The U.S. Dressage Team got World Championship competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games underway as all four horses were deemed fit and sound to compete at the Horse Inspection Sunday morning. The United States, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, will be represented by Olympic and World Equestrian Games veterans in addition to a rising star making her World Championship debut. The U.S. has drawn 13th in the order of the 25 nations competing in the Team Championship. The...

Julie Welles and Twan won the $10,000 Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Welcome Stake (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, Vt. - Julie Welles of Wellington, FL, and Warren, VT, rode Twan to victory in the $10,000 Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 31, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Welles and Twan were the first pair to tackle the course designed by 1976 Olympic individual silver medalist Michel...

Kristin Smith & Ophelia (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, Mich. - Kristin Smith's plan was pretty straightforward said trainer Tammy Provost: "To take no prisoners." With 20 of the 35 starters qualifying for the jump-off in the $10,000 North Face Farm Children's/Adult Jumper Prix on July 27, there was no doubt the winner would need to chart a course that combined speed with precision and careful jumping. Designer Scott Starnes' challenging tie-breaker included a daring...

Amanda Steege and Zidane (The Book LLC) North Salem, N.Y. – The second day of the second week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows had multiple hunter championships awarded, including that of the Grand Hunter Champion, which was awarded to Amanda Steege of Bedminster, NJ, on Susan Darragh's Zidane. In the Grand Prix Field, a large class of 91 entries led to a “California Split” of entries, with two sets of ribbons and prize money awarded. Sarah Segal of Flemington, NJ,...

This article orginally appeared at www.useventing.com . Allentown, N.J. - New Jersey-native Doug Payne led from start to finish in the CIC3* at jersey Fresh riding Crown Talisman, whom he owns in partnership with Larry and Amelia Ross. Payne recently relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina with his new wife, eventer Jessica Hampf, and made the trek back to his home state in hopes of a solid run in preparation for the Pau CCI4* in France. “Coming away from the event, I think it’s about...

Lexington, Ky - On Friday, U.S. riders again produced top finishes in Wellington, Fla. at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI5* presented by Diamante Farms, as American combinations claimed victory in both the Grand Prix Freestyle and Grand Prix Special. Tina Konyot saved her best performance of the 12 week festival for last as she earned victory in the Freestyle competition, while her teammate from the winning U.S. Nations Cup effort one month ago, Adrienne Lyle, produced a an impressive...

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Wizard capped off the first day of competition for the final week of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) with a win in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms. The pair earned a personal best score for the grand prix with a 74.160%. Ashley Holzer (CAN) and Tiva Nana scored a blue ribbon finish earlier in the day, winning the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* presented by Diamante Farms on a...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the officials selected to judge the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup competition. Medal-winning countries from the 2012 Saddle Seat World Cup competition each put forward a judge to officiate this prestigious competition in 2014. The judges are David Brent from Canada, Hugo Visser from South Africa, and Michael Craghead from the United States. David Brent has been an Equine Canada (EC) judge since 1977. He holds...

Aaron Vale and Gems Bond were the ones to beat in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome 1.40m at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Boasting the richest prize in show jumping, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix is only two weeks away and riders are now looking to punch their ticket for the showdown in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas made herself a top contender for the March 24 title with her fifth grand prix win of the circuit on Friday in...

Bristol made a splash when he got back to the show ring after several months off with Rusty Stewart in the irons. The pair won the $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal this weekend (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Rusty Stewart, who hails from Camarillo, California, has rested his longtime grand prix mount Bristol since the end of last season, but returned to competition on the highest of notes this weekend at HITS Thermal. Stewart and the...