PhelpsSports.com (McLain Ward and Sapphire are leading the races for AGA Rider and Horse of the Year, respectively.) The 2007 American Grand Prix Association (AGA) tour is only five events old, but McLain Ward, a three-time American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Rider of the Year, has already put himself in a excellent position to take home a fourth title, following his impressive victory in the richest grand prix ever held in the United States. Entering its 29th year, the AGA Grand Prix Series...

Lexington, KY — As part of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) commitment to its members and in partnership with Equisure, Inc., the “Official Insurance Provider to USEF members,” the two organizations announce the continuation of a $1-million personal excess liability coverage and up to $30,000 accidental death policy for Senior or Life Members and an accidental death benefit limited to $3,750 for insured persons under the age of 18 years old. “The...

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the national governing body for endurance riding in the United States, will hold its 2007 annual convention in Sparks, NV. The two-day program of seminars, informational meetings and a free trade show is set for February 23-24 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Leading experts in equine health care and endurance-related fields will be featured at several seminar sessions. Other highlights of the AERC's convention will include a trade show featuring vendors...

Beezie Madden (center) accepted the Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year Award on behalf of owner Abigail Wexner. Pictured with Madden are USEF President David O'Connor (left) and Farnam's Chris Jacobi. (Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF Archives) At the final social event of the 2007 Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY, the much-anticipated Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year Awards celebrated the equestrian world’s hardest working athletes—the horses—from across the spectrum...

Virginian Gary Baker and Kentuckians Jean McLean Davis and Donna Moore to be Honored (Lexington, KY) – The United States Equestrian Federation® will award the 2006 Pegasus Medals of Honor during the Pegasus Awards Gala at its Annual Meeting, Friday, January 12, at the Seelbach Hotel in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The award recognizes individuals who have exhibited outstanding service to horses and sport, and who, through their dedication, have attracted people to the sport and...

Roberto Teran riding Jamestown for owner King Ridge Stables, based in Reddick, FL, during the winter and Ontario, Canada, during the summer, won this the Welcome Stake sponsored by John Deere on November 16. Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, IN, took up the reins of course designing for the jumpers last week. His 12-obstacle layout was more challenge than welcome with big tracks into tight turns and a wicked triple combination. “They had it easy last week,” Rheinheimer commented with a laugh,...

More than 200 entries tackled the new cross country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor last Saturday during the Colorado Horse Park Fall Horse Trials held September 29-October 1. The event, which featured divisions from Beginner Novice to Preliminary, attracted entries from several states. Competitors faced the triathlon of horse sports—dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Winning the Open Preliminary division was Martha McDowell from Billings, MT. She rode her...

Bob Langrish (Vaulter Megan Benjamin won an Individual Gold medal.) (Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last 30 world championships....

Bob Langrish (Steffen Peters aboard Floriano finished in fourth place in the grand prix special during Friday's dressage competition in Aachen.) (Aachen, Germany)—To say it was tough competition today in the dressage grand prix special at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) would be a gross understatement. But two Americans made it look like a walk in the park. American’s Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters, who are now both poised to enter a showdown among the top 15 dressage...

Lili Weik (Addison Phillips won the Hunterdon Cup at HITS Saugerties.) Addison Phillips of New York, NY, won the inaugural United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class presented by World Equestrian Brands on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. Phillips, trained by Andre Dignelli, owner of Heritage Farm, rode to victory aboard her 11-year-old bay Warmblood gelding, Icon. Competing against 25 other riders and navigating her way through three rounds, with the last round...