December 1, 2025 – Gladstone, N.J. – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation will host “A Night for Aachen” on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif. The benefit will raise essential funds to support U.S. equestrian teams as they prepare to compete at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
Guests will enjoy an evening full of inspiration and entertainment, including a live demonstration from high performance U.S. equestrian athletes, a cocktail hour with live acoustic music, a globally inspired farm-to-fork dinner, an exciting live auction and dancing under the desert stars — all in celebration of U.S. equestrian excellence.
The evening promises to bring together athletes, owners, supporters and fans in a shared commitment to helping U.S. equestrians achieve success on the world stage. Next year, the United States will proudly field teams in six international disciplines — dressage, driving, eventing, jumping, para dressage and vaulting — at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Every dollar contributed helps U.S. athletes move one stride closer to the podium.
“The World Championships in Aachen represent one of the most prestigious stages in global equestrian sport,” said USET Foundation Director of Development Lisa Munro. “‘A Night for Aachen’ allows our West Coast community to come together and make a direct impact on our athletes’ journey to the podium.
“Every contribution helps provide for expenses related to travel, training, horse care and more that support our teams to be at their competitive peak next summer,” she continued. “This event is an exciting opportunity to showcase and celebrate the depth of world-class talent and support that has come from the West Coast.”
U.S. Olympic eventer and World Championship silver medalist Tamie Smith said, “As a West Coast rider, I’m incredibly proud of how many talented equestrian athletes from our region are making their mark on the international stage. Events like ‘A Night for Aachen’ are so meaningful because they bring together supporters from every discipline to champion one shared goal — helping our U.S. teams achieve greatness on the world stage. I’m thrilled to be part of an evening that celebrates that spirit and supports the athletes who represent our country with such dedication and pride.”
The USET Foundation extends its gratitude to Benefit Planning Committee members USET Foundation Trustee Ellen Ahearn and jumping parent Lily Lee, whose dedication and leadership have helped make this event possible.
As the philanthropic partner of US Equestrian (USEF), the USET Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international High Performance horses and athletes.
Tickets for “A Night for Aachen” are now available for purchase here.
About the United States Equestrian Team Foundation
The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation, the philanthropic partner of US Equestrian (USEF), is a non-profit organization that helps support U.S. equestrian athletes and horses competing in the seven international disciplines. Funding from the USET Foundation, made through generous donations of all levels, goes to USEF to support USEF High Performance Pathway Programs that offer opportunities such as training sessions, developing athlete international competition tours, horse and athlete development grants, travel grants, and more to help ensure U.S. equestrian competitive excellence at the highest levels. Learn more at www.uset.org.