Badminton, U.K . - There was a thrilling climax to cross-country day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ - when Mark Todd (NZL) returned to a hero’s welcome, having produced a masterful display of riding to bring the inexperienced NZB Land Vision home clear and into the lead. Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision leads on cross-country day at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™...

The atmosphere during the final press conference at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was full of giddy excitement, as the riders were all smiles after their successful week. After a turbulent four days, the Great Britain team of William Fox-Pitt/Cool Mountain, Mary King/Imperial Cavalier, Nicola Wilson/Opposition Buzz, and Kristina Cook/Miners Frolic reigned supreme to take home the gold medal. This was the first time a Great Britain team has won team gold at the WEG since 1994. ?...

Photo by Lauren Fisher/PMG (Lisa Goldman and Morocco won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/AO Jumper Classic.) It was a fantastic day for 21-year-old Denise Wilson of Oconomowoc, WI, and Blue Gate Farm LLC's Life is Life 15 when the pair raced to victory in Saturday afternoon's $30,000 Showplace Productions Grand Prix. Held in the beautiful Grand Prix Ring at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, the grand prix was the first of three in the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show...

Photo by PMG/Ken Kraus (Jennifer Waxman and Venturo) The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) is pleased to announce that 18-year-old Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, OH, has been awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, recognizing a Junior/Young Rider who exemplifies the USET Foundation's ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship. The award was established in 1983 by Patrick Guerrand-Hermès in memory of his son Lionel, an Olympic hopeful trained by U.S. Eventing...

The U.S. team at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany, is currently in fourth position in the standings after dressage. The U.S. drivers put down excellent performances in the past two dressage days and are only one point behind The Netherlands, who is in third position. Host nation and team title defender, Germany, ahead of Belgium, leads the standings. Germany’s Franz-Josef Lehmkuhl, who will end his active driving career after this event, won the Single...

This special section, Drugs and Medications Corner, will feature a series of articles from the USEF’s Drugs and Medications Program and the veterinary community to communicate the latest news to better educate the equine community. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are a class of agents best recognized for anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain suppression) properties. An important clinical use of this class of medication is to improve patient status and minimize pain....

This special section, Drugs and Medications Corner, will feature a series of articles from the USEF’s Drugs and Medications Program and the veterinary community to communicate the latest news to better educate the equine community. Let me start by saying that I’m a strong supporter of legitimate, medically valid compounding pharmacy practice. If used prudently, the practice of compounding plays an important role in veterinary medicine and in your horse’s health. Many horses...

My Boy Bobby (Mike McNally) Lexington, KY – The top two places shuffled but the names on top of the leaderboard remained the same after the cross country at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks had a lightning fast round on her chestnut mare Headley Britannia. Trying to duplicate her husband Clayton’s winning feat in 2007, Fredericks blazed around and made the optimum time of 11 minutes despite having to go the long way at the Head of the...

Connaught is Back to Defend his Title (Mike McNally ) Lexington, KY – The 12th Rolex/USEF National CCI**** Eventing Championship got underway Wednesday, April 22 with the first horse inspection at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Fifty-one horses were presented before the Ground Jury of David Lee, Nicoli Fife and Marilyn Payne. Dr. Catherine Kohn is serving as the Veterinary Delegate for the 2009 competition. Of those 52, two of which were held for a second look by the Ground...

I really like the combination of World Cup Finals and a venue like Las Vegas. I like what each does to elevate the other; the World Cup Finals bringing sophistication, world-class competition and the best equestrian has to offer, to Vegas. Vegas lending its style, flair and showmanship to the Finals. The athletes love it. The fans love it. And they're hoping the tradition will continue, despite a struggling economy. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but by the looks of it, I...