Las Vegas, NV – After defending Rolex FEI World Cup Champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum broke the timing beam at 32.04 seconds with Shutterfly at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final, the question remained: how do you beat this horse? US superstar McLain Ward tried with Sapphire, the pair looked phenomenal. Foot perfect, lightning fast and with some seriously bold moves, Ward went with two remaining in the 13 horse jump-off and there was reasonable consensus that Sapphire’s effort...

Wellington, FL – The Exquis World Dressage Masters finale showcased the world’s best dressage riders under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club on Saturday night. The temperature was unseasonably low but the quality of dressage was seriously high. The reigning Olympic Champion, Anky van Grunsven, lived dangerously in the Grand Prix on Friday, she only qualified for the Freestyle when Michael Barisone opted for the Grand Prix Special...

Some content provided by Heidi Hill Harrisburg, PA— In Friday night’s Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Team Championship – Prix des States at the Pennsylvania Horse Show, the Gold Medal and Frances Newbill Rowe perpetual trophy went to Zone 4 (AL, FL, GA, MS, SC, TN), which includes Taylor Land and Canielle, Anne Marie Walker and Radio Flyer, Reed Kessler and Flight and Juliana Fischer and Lola. Of 30 horses, only three went clean in the first round including all of Zone 4....

Lexington, KY - The Wellpride USEA American Eventing Championships were, like much of the country, the victim of some volatile weather over the weekend of September 13-14. Torrential rain caused for the amendment of some of the Championships and prizes were awarded after the dressage and show jumping. Advanced, Intermediate and Preliminary were all scored as combined tests, despite the organizers’ best efforts, in the interest of safety due to quagmire conditions at Lamplight Equestrian...

Hong Kong, China – A collective sigh could be felt in the Sha Tin venue as the final day of competition at the 2008 Paralympic Games got underway this morning. For everyone who has put so much time, money and work into the last six weeks – all that remained was 15 hours. The British made the best of those hours, winning 10 medals. The competition kicked off with the Grade III riders performing their Individual Freestyle tests. Barbara Grassmyer was the first US rider in the ring...

Rebecca Hart (John Stevenson) By Joanie Morris Hong Kong, China – The venue was lively today as the freestyles got underway in the main arena at Sha Tin. All kinds of music were showcased in two sessions. Two US riders went to task in the morning sessions on the penultimate day of competition at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Equestrian. In the Grade II Individual Freestyle, Rebecca Hart (Erie, PA) finally had the performance she knew she was capable with Norteassa at these Games. The...

Hong Kong, China – The first medals were handed out at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Hong Kong tonight, and although the US anthem wasn’t played, the Team is looking firmly to the future. They will ride their freestyle tests over the next two days and then focus on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games where they will be riding on their home turf. Barb Grassmyer kicked it off with Mibis. She put in a steady performance in the Grade III Individual Test. From Placerville, CA the...

Authentic (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – Under the unsettled skies of the impending typhoon the individual medals were decided by not one but two jump-offs. America’s Beezie Madden and Authentic out ran six other combinations to be the fastest of the four faulters to win her first Indivdual medal. “In the Olympics there is usually a jump off for medals,” said Madden. “So we expected it. When it ended up being seven to jump off for the bronze it made for a...

Hong Kong, China – Coming into the Games, Peters was pinned as the best individual medal hope for the US in recent memory. Riding Akiko Yamazaki’s formerly undefeated Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) 10-year-old KWPN gelding Ravel, Peters put in a masterful performance in the horse’s first effort outside the US. Anky van Grunsven and Salinero won on the strength of their freestyle (82.4%), winning her third consecutive Individual gold medal for The Netherlands on a...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The dressage riders temporarily reclaimed the ring from the show jumpers tonight at Sha Tin and although Germany continued to rule… the Americans put in an impressive showing. Two US riders were in the fold and Steffen Peters and Ravel (who is owned by Aikiko Yamazaki) were first of the pair in the ring. Their test was brilliant, with no mistakes, Peters did a masterful job in the piaffe and passage and guided the...