Photo courtesy the Trixie Chicks It’s easy to be captivated by trick riding: Picture bright, sparkly outfits adorning athletic riders with fancy horses galloping around the arena. Rarely does the rider stay in the saddle for longer than a second: She’s flipping over the horse, hanging off the side and then standing on the seat of her saddle, yet the horse never slows down. The sport caught the attention of Kelsey Gascon in a demonstration at BreyerFest the summer before she started college. She immediately knew that’s what she wanted to do. While in college, Kelsey attended a Trick Riding 101 ..read more

Young Rider’s coverage of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event is brought to you by Care Credit. Thanks to a rail down by overnight leader Tom McEwen (GBR) on the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin, a clean trip over the show jumps bumped Oliver Townend (GBR) to the ultimate win at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Jumping in reverse order of standing, Townend’s clear trip aboard the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mare Cooley Rosalent left him in prime position as the final two to jump had rails down. Oliver Townend celebrates his fourth Kentucky Three-Day Ev ..read more

Young Rider’s coverage of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event is brought to you by Care Credit. In a day of heat, then rain, followed by blazing sun, the sun indeed shone brightest on the British riders as they claimed the top three spots after cross-country at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Tom McEwen (GBR) and 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin had 4 time faults, but enough of a head start to maintain their overnight lead. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir had 5.6 time faults but maintained 2nd place. Oliver Townend ..read more

Young Rider’s coverage of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event is brought to you by Care Credit. Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., nailing the dressage test at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (GBR) score a 24.6 in their dressage test to take the lead. Photo by Mary Cage McEwen rode a steady and accurate test aboard the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin for a score of 24.6, bumping fellow countryman Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir’s leading score of ..read more

Young Rider’s coverage of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event is brought to you by Care Credit. Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L. Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain and 2011 Selle Français gelding Banzai Du Loir set the bar high with a 26.1, securing her a 5-point lead. Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Mary Cage “His test overall had some really nice highlights overall. We’ve been working on getting more expression in the trot… he has so much presence,” Ingham said. She added, “His first centerline could have ..read more

Stay up to date on the action from the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Find information about the event, including a recap from each day of the competition below, and follow links to the full stories. 2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event Preview Three of the world’s four top-ranked riders and defending champion Tamie Smith (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Olympians and World Champions highlight the list of riders from nine countries entered to compete when the event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April ..read more

Defending Kentucky Three-Day Event champion Tamie Smith. Photo by Mary Cage Lexington, Ky. — Three of the world’s four top-ranked riders and defending champion Tamie Smith (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Olympians and World Champions highlight the list of riders from nine countries entered to compete when the event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 25-28. Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven ann ..read more

You may know Esme Higgs, 21, by the name “This Esme.” The British equestrienne, content creator and social media star has over 1.5 million followers and a monthly reach in excess of 10 million. Many of you have asked for more info about this celebrity equine entrepreneur, and we’re here to deliver! Young Rider sat down with Esme to chat about everything from starting her channel to charity work and amazing adventures on horseback. Young Rider: How did you get into horses? Esme: My family wasn’t equestrian at all, unless you count the three donkeys on our small holding. It was when I was 5 yea ..read more

Did you become interested in horses because your parents had them, or maybe you saw a friend riding? For brother-sister duo Chesney and SaDee Watkins, their introduction came from a South Texas horse trainer, and the two fell headlong into a sport their parents knew nothing about. But once they got a taste for all-around, these South Carolina-based kids were totally hooked on the horse show game. And they’ve got no plans of stopping. The Start The Watkins have four children: Elijah, 27, AnneDee, 16, Chesney, 13 and SaDee, 12. Chesney and SaDee are siblings adopted by the Watkins at birth. Anne ..read more

Budding leaves, blooming flowers and green grass all say that spring is on the way, but one of the first sure signs at any horse farm is the vet truck pulling up to the barn. Spring is an ideal time to schedule your horse’s annual vet checkup to make sure he’s in tip-top health for the busy riding season ahead. This includes vaccinations and deworming, plus preventive care to keep your horse healthy all year long. Photo by Shelley Paulson Rae Birr, DVM, an equine veterinarian based in Michigan, is passionate about helping her clients take the best possible care of their horses, and she particu ..read more