair Hill. And the week after the 5-star, there was another in Pau, France, that attracted top European talent. The juxtaposition of the events obviously concerned Hasseltine.
Joanie Morris, the competition manager for Fair Hill, last fall was announced as the CEO of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation in South Carolina. Her departure had nothing to do with the other changes involving the 5-star.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 6, 2026
People are waking up to major crises throughout the horse industry and wondering how to handle them.
You read it on social media; you hear about it when you’re at the horse show, or getting coffee at spots in Wellington, Ocala, or Lexington; anywhere near locations that attract riders, trainers, horse owners, grooms and others associated with horse sport.
The cost of showing and horse-keeping is not sustainable across the board these days. Are there solutions for those who aren’t wealthy or sponsored?
And in the bigger picture, are there places to go for those who yearn to start riding? Many facilities offering programs for beginners and non-horse owners have shut down under economic or land development pressure. Where will the base of the sport come from now?
Canadian stable owner Jenna Rogerson has been well aware of the situation, not only from her personal experience, but also from what others are going through.
“In our area, there’s been numerous farms that are shutting their riding schools down completely. I’ve been getting two and three times as many calls weekly as I used to for lessons,” the Ontario resident said.
At her Skyland Stables, she noted, “I don’t offer a riding school. We have a competitive show program. So unfortunately, it’s not a service I provide. People ask me where they should go. It’s difficult to refer them, Even places currently operating have long waiting lists.
“With the current economic climate in Canada and the U.S. I think it’s going to become worse,” she predicted.
So Jenna turned to Facebook in late December, starting a post called Equine Industry Solutions that seeks answers from those actively involved, rather than people sitting behind a desk in an office somewhere.
The photo accompanying Jenna’s post makes a powerful statement about a major problem. The picture came from a friend of Jenna’s who had a riding school for more than 20 years, and also runs a show program. The shot (featured above) shows a bunch of empty saddle racks that are for sale.
“At first, I thought nothing of it,” said Jenna about her initial glance when her friend put the photo on line. Then she noticed each saddle rack was leaning against a wall beneath labels that read “school horse number three” and “school horse number 4.”
“I realized it was all the racks from her riding school closing down,” Jenna recounted.
She felt prompted to share that photo
“It did have a big impact for sure,” she said.
Thousands of people now are paying attention to her posting that seeks solutions. Trainers, barn operators and riding school instructors from across Canada and the U.S. are telling their stories, either on the Facebook site or in emails to Jenna, who has worked as a professional with her own business since 2008. A nationally certified coach who has managed horse shows and clinics, she’s a 39-year-old mother of two girls who is reaching out to help.
Those posting often are offering ideas and suggestions for how they try to solve their challenges. People give advice about ways of handling the problems they face as they attempt to keep their businesses going.
The process involves members of the industry relying on each other, rather than large organizations or governing bodies, to find ways that can make their businesses work.
“Ideas can get shared and hopefully, help each other out. I don’t know how far we’ll go with it, but we can try. It’s a little bit organic at the moment,” said Jenna.
Jenna Rogerson
She has some sessions pending with lawyers who are lobbying for different tax strategies that can help horsemen and women.
“I don’t exactly know what will come of it yet and maybe nothing; but maybe great things. But it’s a step in the right direction (rather than) doing nothing.”
There has been discussion about riding schools like those overseas with a club structure. However, in that regard, “too many cooks in the kitchen was one phrase that came up. It’s not a common way that we applied in North America previously,” Jenna pointed out.
“I don’t know if that’s something that would come to fruition in regard to more of a community-based program.”
She noted, “There were discussions about turning to more non-profit organizations so that donations are possible; school horses can be donated, a little more access to affordable horses than we have traditionally found.”
Jenna has a virtual-based side business called The Next Stride. She has worked with professionals and done business reviews for them. She also helps riders virtually if they are located in more remote areas where coaching is harder to find.
“The Next Stride bridges the gap between where clients are now and where they want to be next—providing clarity, accountability and a proven framework to achieve sustainable improvement. It’s applicable to riders or equine business owners,” Jenna explains.
In the process of doing that, she noted, “The same weaknesses seemed to come up with every equine business owner I helped. They were under-charging and operating in the red every month, while losing money in areas they didn’t even know about. Some (are) even considering selling or closing.”
As she pointed out, “If businesses close down and there’s suddenly a mass of available horses, what’s going to happen to them? That’s going to be a big problem.”
Here’s part of the issue: “There’s a lack of business education within our industry for people operating businesses.”
On the plus side, the Facebook site also includes “people who do have businesses, who are certified accountants. They’re providing spreadsheets They’re providing different financial insights. It’s allowing more access to education and resources. I think that in itself is going to be very helpful.”
She mentioned someone on Facebook who offered a spreadsheet for a businessperson to enter profit and loss.
“You can put your own numbers throughout it and see where your business is sitting. Where are you making money, where are you losing money? As simple as that sounds, many people don’t do that.”
Simply pinning down the numbers “can start educating people on where their businesses need to change.”
Looking at other Facebook postings from professionals, under-charging seems to be a constant theme that puts professional stable operators at a huge disadvantage in terms of keeping their operations going.
The cost per lesson has to go up in order for many of the businesses to survive. From Jenna’s perspective, she has found what she called two conflicting sides; one involves those making a living and supporting their families with a horse business, while others are creating access to horses and more availability for people of varying economic status to be able to ride.
“That’s a goal for their business, even if it’s a loss to themselves,” said Jenna.
Ontario Equestrian reached out to her to try to understand some of the key talking points people have mentioned on her page, in case there are any initiatives with which they can help.
Her eventual plan, which she has yet to formally announce, is to create a panel for the U.S. and Canada. It would have representatives from various disciplines, including western and hunter/jumper, as well as riding for the disabled, non-profits and trainers from show barns. Then people who are within the group can go to those representatives to bring up concerns.
As things get more organized over the next month, Jenna envisions, “those panels could move forward and speak to the larger governing bodies, like Equestrian Canada and USEF. It’s important to me that it’s people who are willing to work as a group and ideally have some business background.”
Although she has yet to formally announce it, the approach would be more person to person, than person to organization. As Jenna noted, “the organizations have so much red tape.” That can make it difficult for them to react quickly. And she noted that since Equestrian Canada has government funding, it can’t lobby the government for changes.
“So we can be more forward-moving and in your face if we want change, especially if we’re representing a large chunk of the industry who need changes.”
Jenna added, “I don’t know how open the organizations will be to hearing us,” but she’s optimistic. The trainer pointed out that the organizations don’t have the ability to speak to these people “the same way we can openly in our groups.”
She is forthright about her effort, noting, “I’ve never started up some type of organization on my own.”
There really isn’t a choice for Jenna, though.
“If I’m not going to do it, who is at this point? I’m hoping I get somewhere with it and can make some meaningful change, or at least provide avenues that will down the road lead to some changes that people need.”
Here is a link to the Facebook post.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 2, 2026
On the Chinese calendar, the Zodiac sign of the horse is considered lucky, promising opportunities for growth, prosperity and achievement.
The horse’s high profile presence as the Zodiac poster animal for 2026, following the Year of the Snake (’nuff said), offers a stage for considering what we can do for horses, beyond what horses can do for us in terms of competition, work, earning power and yes, prestige. The Year of the Horse also is a good time to give the public a positive view of the importance of horses, and showcase the way we treat them when we do it right.
We are seeing many innovative concepts on the welfare front. Let’s not rein in the possibilities. This is a perfect time to focus on equine care, giving horses priority. Why not approach them in a different way, thinking of their needs before your own?
British scientist Marian Dawkins believes animals should have a choice about what they prefer. That could mean more time turned out or a different type of feed. Her approach requires careful observation to see what horses want. She also suggests studying consumer demand. How hard will your horse work to get something? If the horse tries very hard to get something, that would demonstrate they really want it. Start thinking about things from your horse’s perspective, delving into an equine viewpoint.
There are five varieties of the Zodiac horse: wood, water, metal, earth and fire. That last, as intimidating as it may seem, is the one we have this year (the Chinese new year doesn’t begin until February, but why not get an early start?) So let’s use that fire horse (the featured image on this page) as the symbol for fueling a renewed commitment to equine welfare.
Part of the Year of the Horse should involve finding a way for those who would like to ride a chance to do so. That will strengthen the base of the sport in the process. It’s worth the effort, because as less people have experience with horses, the more chance there is for misunderstanding. That can give a leg up to those who don’t believe horses should be used for work, sport, or even ridden.
Unfortunately, as costs rise, lesson barns disappear, so it will take lots of creative thinking to find a way that lessons and riding experiences can be available. Some very good people are working on that now. In the coming weeks and months, I am confident we will be hearing many interesting ideas on how to make everything on the equestrian front better.
The more experience the public has seeing well-cared for horses, the more sympathetic people will be to enabling the continuation of horses as a key element of our society. That can only help with issues such as farmland preservation, preventing restrictions on farming and breeding, or even having land set aside for trail riding.
So how about a creative new year’s resolution: Do your best to make 2026 truly be the Year of the Horse. It can be a time in which we achieve not only a better life for horses, but also present a better understanding of what they mean to us and our civilization.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 26, 2025
Between the celebration of Christmas and new year’s eve champagne toasts, let’s take a few minutes to think about the people and horses who sadly left us over the last 12 months. They deserve our attention in a final salute, recalling their achievements and what they contributed to our world.
At the end of 2025, dressage lost several superstars, horses whose names bring instant recognition.
The U.S. dressage community mourned the death of Laura Graves’ Verdades at age 23 this month. Laura brought Diddy up from an unruly foal to a champion who teamed with her to be the only world number one-ranked combination ever in dressage for this country.
Along the way, the two triumphed over some devastating setbacks, but dedication to correct training set a fine example of what could be achieved with determination and love, as well as the help and advice of strong supporters.
Britain’s dressage duo of Valegro and Uthopia, in the same age demographic as Verdades, departed in November. Under the guidance of Carl Hester, the two horses helped put Britain squarely at the top of the global dressage hierarchy for the first time at the 2012 London Olympics. (Another member of the gold medal team, Mistral Højris, died at age 30 in March).
Carl rode Uti in front of a home crowd at those Games, while Charlotte Dujardin guided Valegro. The two horses were close companions, and Carl wanted them to end their lives that way rather than being separated when their health deteriorated.
Valegro and Uthopia
Influential show jumping stallion Indoctro died in April at the age of 35 after siring 4,335 horses registered with KWPN. The Holsteiner by Capitol out of a Caletto II mare had dressage offspring to his credit as well.
Also in what poet T.S. Eliot called the cruelest month, we lost Authentic at the age of 30. Beezie Madden’s mount,was her partner in taking two Olympic team gold medals in 2004 and 2008 for the U.S., as well as an individual bronze at the Games and double silver at the world championships. Bud was retired in 2009 and lived happily with Beezie and her husband, John, at their upstate New York farm.
Beezie Madden and Authentic at the 2008 Olympics.
And now we will reminisce, month by month, about the people who departed this year. We did individual obituaries about them as the year progressed, but you really understand the scope of the loss by seeing their names all in one place, for the same sad reason.
January: Stylish and effective show jumper and hunter rider Terry Rudd, driver Muffy Seaton and Paul Cronin. Paul was director of the riding program at Sweet Briar College from 1967 through 2002, but he also contributed to horsemanship in a wider perspective as an author. His 2004 volume, “Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse,” is a classic that covers the American forward seat riding system.
March: Michelle Bloch, a gifted writer who was a mainstay of the Capital Challenge Horse Show; announcer Mike Moran, three-time endurance world champion Becky Hart, hunter rider and judge Brian Flynn and dressage trainer Vera Kessels.
April: Dr. Allen Leslie, 84, an FEI veterinary official and the U.S. Eventing Team veterinarian at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. A lifetime rider, he completed the Tevis Cup endurance ride, competed in point-to-points and fox hunted.
Dressage trainer and author Charles de Kunffy, 88. His outstanding book, “Dressage Principles Illuminated,” is a distillation of the classical horsemanship tradition.
Lois Walter, a founder of Beval Saddlery who was always a guiding force and a welcoming presence there.
Lana DuPont Wright, 85, the first woman to compete in eventing at the Olympics. She also was involved with endurance and driving, while serving as co-president of the Fair Hill International event.
Eclectic horsewoman Lana DuPont Wright.
Trakehner breeder Tim Holekamp, whose Windfall and Tsetserleg were part of many U.S. eventing teams. He was very involved with the U.S. Eventing Association’s Young Event Horse program.
June: Hunter breeder Diana Dodge, international dressage competitor Belinda Nairn Wertman and Mary Alice Malone, 75. A pioneer in the importation of European warmbloods to the U.S., Mary Alice amassed an enormous record of success in a half-century of her efforts at Iron Spring Farm in Pennsylvania. Her horses took many honors internationally, and were seen everywhere from the Olympics and World Cup Finals to the Paralympics and driving championships.
In thoroughbred racing, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 89.
July: Cecile Hetzel Dunn, 89, who was involved with Arabians, Friesians, Andalusians and saddlebreds, spent decades working as a licensed official and volunteering with a variety of governing bodies. She was a mainstay of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s board of directors.
Cecile Dunn accepted the USEF’s Lifetime Achievement Award from David O’Connor.
August: Mary Anne McPhail, 92, who was instrumental in creating the Florida dressage circuit that contributed to the discipline’s unprecedented growth in the U.S. She was devoted to the Dressage Foundation, where she was a volunteer committee member for more than 20 years, With her husband, Mary Anne established the Mary Anne and Walter McPhail Judge Education Fund to provide support for the U.S. Dressage Federation’s judge education initiative.
Mary Anne McPhail.
Linda Andrisani, an influential trainer and hunter judge who also was known for her fashion sense.
In thoroughbred racing, Ron Turcotte, 84, the jockey who guided Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.
September: Coaching stalwart Dr. Donald Rosato.
October: Lu Thomas, 79, a trainer and rider who worked as a team with her husband, Butch, and was a key figure in the California horse hunter/jumper industry.
December: Adrienne Cotter, former executive vice president of the American Horse Shows Association.
Judith Hennessy, 89, the first woman to groom for the U.S. Equestrian Team, who went on to be a mentor for youth in 4-H programs. She shared her extensive horse care knowledge with the 4-H members to insure they knew how to take care of their animals the right way.
