Norwood, NC - There were no ribbons and no winners, but today was as important as any competition day in the lives of the 10 horses preparing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in Eventing. The horses, along BallyNoe Castle RM (Mike McNally) with five who have been preparing in England, are on the USEF Short List for Eventing, from which the Team for the 2008 Olympic Games will be selected on Monday. The Fork Stables graciously opened its gates to the USEF to allow the horses and riders a...

Through the hard work of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and the NCAA Varsity equestrian, the 2008 NRHA Derby was host to the Collegiate Reining Championships in Oklahoma City, OK, on June 28 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. Taking top honors was Leah Kuehn from Oklahoma State University. She rode Double Run Farm’s Pretty Nifty Dun to an impressive score of 220. Ohio State University’s Keith Ceddia and BR China Rose finished second in...

Riding For Reading, a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting reading, literacy and education through equestrian sports and activities, is pleased to announce that its Riding For Reading Class will be held at three different shows during the summer. The Riding For Reading Class at the Golden Gate Classic, July 4, in Woodside, CA, will kick off the summer. “I believe that reading is the most important aspect of a child’s education," stated Show Manager Chris Collman. “After all,...

Patrick Seaton and Good Guiness not only won the $20,000 Bayfest Grand Prix the second week of the Woodside Summer Circuit, but Seaton also earned a $5,000 rider bonus for winning two of the three major jumper classes at the 2008 Woodside Summer Circuit aboard the same horse. If he can make it a hat trick by clinching the $30,000 Golden Gate Grand Prix, Seaton will be the first rider to claim the Woodside Jumper Accumulator bonus worth $20,000. "When I started the Woodside Jumper Accumulator...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – There was no one busier than Steffen Peters at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions today and he saved his best performance for last. Peters rode Ravel to another win in the third leg of the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship (which also serves as the USEF Selection Trial for Dressage) with a score of 75.25%. The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding continues to impress everyone on hand at...

Week I of the Atlanta Summer Classic was highlighted by two spectacular weekend events: the $25,000 ASG Software/USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $25,000 Central Equine Grand Prix, held Friday and Saturday evening, respectively, at the Georgia International Horse Park’s Olympic Stadium. On Friday night an astounding 39 hunter teams gathered under the lights for the International Hunter Derby. After the tight turns were negotiated, the jumps cleared, and the gates opened and closed, it...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – Day one of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions was highlighted by the afternoon performances of the 12 best horses in the country competing in the USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Team in Dressage. Serving also as the National Grand Prix Dressage Championship, the class featured four Olympic veterans. San Diego rider and Olympic veteran Steffen Peters had plenty of fans on hand to watch him...

At the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Horse Show, the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USJA International Hunter Derby presented by Dietrich Insurance featuring Walsh Harness & Saddlery was won by New Yorker Patricia Griffith on North Country, owned by Laura King-Kaplan. The class of more than forty entries produced flawless performance after flawless performance, but Griffin was the star of the day aboard North Country, an eight-year-old bay Warmblood. The course, designed by Skip...

Internationally renowned driving champion Chester Weber has been featured in a new television series, The Ocala Horse Show . Weber is based in Ocala, FL, during the winter season. The rest of the year he travels with his team internationally to compete in the world’s premiere driving competitions. Weber is well respected for his outstanding accomplishments in the driving community. He is also a well-rounded horseman and has served as an excellent ambassador to the sport. These characteristics...

Diana DeRosa (Karen O'Connor and Theodore O'Connor at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.) It is with great sadness that the United States Equestrian Federation reports that super pony Theodore O’Connor was humanely euthanized Wednesday, May 28, as a result of an injury sustained in an accident at Karen and David O’Connor’s barn in The Plains, VA. The 13-year-old eventing pony defied odds and gravity throughout his career. Standing only 14.1 hands, the...