Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Hagen, Germany - United States dressage athletes continued to fare well in CDI3*, CDIU25, and CDIOY competition today at both Rotterdam in The Netherlands and Hagen in Germany. At Rotterdam, Shelly Francis and Patricia Stempel's Danilo received a score of 70.480% to garner eighth place in the CDI3* Grand Prix. Also in contention were Brian Hafner on Rebecca Hafner and his own Lombardo LHF, who placed in eleventh on a score of 66.229%, and Arlene Page and her...

Aaron Vale and Quidam's Good Luck (Kendall Bierer/Phleps Media Group) Lexington, KY – Capturing the first place finish was no easy feat during Saturday night’s $85,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. Forty-four starters contended for the lion’s share of the earnings in the FEI CSI2* event, but when nine qualified for the jump-off, it came down to the wire. Besting the clock and the short course was Aaron Vale aboard Quidam’s Good Luck,...

Chase Hickok and Sagacious HF (SusanJStickle.com) Wellinton, Fla. - Competition for AGDF 10 concluded on Sunday with the 2015 Florida International Dressage Youth Championships (FIDYC) as well as the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle CDI-W 1*. The FIDYC, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm, Pana Cavallo and the Davis Family, and Dressage4Kids, showcased the talent of 35 upcoming riders from around the world. The Overall division winners included: Chase Hickok (USA) for U-25, Dana van Lierop (NED) in...

Melissa Rudershausen and Abracadabra (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Melissa Rudershausen, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, riding her own Abracadabra, took home the first-place prize in the $7,500 U-Dump/SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by VETERA® XP Vaccines, on Sunday morning in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Six moved onto the jump-off and Rudershausen had the advantage of going last, when one other rider had been double-clear. She posted a clear round in...

The winning trophy for the Florida International Dressage Youth Championships Wellington, Fla. - Four National and European Champion youth riders from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands will be making the journey across the Atlantic to compete at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival's Week 9 Palm Beach Dressage Derby and the Week 10 Florida International Dressage Youth Championships. All four riders, traveling with Jochen Arl, are set to compete in Wellington for the championships,...

Scott Hassler at a Markel/USEF Young Horse Training Session (USEF Archive) Lexington, Ky. - Scott Hassler who has served as the USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach since 2006 has announced he will be stepping down from the position on May 1, 2015 in order to spend more time with his family and focus on his competitive career. "It has truly been an honor to serve in this capacity, as I have so much passion and belief in the value of this program and its long-term impact on our sport. We have...

Lexington, Ky. - Perhaps no competitor had more fun with her performance than the Second Level Open Freestyle Champion Morgan Barrows (Monroe, Wash., Region 6) riding Janice Davis' Oldenburg gelding San Corazon. Their Billy Idol-themed freestyle was rewarded with a top score of 74.678%. "I had a blast! I want to go out there again," said Barrows, who has been partnered with her mount for less than a year. "I originally saw him at a friend's farm in Sweden when he was three. Later when...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF is pleased to announce the dates and location for the second USEF/USET Foundation Dressage Pipeline Clinic. This clinic, which is made possible through a gift from USET Foundation Trustee, Betsy Juliano and Havensafe Farm, will be held October 11-12, at Epona Farm in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The purpose of the USEF/USET Foundation Dressage Pipeline Clinic is to showcase the U.S. dressage pipeline of athletes and horses in one clinic with the USEF Dressage Coaches...

Lexington, Ky. - The first championship titles of the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans were claimed Wednesday as the Large Regular Hunter Ponies and the Small Green Hunter Ponies completed their final phases of competition in the 2014 US Pony Finals. Devin Seek and Hudson claimed the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship title and Sophia Calamari and Smitten took home the Small Green Hunter Pony Championship title. National titles are determined in the US Hunter Pony...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When Kevin Babington first laid eyes on Shorapur he knew there was something special about the mare. Despite being told she was too hot for his liking, he had to try her. That first ride was a year and a half ago. Yet, Friday they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis as if they'd been together forever. “I was like a kid in a candy store the first...