Goshen, Ky. – The Hermitage Classic CDE played host to the 2016 USEF Pair Horse Driving National Championship on October 21-23. The picturesque Hermitage Farm provided the backdrop for Steve Wilson to claim his second consecutive championship title. Steve Wilson takes his lap of honor (Picsofyou.com) Wilson (Louisville, Ky.) began the competition with a great dressage test, earning a score of 49.79 from the Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoll (USA), Danute Bright (USA), Barry Capstick...

Lexington, Ky. – A lovely weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE played host to the 2016 USEF Pony Driving National Championships. Held October 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park, the championships crowned two National Champions: Leslie Berndl and Katie Whaley, along with their talented ponies. USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship Leslie Berndl and Sweetwater's Zorah Belle (Picsofyou.com) Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle began their quest for a national...

I started this blog this morning with the aim of completing by the start of the jumping competition and extolling the virtues of the Glorious 12th. However it is now evening and the blog is only just being started due to the time consuming shenanigans of the Annoying 14th. It has been one of those days that Rio 2016 have perfected the art of creating; frustrating and unnecessary. Casting my mind back to the Glorious 12th, I still get goosebumps combined with deep reoccurring nervous tension...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Show jumping enthusiasts from around the world have been eagerly anticipating the start of the third and final discipline at the 2016 Olympic Games. The show jumping competition got underway at Rio’s Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center Friday with the horse inspection. Representing the United States are Lucy Davis, Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward. The U.S. team is led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. McLain Ward and Azur (Shannon Brinkman...

Lexington, Ky. – The Team Championship of the US Pony Jumper National Championships took place Friday evening in the Alltech Arena as teams competed in the two-round Nations Cup format. Following the first round, the top teams came back to jump the same Jasen Shelley-designed course in round two, with a total of 32 combinations jumping for individual classification. For the 2016 US Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, the Zones 5/6 team stood atop the podium. The team,...

Beesd, The Netherlands – Stefanie Putnam made her European debut at the 2016 FEI World Para-Driving Championships and impressed with a stellar performance. As the sole U.S. representative, Putnam looked right at home competing against a strong international field. She partnered with Bethesda After Dark to finish fifth in the Grade I division. Stefanie Putnam and Bethesda After Dark (©Marie de Ronde-Oudemans) Putnam (Lafeyette, Calif.) executed a solid test with her own Bethesda After Dark...

Aachen, Germany – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team of Matt Brown , Hannah Sue Burnett , Phillip Dutton , and Lauren Kieffer put forth strong efforts in day one’s dressage and show jumping phases at the Aachen CICO3*. Led by Chef d'Equipe David O’Connor, the team will move forward to day two’s cross-country phase in sixth place on a total of 159.10 penalties. The leaderboard is topped by Australia on a total of 139.80, followed closely by New Zealand on 142.20 in...

Lexington, Ky. – The final North American Selection Trial for the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships took place over the weekend at the Bromont International Driving CAI. James Fairclough led from start to finish to claim top honors in the CAI2*-H4 division. James Fairclough (Cealy Tetley) Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his mixed team of Warmbloods started off the competition with a solid dressage test to earn a score of 46.91 to win the dressage phase. He and his horses delivered a bold...

Lucy Davis and Barron (Eric Knoll) La Baule, France - The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team took the Silver medal in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* La Baule in France on Friday. Led by Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland, the team of Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, and Todd Minikus put in solid rounds to finish on four faults. This performance sets an excellent tone for the summer as the event served as the first of four observation events for members of the Short List for the...

La Baule, France - The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team took the Silver medal in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* La Baule in France on Friday. Led by Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland, the team of Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, and Todd Minikus put in solid rounds to finish on four faults. This performance sets an excellent tone for the summer as the event served as the first of four observation events for members of the Short List for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team...