Western Equitation Medal and Ranch Classes Offer Expanded Opportunities for Exhibitors and Show

US Equestrian invites competition managers to add Western Equitation Medal and Ranch classes to their prize lists for 2023. These Western classes are rapidly growing in popularity, and because both the Western Equitation Medal and the Ranch divisions are open to all breeds, they provide an opportunity to reach a wider pool of exhibitors for your show.

The Western Equitation Medal includes divisions for junior and amateur adult riders. The class is judged 50% on rail work at the walk, jog, and lope and 50% on a pattern. No qualifications are required for exhibitors to enter these

Competition managers to add Western Equitation Medal and Ranch classes to their 2023 prize lists.

classes. US Equestrian will send a medal for each class hosted, and eligible riders can org to add it to your existing license ($100 change fee). Add the junior and adult medal classes to your prize list. If your prize list has already been submitted, email prizelists@ usef.org at least five (5) days before the start of the show to add the classes.

Ranch Classes

The Ranch division is a popular and growing division across numerous breeds, and it is a new US Equestrian division for 2023. Ranch classes include:

How to Host: earn points toward USEF Horse of the Year awards.

Sign in to your Competition Dashboard at competitions. usef.org. Select the Western (Open) box under “divisions and ratings” when renewing a license, or email dates@usef. org to add it to your existing license ($100 change fee). Add the desired Ranch classes to your prize list. If your prize list has already been submitted, email prizelists@usef.org at least five (5) days before the start of the show to add the classes.

Sign in to your Competition Dashboard at competitions. usef.org. Select the Western (Open) box under “divisions and ratings” when renewing a license, or email dates@usef.

Ranch Horse Riding

Ranch Horse Cow Work

Ranch Horse Rail Pleasure

Ranch Horse Trail

Ranch Reining

Ranch Working Cow

Ranch Cutting

Ranch Versatility

Ranch Conformation

Consider adding other Western classes, including Working Cow Horse, Trail, Western Pleasure, and Western Riding.

Learn more about Ranch classes and other Western offerings in the Western chapter of the US Equestrian Rulebook.

U.S. Jumping Team Earns Impressive Win in 2023 FEI Jumping Nations Cup

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department |

Uggerhalne, Denmark – It was an all-around fantastic day for the U.S. Jumping Team at FEI Jumping Nations Cup Uggerhalne CSIO3*. The team of Alise Oken, Jacob Pope, Nikko Ritter, and Alessandra Volpi displayed excellent riding under pressure to win the Nations Cup. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski guided the team, with Pope, Ritter, and Volpi making their senior team debut, to the top result. In addition to the impressive team finish, Pope and Ritter had double-clear rounds in their first Nations Cup appearances.

“I’m really proud of all of them,” said Kursinski. “I had Alise Oken on a three-star team years ago, but she is really the only one who has ever jumped a real Nations Cup. For the other three to really rise to the occasion, be professional, and stay focused to jump clear rounds is very, very exciting. And the other teams were great. There were 11 teams we had to jump against. The Netherlands was strong, and

Sweden had several Olympians on their team. There are really some top riders and great horses here. It was a fabulous win for everybody.”

Despite the U.S. Jumping Team being a group of relative newcomers to Nations Cup competition, a supportive atmosphere helped everyone succeed.

“We have a great team with Erin Keating and Dr. Christiana Ober. I think the whole team is extremely cohesive—the grooms, the riders, just all of that,” said Kursinski. “It’s a great feeling, and, of course, then I think everybody performs better when they experience that. It is an outstanding team—the whole team.”

“With the federation sending the three-star teams, they are really getting this experience, so they can, hopefully, be on more senior teams in the near future,” said Kursinski. “I think several of them have desires to be on championship teams, so this is always a steppingstone for them. I think this group really has big futures ahead of them.”