Michelle Gibson and Don Angelo (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – The first day of the USEF National Intermediaire Dressage Championship showcased the top horse/rider combinations in the country at the fiercely competitive Intermediaire level. Some of the most exciting up-and-coming horses performed the Prix St. Georges test in the arena at The Oaks Blenheim facility this afternoon. Two riders, who duel on a regular basis, ended the day separated by only four-tenths of a percent. Last...

Lexington, KY ­– Becky Holder made it very clear that she was not relinquishing her grasp on the top spot at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event as she flew around the cross-country course with Courageous Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Mike McNally) Comet. “He was foot perfect.” said Holder after her round. “He was just absolutely on his game for every minute of it.” The 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding flashed the turn of foot that made him a success...

Phillip Dutton and The Foreman (Photo by Shannon Brinkman ) Elkton, MD – The competition continued on Sunday as numerous USEF National Championships were up for grabs at the Fair Hill International CCI***. Phillip Dutton won for the fourth time, but this was the first time that the U.S. national anthem was played in his honor. Riding The Foreman, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Ann Jones, Dutton won the USEF National Eventing Championships on a score of 46.4, adding one rail...

Elkton, MD - ­As the 2007 competition year winds down, two eventing championships will be held over the weekend of October 19-21. Many of the country's best riders will culminate their season at the USEF National CCI*** Championship at the Fair Hill International Horse Trials in Elkton, MD. Up-and-coming horses and riders will test their skills at the CCI* level at the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Fair Hill International will offer the...

Burbank, CA - The first of the two Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals provided top-class competition despite a nasty battle with Mother Nature which resulted in lots of cancelled classes and some creative competition management by the Los Angeles International Horse Show. Held in Griffith Park, the horse show was abbreviated by a powerful storm on Friday night which knocked out power to the show grounds and over 25,000 homes in the surrounding area. This warranted the...

Diana DeRosa (Christopher Hickey and Regent in Rio de Janeiro) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—When most people think of Rio, sunshine comes quickly to mind. However, that was not the case today at Deodoro Stadium and the National Equestrian Center outside of the city. Clouds, the threat of rain showers and cooler temperatures loomed, but it was a rather bright day for the hopes of the American dressage riders as all three of them competed in the first of two rounds that will determine the...

Amy Dragoo (Bonnie Mosser on Merloch winning the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event CCI***. ) The rain held off for most of the day for the finale of the Jersey Fresh Three Day Event, but everyone appreciated the break in the weather. Sally Ike’s show jumping tracks proved challenging yet fair and major changes in the standing of each division would unfold as the day went on. There were plenty of surprises in the Advanced Horse Trials division which was serving as a selection division for the...

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) is pleased to announce that 18-year-old Carolyn Kelly of New York, NY, has been awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, recognizing a junior/young rider who exemplifies the USET Foundation’s ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship. Kelly had an outstanding year in 2006 in the show jumping discipline. With her horse Omona AW, Kelly accumulated a long list of achievements, including being named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year in...

Charlie Jayne aboard Cassino Z rides to an impressive win at the 2006 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search - East in Gladstone, NJ. (PhelpsPhotos.com ) Gladstone, NJ – October 8, 2006 - Following two days of demanding competition with some of the most talented junior riders in the eastern United States, Charlie Jayne emerged as the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East Champion, riding Cassino Z, owned by his girlfriend, Lauren Sturges. The 20-year-old resident of Elgin, IL, was...

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...