US Equestrian and USET Foundation: Fueling Dreams, Forging Champions

With three U.S. equestrian athletes ranked world number one, the United States continues to prove its strength on the global stage.

U.S. Olympic jumping athlete Kent Farrington, U.S. Olympic eventing athlete Boyd Martin, and U.S. Paralympic dressage athlete Fiona Howard all hold the top spot in the FEI World Rankings for their respective disciplines. In addition, Ana Schult has topped the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Standings for females, to add to the United States’ accolades.

The inspiring success of these athletes, the first three of whom were selected for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France, is the result of years of training and commitment, an incredible support network that includes dedicated horse owners, and robust US Equestrian (USEF) High Performance Programs that foster the development of horse and human athletes.

Achieving and maintaining this level of excellence on the global stage requires opportunities to nurture talent, which is where the collaboration between USEF and its philanthropic partner, the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation, plays a crucial role.

Unlike some other countries, the U.S. does not receive government funding for its equestrian teams and programs. As a result, the USET Foundation’s primary mission is fundraising to ensure athletes and horses have the resources necessary to successfully compete among the best in the world. Funding from the USET Foundation, through donations of all levels, goes to USEF to support USEF’s High Performance Pathway for horses and riders competing in the seven FEI disciplines. These funds help ensure USEF Pathway Programs offer opportunities such as training sessions, developing athlete international competition tours, horse and athlete development grants, travel grants, and more.

“At US Equestrian, we strive to consistently develop and field the best equestrian teams in the world,” said US Equestrian Director of FEI Sport Hallye Griffin. “Achieving this requires more than supporting our elite athletes — it also means investing in a strong pathway for the next generation. The annual funding we receive from the USET Foundation plays a vital role in making both possible and is a cornerstone of our High Performance budget each year.”

Farrington, Martin, and Howard have all benefitted from USET Foundation-backed funding from USEF, whether through a pre-Olympic or Paralympic training camp, horse development grant, or simply the means to ship a horse overseas for team competition, for example, and this funding has been integral in helping aspiring U.S. equestrian team athletes achieve their dreams.

“Kent is a fierce competitor and has shown us time and time again that he is an incredible horseman with a remarkable focus to train, compete and win, always with the best interests of his horses at heart,” said U.S. Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. “As a young athlete, Kent participated and excelled in pathway opportunities like the North American Youth Championships. To watch him develop his string of horses and then earn world number one for the second time in his career will be motivating for younger athletes currently working to achieve success in our programs. The funding provided by the USET Foundation to support the jumping Pathway Programs, alongside the dedicated commitment of USET Foundation donors, helps athletes develop and achieve their aspirations to join the ranks of the absolute best of the U.S. in our sport.”

“It is an incredible achievement to hold the title of world number one, and I know it’s a moment Boyd has been working tirelessly toward for many years,” said U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. “There are several factors that help athletes achieve results and it’s our job to ensure they have the opportunities and support to make their mark on the global stage. We’re grateful to the horse owners and the USET Foundation for their dedicated support. It takes tremendous sacrifice and financial support for athletes to achieve their goals at this level. Boyd’s success continues to set the standard as we build momentum around our programs.”

“Being part of an athlete’s journey to the top of their sport is special,” said U.S. Para Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. “Fiona has overcome so many challenges in her commitment to excellence for our team and her performances last year in Paris are a testament to her determination and competitiveness as an athlete.

“The opportunities we were able to provide to expand her international competition experience and compete against the best in the world were a vital piece of the journey to her world number one ranking in para dressage,” added Assouline. “The USET Foundation has been strongly committed to providing more support each year for the athletes in our programs and it is exciting to see the energy building around para dressage.”

Program and Athlete Support by the Numbers

Since its inception in 2003, the USET Foundation has provided over $60 million to USEF High Performance Programs. Notably, in 2024, the USET Foundation awarded a $4 million grant to USEF to support its High Performance Programs. This program funding, made possible thanks to contributions from USET Foundation donors, helps enable USEF to provide direct financial support to athletes. For example, USEF awarded nearly $2 million in direct athlete grants, benefiting at least 119 individual athletes across all seven FEI disciplines in 2024.

“Seeing our U.S. equestrian athletes progress from developing ranks to elite ranks showcases the power of philanthropy,” added USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie B. Jenkins. “Behind every champion is a journey — one paved by opportunity, guidance, and belief. Our donors play a critical role in making those journeys possible through their support of U.S. equestrian teams and the USEF high performance pathway that ushers athletes and their horses to the podium.”

Together, USEF and the USET Foundation are building a legacy of equestrian excellence by supporting senior team athletes while simultaneously offering a pathway for future success made possible in large part through generous donor support and a shared vision for U.S. equestrian greatness. To join in the mission, please visit www.uset.org or www.usef.org.