Lexington, KY – The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is renowned as the toughest cross country track in the world. 2009 didn’t disappoint. Phillip Dutton and TruLuck (Kit Houghton/FEI ) Capt. Mark Phillips course required both bravery and accuracy, there were problems around the track and the most troublesome fence: Land Rover Discovery Valley (fence 6) caught out more than 20 horses and riders. American pair Phillip Dutton and TruLuck weren’t among them. The most dependable...

On September 18, 2009, the Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show will make history with the $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix. This World Cup Qualifier will be the very first grand prix held in the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The arena was constructed for the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as well as many future equestrian competitions at the park. The $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix will kick off at 7:30 p.m., and general admission tickets are free to the...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) website will once again provide a live streaming video webcast of the 2009 All American Horse Classic (AAHC), set to take place beginning Tuesday, September 8, through Saturday, September 12, in Indiana, at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds. Registration to view the webcast may be completed via the ASHA website at www.asha.net/video . The fee to view the Webcast is $15 per day/location. A discount is available to ASHA members, resulting in fees...

This past weekend, Canterbury Farm in Hampshire, IL, hosted a clinic for the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program. Held on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, the clinic was conducted by renowned equestrians Melanie Smith Taylor and Ray Texel. Diane Carney of Hampshire, IL, was the on-site coordinator for the event, which was a Level II Training Session. The clinic was part of the Emerging Athletes Program, an educational program that focuses on...

From the United States Equestrian Federation and Equestrian Events, Inc. Lexington, KY – The organizers of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event have been able to avoid a clash of dates in the future. Badminton announced earlier this year that it would be running over the weekend of the May Day bank holiday from 2010, with cross-country day on the Sunday and show jumping on the holiday Monday. Unfortunately, this very occasionally clashes with the...

Former United States Equestrian Team (USET) Chairman Finn M.W. Caspersen, whose competitive nature paid off in a shining multitude of medals for America, died September 7 in Rhode Island. He was 67. "His leadership over his 20 years with the team was extraordinary. It brought the team to an entirely new level and we can't be anything but forever grateful to Finn," said Jane Forbes Clark, the USET Foundation's president and CEO. During Caspersen's tenure, which began in 1982 when he was elected...

The 2009 World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair, was held at Louisville's Freedom Hall from Sunday, August 23, through Saturday, August 29. There was plenty of excitement at WCHS this year, as new World's Grand Champions were crowned in the Five-Gaited and Fine Harness World's Grand Championships, while the 2008 Three-Gaited World's Grand Champion repeated as such in 2009. Among a formidable field of competitors, as in each class,...

Keeping Kentucky's trails clean, friendly, and open for all riders, hikers, and bikers is the responsibility of all users. An educational seminar on trail etiquette for the horseback rider will be offered by the Kentucky Horse Council, September 19, 2009, at Brumfield Hay & Grain in Lexington, KY. The presentation includes safety tips for managing group rides, riding with horses of various gaits, ages, and abilities, and supporting the needs of the novice rider. Presented by Essie Rogers,...

On a beautiful New England day, the 20th Annual Jumper Classic, featuring the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, kicked off by welcoming riders of all ages to New England's premiere equestrian venue at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. The Jumper Classic is the only American Grand Prix Association-sanctioned grand prix to take place in New England. The event features more than 72 classes and $200,000 in prize money. The Jumper Classic offers an array of divisions designed to attract...

Lexington, KY – Outstanding lived up to every letter in her name and demonstrated the presence and conformation for handler John Ducharme to be named best 2-year-old filly and Overall Champion at the 2009 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship West Coast Phase. The West Coast class was held at Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar, CA on August 29 and judged by Carleton Brooks and Richard Taylor. The bay filly (Popeye K x Delilah) beat a tough field of young...