Gina Miles and McKinlaigh (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – Becky Holder cashed in on a lifetime of preparation today when she cantered down the centerline of the dressage ring of her first Olympic Games. She put in a fantastic effort to lead the US Eventing Team to a second place finish after three riders.The US Team finished on a score of 121.50 behind the Australians who were on fire with a three rider total of 102.8. Riding the 13-year-old Thoroughbred Courageous Comet (whom she...

Gina Miles and McKinlaigh (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – Gina Miles put in a personal best with McKinlaigh at her first Olympic Games to go into third place after the morning session of the first day of dressage. The Creston, CA rider and the giant Irish Sport Horse (owned by Thom Shulz and Laura Coats) had beautiful trot work, quality walk and canter and transitions. The pair received some nines, and would have scored even better but they made a couple of mistakes in their flying...

Content provided by Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) SAUGERTIES, NY— After three days of exciting competition, a new champion was crowned when Jennifer Waxman rode her mount Red Panda to the Grand Championship at the 2008 East Coast USEF Junior Hunter Championship on Wednesday afternoon at HITS Saugerties. The Ohio native used an overall score of 87.63 aboard Red Panda, who is owned by John Ingram, in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Division to win the title. “Jen rose to the...

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Ken Braddick) Hong Kong, China -- Before the 2008 Olympic Games officially begin, the US Eventing riders had another important task at hand: all five American horses sailed through the first horse inspection. The horses jogged by team, in alphabetical order by horse. Connaught (Phillip Dutton), Courageous Comet (Becky Holder), Mandiba (Karen O'Connor), McKinlaigh (Gina Miles) and Poggio (at Olympic Games number two) all looked very fit and sound when they...

On August 5, the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games were presented to an array of distinguished guests gathered to honor the achievements to date and the sporting successes that will undoubtedly unfold with the Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop. The FEI President HRH Princess Haya and FEI Secretary General Alex McLin attended the dinner at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse where notable guests such as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge and former...

Betsy Steiner and Kathy Connelly will be among the experts offering audio commentary to Dressage with the Experts participants at the upcoming Dressage at Devon, September 23-28. Dressage with the Experts allows participants to listen, through radio-equipped audio headsets to what a top trainer or judge is saying about what is going on before them, hoof fall by hoof fall in the arena. It is an opportunity for those who know little about the sport to increase their understanding of the...

Content provided by Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) Saugerties, NY— In the days between HITS-on-the-Hudson V and VI, HITS is hosting the 2008 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship for the East Coast. It’s the fourth consecutive year that the event has taken to the rings at HITS Saugerties and competition kicked off yesterday with the WIHS Equitation Classic, the USEF/Pessoa Medal and the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal. Taylor Ann Adams and Miracle bested a field of 47 other pairs...

From an AVA Press Release Brno, Czech Republic - In the final day of competition at the World Vaulting Championships in Brno, Czech Republic, Team USA took home a bronze medal, while two US women placed in the top ten in the Individual competition. Dark Side of the Moon, a composite team made up of vaulters from FACE, Mt. Eden, Woodside and Shooting Stars vaulting clubs, finished in third place, with the Germans once again taking the gold, and the Austrian team taking the silver. US team...

Lexington, KY – Driver Chester Weber continued his stellar European campaign over the weekend with a convincing win at the German Fahrderby in Riesenbeck, Germany. The Fahrderby (Driving Derby) is a unique competition which consists of six separate phases. It began with each competitor driving a pair the first morning - a class that is equivalent to a show hunter class. Four drivers enter a standard driving arena and are directed by the judges to perform specific movements from letter to...

At the age of 25, the legendary Holsteiner sire Le Santo (Landgraf I x Metro, by Wildfeuer) was euthanized on Sunday, August 3, 2008, from complications from an injury last week. Le Santo was very well known for being one the highest bonited stallions in the United States, as well as being a leading sire for more than two decades. Le Santo was injured while being collected on July 30, 2008. With recommendation from several veterinarians and sports medicine specialists, his owners at Irish Hills...