Alpharetta, GA - ACORD (American Competition Opportunities for Riders with Disabilities, Inc), a national 501c3 nonprofit corporation, is kicking off their first fundraiser for the Memories of Marj Scholarship & Grant Fund on Saturday, September 10, 2011. This fund will provide educational opportunities across the country for athletes with disabilities. The “Miracles on Manes” benefit for Memories of Marj will be held at Chukkar Farm in Alpharetta, GA, beginning at 5 p.m. The...

Erynn Ballard and Fun 2 Fly (Photo by Robyn Keyster/PMG). Traverse City, MI - A few lingering clouds gave way to brilliant sunshine this morning at the Horse Shows by the Bay equestrian festival in beautiful Traverse City, MI. Held each year in one of the country's premier vacation destinations, Horse Shows by the Bay will welcome thousands of equestrians over the next four weeks. Hundreds of horse and rider combinations have arrived already, with many putting on powerful performances this...

Lake Placid, NY — Jonathan McCrea of Ireland continued his hot streak Wednesday with a win in the Champlain Valley Equipment 1.45m Open Jump-off at the 34th annual Intercat, Inc. I Love New York Horse Show. Just three days after his win in the $75,000 Mirror Lake Inn Grand Prix of Lake Placid for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy, McCrea topped a 16-horse field with two clean rounds and a jump-off time of 30.564 seconds on Twisther. That time was 22 hundredths of a second better than...

East Dorset, VT — The annual Vermont Summer Festival opened on Wednesday, July 6, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. The six-week equestrian competition runs from July 6 through August 14, 2011. A total of 1,200 stalls have been erected in preparation for the horses that will be competing at this year’s Vermont Summer Festival. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont. Opening...

FRENCH STAYS OUT IN FRONT AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY by Louise Parkes Great Britain's Piggy French and DHI Topper maintained the lead they established in the dressage arena yesterday with a superb cross-country run at the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**) in London (GBR) today. They go into tomorrow's final jumping phase with more than a fence in hand over Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Mrs Medicott, one of just five horse-and-rider partnerships to complete the 19-fence...

Culpeper, VA – Show jumping action is set to resume this week in the heart of Virginia’s horse country at HITS Culpeper. The Showday National (July 6-10) will kick off the series, followed by the Cavalier Classic (July 13-17) at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, VA. Each week will feature a full schedule of competition from beginner level to high-performance classes. Entries are strong for both shows and HITS is expecting some fierce competition as both hunter and jumper riders...

Louise Serio and Rock On at Brandywine Valley Summer Series (Photo by PMG). Littlestown, PA - It was an excellent week for the horses and riders of Derbydown during the Swan Lake Stables Kickoff "AA" Show, held June 21 - 26 at Swan Lake Stables. The talented Louise Serio took home three tricolor ribbons throughout the competition. Serio also earned the win in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Jennifer Burger's Rock On. The talented group of riders at Derbydown earned...

Lake Placid, NY — Jonathan McCrea gave Ireland its second consecutive win in the $75,000 Mirror Lake Inn Grand Prix of Lake Placid, presented by Intercat, Inc., when he rode Colorado to victory on the final day of the 42nd annual Intercat, Inc. Lake Placid Horse Show. McCrea’s win, for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy, follows the win of last year by countryman Darragh Kenny on Gael Force. Only five of the starting field of 24 reached the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without...

The Greenwich Park venue. London, England - There was a huge buzz of anticipation and excitement as the first horse inspection for the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC **) got underway in London this afternoon at the first LOCOG test event in the build-up to London 2012. Over the next three days, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games will test key aspects of the Greenwich logistics and operations in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the...

Guenter Seidel and Aragon (Photo by Mary Phelps) Thank you USEF Facebook fans for your questions for Guenter Seidel. For the next "10 Questions With..." please visit www.facebook.com/USEquestrian Guenter Seidel Born : September 23, 1960 Hometown : Cardiff, CA Guenter Seidel is a native of Germany who moved to the U.S. in 1985 and has contributed significantly to U.S. dressage. Seidel helped the U.S. win the Team Bronze medal at three consecutive Olympic Games – 1996, 2000 and 2004 - with...