After a brief bone-chilling downpour early this morning at the Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, the competition heated up on the first day of competition for the CIC3*, CCI2*, CIC2*, Advanced, Intermediate, a few Preliminary divisions, and the Training Three-Day. The chilly temperatures today made for some fresh horses, many of whom have been training in sweltering temperatures at their homes during the weeks prior to the competition. Many of the horses were a bit exuberant with the...

Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z (Flashpoint Photography). Conyers, GA — The Atlanta Summer Classics wrapped up competition at the Georgia International Horse Park, awarding nearly $300,000 in prize money and raising thousands for local charities over the two week run. “We’ve had some of the best riders in our sport joining us; it’s been a remarkable series and I couldn’t be happier,” Bob Bell, president of Classic Company said. Starting off the finale week, were a...

Ken Borden with his mare Shirly and site-champion foal Sir Flemmingh, now a licenced stallion, at Little Bit Farm's 2007 ISR/Oldenburg inspection (Fire & Earth Photography). Wilmington, IL – Turn the drive through the green gate and there’s the pink crabapple tree, in bloom against the white-and-gray siding of the barn. To the left is the front pasture, soon to be home to a group of mares and foals. To the right is the approximately 100-year-old farmhouse – from its...

Chesterfield, SC - On April 30, the key day of the Heart of the Carolinas Three-Day Event took place with great results. Mother Nature was kind bringing beautiful weather for the Beginner-Novice, Novice and Training level divisions. When the day was over, Becky Brown rode EZ to the top place with a score of 32.90 in Training. Anne Lane-Maunder continued her lead on Penny Lane in the Novice division (29.30). Beginner-Novice rider Jim Baker with Wings completed the Cross Country to maintain his...

Lexington, KY - For the first time in the history of the Western saddle sport of reining, a collection of the world’s best reining athletes slid into the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, to contest the inaugural five-star reining competition known as the CRI5* - the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. When the dirt in the arena settled, it was Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador who laid down a spectacular pattern to take the title on a score of 226.5 in this the...

So here it is, my 13th time at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Who would have thought that when I went to my first Rolex in 1997 that I would end up only missing one between then and now (the 2009 event). My Rolex experiences started out as a day-trip jaunt from Western Kentucky University where I was attending school. It was my first year of college and an equine photographer that my friend, Laura, and I had met told us about the event. Since I was studying photojournalism at the time, I...

Five New Champions to be Named in Gladstone (Amy McCool) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – Five United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Champions will be crowned next week (June 18-21) in Gladstone, NJ at the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. The competition annually showcases the best dressage horses and riders in the country in the following FEI categories: Junior, Young Rider, Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’, Intermediaire and Grand Prix....

Gene Mische and Jessica Montezuma (Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF) Cincinnati, OH – The philosophy is pretty simple: “If you take care of this sport, it will take care of you.” Gene Mische is a lifetime of living proof. Mische was honored by legions of fans and friends for decades of involvement in the equestrian world. At the Pegasus Awards Ceremony, Mische was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award at the 2009 USEF Annual Meeting. “I’m...

Tennessee's Taylor Ann Adams and Millpond Celebrity take the 2007 USEF Pony Medal Finals in Lexington, KY. (Mary Phelps) Lexington, KY— Day Three of Pony Finals was overflowing with 202 ponies competing for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Medal Final along with an evening of show jumping for the Adequan/USEF National Pony Team Jumper Championship. Taylor Ann Adams from Eads, TN, won the Pony Medal Final aboard Millpond Celebrity. Zone 4 ran away with the Gold in the...

June 15th, the second day of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, got underway with the Brentina Cup. Organized for young adults and named for Debbie McDonald's World Cup Champion mare, the Brentina Cup is open to Steffen Peters (phelpsphoto.com) riders 21-25 years of age. Performing the Intermediaire II test, the horses in the Brentina Cup are developing their skills for the highest level of dressage competition. The second horse of the day filled up the ring with...