Laura Graves Named 2018 Equestrian of the Year + USEF Annual Meeting Day 1-2 Roundup

Laura Graves and US Equestrian President Murray Kessler. Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian.

The 2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting is well underway in West Palm Beach, Florida, where it will continue throughout the weekend. While EN sadly stayed home this year, we’ve been following along via the USEF Network live stream and taking notes for you!

Laura Graves Named 2018 Equestrian of the Year at Pegasus Awards Presented by Adequan

Dressage star Laura Graves took the top honor at this year’s awards, having enjoyed a stellar year with her and Curt Maes’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Verdades (Florett AS x Liwilarda/Goya). The pair led the U.S. to team gold at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and became the first American combination to earn an individual silver medal at a world championship. Their success at the WEG boosted Laura and Verdades to the no. 1 spot on the FEI Dressage World Ranking List in October, marking the first time a U.S. dressage combination has been ranked as world number one. Congrats, Laura! A number of honors were awarded at the banquet — see the complete report here.

Highlights from Wednesday, Jan. 9 and Thursday, Jan. 10

President’s Report from General Session at the 2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting: Members Make It Happen

US Equestrian Members are Making it Happen

US Equestrian Senior Staff Details Progress and Goals Moving Into 2019

The Power of Media and Membership: US Equestrian Taps into its Base with Effective Marketing

Building a Successful Equestrian Business: Four Common Themes

2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Moderated Forums and Workshops: SafeSport Panel – What You Need to Know

Major Rule Changes: News to Know Panel Reviews Proposed Rule Changes

Competition and Member Summit: Proposed Rule Changes for Competition Licensing Explained

US Equestrian Announces 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Coaching Team

2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Links: WebsiteMeeting ScheduleBroadcast ScheduleLive Stream, Meeting App for iOS/AndroidTwitterFacebookInstagram

Image via US Equestrian.