By Bob Langrish (Beezie Madden and Authentic are leading all show jumpers at the WEG for two days in a row.) It’s double duty again at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany, as two disciplines played out simultaneously – one of them in the Main Stadium (show jumping) and the other having its first-day opener in Stadium 2 (four-in-hand driving). Both of the disciplines have fans running back and forth to take in the action. In show jumping, it’s Day One of a...

By Bob Langrish (Beezie Madden and Authentic in the Main Stadium in Aachen, Germany.) (Aachen, Germany)— The 16 efforts put in front of the 116 show jumpers going round during the 1st qualifier and speed class for the individual and team FEI World Championships in Aachen were a bit more than a few could handle. And for Team USA, there were few bumps along the road translating into less than a handful of downed rails in a windy Main Stadium. Over the day, six horses were eliminated, and...

Bob Langrish (Vaulter Megan Benjamin won an Individual Gold medal.) (Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last 30 world championships....

Steffen Peters finished fourth yesterday in the grand prix special with a 75.200%, just out of the medals. They finished sixth tonight in the musical freestyle on a score of 78.600%. (Bob Langrish) Crowds were spilling out of the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Saturday, with record crowds jamming not only the dressage freestyle, but the cross-country course, as well as the show grounds. Across the day, more than 44,000 fans of eventing were on-hand; 40,000 tickets were sold (and 60,000 were on...

Bob Langrish (Steffen Peters aboard Floriano finished in fourth place in the grand prix special during Friday's dressage competition in Aachen.) (Aachen, Germany)—To say it was tough competition today in the dressage grand prix special at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) would be a gross understatement. But two Americans made it look like a walk in the park. American’s Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters, who are now both poised to enter a showdown among the top 15 dressage...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will induct Major Robert Borg, Sarah (Sally) Swift, and Roemer into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame (HOF) at the Salute Gala on November 30, 2006, at the USDF National Convention & Symposium in Kansas City, MO. Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed on horses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of dressage in the U.S. Major Robert Borg (1913-2005), as well as being a competitor, trained the horses...

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America (WPCSA) and the Welsh Pony & Cob Foundation, Inc. (WPCF) are pleased to announce the purchase of permanent quarters. Coincidentally, this major purchase takes place during the centennial year of the formation of the WPCSA. The new property, located in Stephens City, VA, is suitable for current office functions, storage and potential expansion. Through “home” ownership, overhead costs will be significantly reduced. Savings will benefit members, breeders...

Attention all juniors interested in competing in the 2007 Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships (Prix des States). Please check your zone’s criteria and qualifying period under the Jumping Discipline page of the USEF website at www.usef.org/content/equestrianSports/disciplines/allJumping.php Please direct questions to Jennifer Haydon, Director of Show Jumping for National Programs, at [email protected] or (859) 225-6911. ~~~

The River Glen Horse Trials over the weekend of August 4-6 in New Market, TN, held one of the final United States Eventing Association (USEA)/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse competitions of the summer before the championships take place Friday, October 6, at the Morven Park Three-day Event and Advanced Horse Trials in Leesburg, VA. Pikadilly and Dorothy Crowell, of Maplewood Farm in Frankfort, KY, dominated the five-year-old division with a score of 80.7 to take home the blue ribbon. Sired by...

(Aachen, Germany)—The United States Equestrian Federation announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games due to a veterinary concern. Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, “Brentina had a slight swelling after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her...