Classic Eventing Nation

Monday News & Notes

By on Jan 12, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: The U25 Eventing World Championships

USEF Eventing Development 25 rider Meg Pellegrini and Falcon Crown Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Who will officiate eventing’s newest World Championship this summer? A panel of experienced Ground Jury members has been appointed, but first:

What is the FEI U25 Eventing World Championship? This is a brand-new, annual Championship intended to be a bridge between Young/Junior Riders Championships and the Senior World or European Championships (and the Olympics, of course). The powers that be went back and forth a bit on the exact format and level of the event, but one consideration was the current FEI European Young Riders (and the U.S. equivalent Young Rider Championships), which are held at the CCI3*-L level and the Senior Championships, which are held at the CCI4*-L level. Notable here: we’re primarily referring to World and European Championships when we say “Senior Championship”. There are, of course, many other Championship-caliber competitions around the world, but many are held at the U.S. National Advanced or FEI 3* level or below.

From that, the emergence of this Championship at the CCI4*-S level emerged. This year, the U25 Worlds will be held at Millstreet (Ireland) July 22-26. In 2027, the timeline will shift to be later in the year, September 8-12 at Cornbury House International in the UK. Presumably, this year’s World Championships in August precipitated the July dates for the U25s.

Who will officiate the U25 World Championship? The panel of officials has been appointed, and we’ll see Ireland’s own James Rooney as President of the Ground Jury, assisted by the USA’s Robyn Fisher and Great Britain’s Angela Tucker. Australia’s Hunter Doughty will be the Technical Delegate. Cross country will be designed by Millstreet’s longtime designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR), assisted by Paul Brady (IRL), while show jumping will be handled by James Tarrant (IRL).

You can bookmark the FEI’s information hub for the U25 World Championships here. US Equestrian has confirmed it will be targeting this Championship, and fittingly Eventing Development Training sessions hosted by USEF got underway in Florida this past week.

U.S. Weekend Results

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Other Links & Reading

Mini Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable. We’ll also use this section to highlight new products or big sales that come up on our feed.

Monday’s Classifieds

Training Tip of the Day

Not so much a “training” tip as a “good-to-know” for you today, coming your way from Ride iQ all about Farm Safety 101:

Go Eventing

Kate Chadderton has represented Australia at multiple CCI5* and FEI competitions, but now she’s riding under a new flag: the USA’s! Congratulations!

Sunday Links

By on Jan 11, 2026 12:15 am -

Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Harry Meade leads the charge into 2026 still atop the FEI Eventing World Rankings, which should remain relatively unchanged until we get into the thick of the international season later this spring. US Equestrian Open champion Boyd Martin still represents the U.S. in good form, in #2 to start the year, while European Champion Laura Collett completes the top three standings.

You can view the full FEI Eventing World Rankings here.

U.S. Events This Weekend

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Links & Reading

Video Break

Have you gotten your tickets for the 2026 $100,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field? Don’t miss out — you can grab tickets, VIP and more here.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jan 10, 2026 12:01 am -

Photo by JJ Sillman.

Good morning! We hope you’ve been enjoying our refreshed News & Notes this week. We’ll be keeping our weekend Links on the shorter side as they have been, but we’ll be back with you on Monday with more in-depth news.

One thing of note, however, is the announcement last month of the World Class Grooming Career Development Grant, geared towards aspiring professional grooms who desire more educational opportunities and hands-on experience. The Grant was established by the Aiken Horse Park Foundation and will benefit from private donations as well as proceeds from the Aiken Equine Educational Series, presented by Shapley’s. You can find more information on the series here.

Applications have not yet been released, but you can keep an eye on World Class Grooming on social media for more details (and we’ll be sure to share them here when they’re available).

U.S. Events This Weekend

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Links & Reading

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Tack should not be a distraction. Finding the right fitting equipment is a top priority — an investment, to be sure — if nothing else for the comfort and welfare of your horse. Spoiler alert! It doesn’t always have to be the newest, most customized saddle in the world. Used or like new options do exist. You can find help fitting your horse with the right set-up from World Equestrian Brands, which employs a team of saddle fitters well-versed in solving the saddle puzzle. Get to know World Equestrian Brands more here.

Video Break

Take a trip to Dorset and catch up with William Fox-Pitt:

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Jan 9, 2026 12:01 am -

Happy Friday! We’re kicking off with a quick look at the updated flag rule, per the FEI’s 2026 rule changes. We’ll have a deeper breakdown for you soon, but here’s the overfiew.

One Big Thing: FEI Trims the Flag Tax

Allison Springer and No May Moon, very much earning a clear trip between the flags at Stable View. Photo by Shelby Allen.

That pesky flag penalty that has caused plenty of controversy in its lifetime has just gotten *slightly* less pesky. Instead of 15 penalties, missed flags will now cost 9 penalties.

The criteria for assessing the flag penalty remains the same, as follows (FEI Eventing Rules Art 549.2): A Horse is considered to have missed a flag when the point of a shoulder fails to pass between the extremities of the obstacle as flagged. The head and neck must pass inside the extremities of the obstacle as flagged. If a flag is dislodged, the hindquarters must jump the height of the solid part of the obstacle.

Zooming out: 15 penalties is margin risky enough to lose out on a win or a team placing. We’ve seen controversial flag calls at nearly every major event, including the Paris Olympics. Lowering the penalty to 9 is still a margin any rider would prefer to do without. It will also be interesting to compare the number of flag penalties assessed in the coming years with the previous period.

You can view the full rule changes for 2026 (and videos explaining them) here.

U.S. Events This Weekend

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Other Links & Reading

Mini Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.

Our first batch of listings will launch next Monday — be sure to get them in if you want to be included in our early runs!

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Stable View’s Aiken Opener H.T. is approaching next weekend, and we’ve got all the early info you need. With Mogie Bearden-Muller building the cross-country questions and Michel Vaillencourt on show jumping, you’ll get a perfect season kick-off out of the weekend.

Stable View also understands that “family weekend” is part of the sport, so don’t miss Graze & Gaze, which features complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres for competitors and families Friday + Saturday, 5–7pm in Ollie’s Inn. (Friday’s Graze & Gaze is sponsored by Pony Policy)

Not able to make it out for this one? Check out Stable View’s full calendar of recognized and unrecognized opportunities here.

Training Tip of the Day

When was the last time you checked the evenness of your stirrup leathers? You might be surprised at what you find next time you do. Lucinda Green explains more:

Go Eventing

Play “this or that” with European champion Laura Collett:

Thursday News & Notes

By on Jan 8, 2026 12:01 am -

Happy Thursday to you — here’s a quick update to catch you up on the news of the day:

One Big Thing: Goodbye (Too Soon) to Colleen Loach’s Vermont

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Canadian Olympian Colleen Loach shared the sad news yesterday that Vermont (owned by Peter Barry), a 4* horse Colleen produced for an international eventing career that spanned over six years and nearly 30 FEI competitions. “Monty” first caught Colleen’s eye as a 4-year-old, and though he would grow to be a towering 18.2 hands (which made for some great humor when you saw Colleen with both FE Golden Eye, who’s much smaller, and Vermont at a show — see below!), his heart was just as big. When Vermont was 10, he was named to the Canadian squad heading for FEI World Championships in 2022, but sustained a minor injury that sidelined him from competing. Nonetheless, he became a stalwart in Colleen’s string, and while we hadn’t seen him out eventing for awhile he was always a presence we missed at the shows.

“Dear Monty, you were the wind beneath my wings on so many occasions,” Colleen wrote in a post on social media yesterday. “You could be difficult at times but you remained the most enjoyable horse to ride every day. I’m so sorry that you were taken away far too soon … but you will live on the memories of those of us who loved and cared for you, those of us who were fortunate enough to be part of your shining circle. Rest in peace.”

Vermont was just 14 at the time of his passing, and while the circumstances have not been shared publicly, it’s no less difficult to lose a horse at any time but especially far too soon. We’re sending all of our love to Colleen, Peter and the team that cared for and loved Monty from day one.

Enjoy a few more photos from Colleen and Vermont’s partnership:

U.S. Events This Weekend

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Other Links & Reading

Mini Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.

Our first batch of listings will launch next Monday — be sure to get them in if you want to be included in our early runs!

Training Tip of the Day

Elisa Wallace is currently working with a new mustang, and we found this vlog to be full of education — even if you’re not working with a mustang:

Go Eventing

Not sure the end of school break gets any better than this…

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Jan 7, 2026 12:01 am -

Good morning, EN! Here’s the latest from the wide world of eventing.

One Big Thing

Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

We’ve been closely monitoring the developing story over at the MARS Maryland 5 Star, which saw several members of the leadership team, including CEO Jeff Newman, depart suddenly last month. On the heels of those departures also came news that Terry Hasseltine — the executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission (which, for context, was the organization that launched the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (“Sport Corp.”), which would encompass the operational arm of the Maryland 5 Star) — was dismissed from his role after 17 years.

What does this mean for the future of the Maryland 5 Star? At this point, we don’t know. A deeper dive into budgetary and financial public documentation indicate that funding, earmarked for a total of $2.5 million out of the Major Sports and Entertainment Event Fund, was recommended to be cut from the event by analysts ahead of fiscal year 2026. Arguments were made to continue the funding for the event, but at this juncture the final allocation of funds for all sporting events involved with this Fund has not been made. We anticipate a final decision on this in the next few weeks or months.

Zooming out: It feels too early to PANIC, but the future of the event, at least for 2026, is certainly held in question with all of these developments. We aren’t going to go too far down the speculation path just yet, because that’s not productive, but it’s certainly safe to say that the loss of the Maryland 5 Star would have ripple effects across the entire sport and not just at the CCI5* level. For this year’s event, it’s safe to say that without an operating entity currently in place in the wake of these developments, crucial planning and infrastructure steps have the potential to fall behind if new leadership is not installed soon. Now, Maryland Sports Commission and Maryland Stadium Authority (yes, there are a lot of “commissions” and “authorities” in the mix here — it’s not at all confusing, lol) have gone on record to say that there is interest and some form of commitment to ensuring the 5 Star’s future, but there’s much still to sort out in terms of the final outcome.

Most recently this week, The Equiery, a Maryland-based publication of the Maryland Horse Council, which first broke the story of these staffing changes, submitted a request via the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) for documentation concerning the dismissal of Terry Hasseltine. They’ve been on the case with more updates that you can find on their website here.

We’re working on a larger story for this, so thanks for your patience while we see how this unfolds and do our research.

U.S. Events This Weekend

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Other Links and Reading

Mini Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.

Our first batch of listings will launch next Monday — be sure to get them in if you want to be included in our early runs!

Training Tip of the Day

Brush up on your basic polework with British 5* rider Alex Bragg:

Go Eventing

Photo via Andrea McAllister (Roberts!) and Katrina Fidanz Photo on Facebook.

Congratulations to Canadian rider Waylon Roberts and Andrea McAllister, who tied the knot in a small ceremony in Aiken, SC on December 30!

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jan 6, 2026 12:01 am -

Good morning, EN! Here’s a look at what’s happening in the horse world. Today’s News & Notes is supported by our friends at Kentucky Performance Products. You can learn more about them below in Sponsor Corner! Also, your brand, too, could receive weekly exposure just like this by sponsoring a day of News & Notes! We’ve got some special pricing available to kick off 2026, so drop us a line at [email protected] if you’re curious.

One Big Thing: GMHA just bought the hayfield and put a name on the future

Green Mountain Horse Association’s (GMHA) newly secured 35-acre parcel in Woodstock, VT now officially has a proper storybook title: Bee’s Fields, named for Lady Florence Manton (“Bee” to her family), one of the founders of the Manton Foundation.

If you’ve followed GMHA the last few seasons, you know this place has been through it. In July 2023, two major storms hammered Vermont, damaging large parts of the facility, and not long after, GMHA made the painful call to cancel the 2023 Festival of Eventing to protect horse and rider safety.

The deal was made possible in large part thanks to the Manton Foundation as well as community and private donations. GMHA says that in 2024, as part of a $1 million grant, the Foundation pledged to match donations up to $500,000, which would be a challenge that would help double community contributions and move the land purchase from “dream” to “done.”

Now, Bee’s Fields gives GMHA the space (and the control) to move forward with a permitted flood mitigation plan — work they say still needs significant funding to finish.

By the way, if the Manton Foundation sounds familiar, you’re not crazy. This Foundation also recently contributed a $250,000 matching grant (not the first time they’ve done this) to the USEA Foundation in support of frangible technology.

The next chapter is the hard (and, as always, expensive) part: GMHA says it still needs to raise $750,000 to complete the flood mitigation work that will help protect the grounds for the next century.

Zooming out: The land availability in our sport is a very real and impactful issue. Multiple factors exist to throw a property off its anchors: weather, loss of funding, sales, retirements, the list goes on. GMHA provides a home not only to three recognized Horse Trials each year but also to competitions and events across all riding disciplines. Venues like these can’t exist on thin air, and they’re important to keep around — especially in areas like Vermont and the upper East coast, where events are harder to come by than their southern counterparts.

You can read more from GHMA on this update here. To support this campaign, click here.

U.S. Events Opening Entries Today

Full Gallop Farm Mid-February H.T. (SC); Pine Top Advanced (GA); Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (FL)

U.S. Events Closing Entries Today

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (FL); Ram Tap Combined Test (CA); Full Gallop Farm January H.T. (SC)

Other Links & Reading

Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products

If there’s one thing horses love, it’s keeping us humble. Especially when “easy keeping” turns into wait, why are we gaining weight just by looking at hay? If you’re managing those bigger-picture concerns and trying to keep your horse feeling good from the inside out, it’s worth having a conversation with your vet about targeted support.

Why Choose InsulinWise?
Metabolic dysregulation is characterized by weight gain and unhealthy insulin levels that can lead to unsoundness. Maintaining normal metabolic function and sustaining healthy weight through dietary supplementation will support normal insulin levels and healthy laminae structure in the foot.

InsulinWise:

  • Maintains normal metabolic function and healthy insulin levels.
  • Supports a healthy body weight and normal fat distribution.
  • Sustains healthy laminae within the hoof.

InsulinWise is available only through a licensed veterinarian. Contact your vet for an ordering code today.

When health issues arise, always seek the advice of a licensed veterinarian who can help you choose the correct course of action for your horse. Supplements are intended to maintain healthy systems and support recovery and healing. They are not intended to treat or cure illness or injury.

Mini-Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.

Our first batch of listings will launch next Monday — be sure to get them in if you want to be included in our early runs!

Training Tip of the Day

Tik Maynard knows a thing or two about communicating with horses, even in high-stress or potentially high-stress situations. Take trailer loading for example. For some horses, it’s no big deal. For others, for one reason or another, it’s a big challenge. If you struggle with this, or if you just want to save some advice should you need it, here’s a quick tip from Tik:

Go Eventing

Just some absolutely gorgeous hunt shots for your enjoyment:

Weekend Winners: Sporting Days

By on Jan 5, 2026 9:00 am -

Hello, Eventing Nation! We’re excited to be back with our Weekend Winners, as we kick of the “spring” season with Sporting Days! While the weather might still require heated vests and warm coffee 24/7, we’re officially into the 2026 season – welcome!

We’re recapping our weekend at Sporting Days. Congrats to all of our Weekend Winners, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Lily Barlow and Gravitas, who won the Open Novice at Sporting Days on a 20.3!

Sporting Days January I H.T. (SC): [Website][Scores]

Open Preliminary: Ryan Wood and Cooley Maestro (32.4)
Open Training: Ryan Wood and Fighting Fellow (32.3)
Training Rider: Gabriella Esquivel and If (32.8)
Novice Rider: Megan Cavanaugh and Life On Top (28.3)
Open Novice: Lily Barlow and Gravitas (20.3)
Beginner Novice Rider: Telana Kabisch and Dylano Q (23.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Cole Horn and HSH Juniper (24.1)
Starter: Joa Sigsbee and Excel Star Hollyrock (27.4)

Monday News & Notes

By on Jan 5, 2026 12:01 am -

Lynn Symansky and Bounce 6. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

We’re back! After giving our team some time for respite over the holidays, we’re ready to kick off 2026 and we’re starting with a refreshed News & Notes to start your day. We’ve taken a look at how we can improve our daily news round-up, so we’ll give you a quick guide through the updates as you scroll through today’s edition. If you have feedback for us, please don’t hesitate to send it over to [email protected]. We’re also happy to link or run press releases and other news, so make sure we’re on your distribution list ([email protected]).

One Big Thing

Each day, we’ll kick off with one “main” story — this could be a piece of news, a developing story, a preview of a competition coming up, or just about anything else! For today’s purposes, we’ll stick with guiding you through our updated News & Notes.

We’d also love your help shaping our content for 2026 and beyond as we align our coverage and stories with our values as a platform. Your thoughts in this brief EN Community Survey would be appreciated (and we’re sweetening the deal with a chance to win a $50 Smart Equine gift card!).

Weekend Results

You’ll be familiar with this section already; on Mondays, we’ll provide links to results from U.S. events and major international events around the world. Throughout the week, this section will update with opening/closing dates, links for events happening over the weekend, etc.

Sporting Days January I H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Other Links & Reading

In this section, we’ll drop in some relevant reading, article links and other bits and bobs from around the industry that might pique your interest or keep you in the loop.

Mini-Classifieds

We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.

Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.

Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.

You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.

Training Tip of the Day

Are your canter transitions falling apart (or, let’s face it, sometimes nonexistant?) Dressage pro Amelia Newcomb is here to help:

Go Eventing Moment of the Day

To close out our daily News & Notes, we’ll either have a shout-out from social media or an entertaining video to send you on your way with! If you’ve got a moment to share, tip us by emailing [email protected] or using #goeventing on your publicly viewable social media post.

Today’s Go Eventing Moment comes to us via German Olympic superstar Michael Jung, who’s been living his best life on social media this winter, so be sure to go and give him a follow on Instagram here.

Sunday Links

By on Jan 4, 2026 12:01 am -

Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’re ramping back up to full ops here at EN starting tomorrow, and with that you’ll see just a few different things this week, including a refreshed News & Notes each morning and a new Community Survey, which will help us shape the content we bring you in 2026 and beyond. Stay tuned for more, and as always thank you for being a part of our community.

U.S. Events This Weekend

Sporting Days January I H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Links & Reading

Keeping It Simple on Cross-Country on Day 5 of EA21 National Camp

You too can ride bridleless, expert explains, and improve your competition prospects as well as the relationship with your horse

Triple Trouble: 2025 Round-Up and 2026 Goals

Feeding Aggression – and the Resurgence of Feedbags?

Video Break

The perfect morning doesn’t exi–