Dressage trainer Elizabeth Niemi won the grand prix on Sunday at the Windy Hollow Hunt Dressage Show in New Jersey. Niemi rode Stan and Vivian Picheny’s strapping dark bay gelding Wholio to a score of 65.625% for the win. Following a torrential downpour the night before, the show opened on Sunday to a crystal clear day that provided perfect footing for the competitors. After competing in torrid heat Saturday, Wholio gave Niemi a relaxed and focused ride, coasting into the Grand Prix victory on...

At the Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake, which kicked off week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic, the crowd was left singing the praises of Troubadour. With the Leary, GA, based Mariano Bedoya Guido at the controls, the young gelding bested the field of 28, including eleven in the jump-off round, with two clear rounds and a sizzling jump-off time of 30.33 seconds. “I liked this course very much, it looked not too big, but it was very technical,” said Guido of the Allen Rheinheimer designed challenge....

The Gold Coast 4 hunter/jumper show (June 13-15) marks the halfway point in Langer Equestrian Group’s (LEG) Gold Coast Series, which consists of seven United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) "B" rated shows at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Markel Insurance is the sponsor the 2008 series awards. The Gold Coast Shows offer a three day, six ring format. There are a wide variety of classes suitable for many levels of horses and riders from green horses and short stirrup riders, to 1.40...

Spectators holding Olympic Games tickets for the cross-country test of eventing competition on August 11, 2008 (Session EQ-04), can take part in a public course inspection on August 8, 2008, at the Beas River venue. You must register online to participate in this course inspection. Due to preparation work on the course, visitor numbers will be limited to 2,000 on a first-come-first-serve basis. There will be no horse activity during the public course inspection. The online registration system...

The facilities for providing first-rate care of horses brought to Hong Kong for the Olympic Games in August have been given the thumbs-up by members of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAG) who visited the two equestrian venues. “I think the welfare of the horses is being very well taken care of,” said Chan Pui-tin, after he and five colleagues inspected the venues on June 24.. “We have asked a lot of questions on a range of topics, big and small, such as whether the horses will suffer from...

The Adequan®/USEF National Open Reining Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach will bring the nation’s finest reiners together to compete for their chance to land a spot on the U.S. reining team. The 2008 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby hosts this competition on Friday, June 27, at the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds in Oklahoma City, OK. The United States team will be selected at the Adequan®/USEF National Open Reining Championship starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night. To...

HITS is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its popular HITS School Station to the 2009 HITS Arizona Winter Circuit. Like in Thermal, CA, the HITS School Station at the Arizona Winter Circuit will offer a complete academic facility designed especially for equestrian families. The program will stress the academic curriculum of the student's local school, which is an integral part of the support system for the equestrian rider. Classrooms will be located on the show grounds with...

Dressage at Devon is pleased to be the first horse show in the United States to offer a foal championship. The foal championship, sponsored by Hassler Dressage, will be a part of the event’s extensive breed division, which takes place September 23-25. The foal championship was added for a number of reasons. Because their ever-changing conformation can impact their movement, foals will be on a more equal ground when judged against each other. “It is always difficult to judge foals against other...

Lexington, KY - The U.S. trio of drivers arrived in Greven, Germany for the 2008 FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities CPEAI 4* and put the world on notice after the dressage phase. Meghan Benge of Aiken, SC drove her borrowed pony Jack to a score of 41.2 with a brilliant performance. The pony was leased from England and his owner was on hand to help groom. “I think Mary is still is shock,” said Boots Wright who is serving as U.S. Assistant Chef d’Equipe and Assistant Coach. “I...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended its import rules to allow noncompetitive entertainment horses to be temporarily brought into the U.S. from countries affected with the venereal disease, Contagious Equine Metritis. The final rule, titled Temporary Importation of Horses: Noncompetitive Entertainment Horses From Countries Affected with Contagious Equine Metritis, is effective July 7, 2008. Noncompetitive entertainment horses are those that participate in performances or...