Lisbon, Portugal - Friday afternoon and evening, Lisbon, Portugal, will play host to 10 countries vying for top honors at the Furusiyya Nations Cup CSIO3*. Led by Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer, the U.S. team hopes to leave a strong impression, with riders all under the age of 25, having their sights set on standing atop the podium. The competition will highlight the future of U.S. jumping as these young athletes come in with accomplished resumes. The U.S. team, comprised of Abigail McArdle,...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation is announcing an exciting contest for Saddle Seat riders, sponsored by Freedman's Harness and Saddlery. From today, May 1, through May 19, contestants are asked to create a short video that answers the question, "What would it mean to you to be on a Saddle Seat World Cup team?" From the submitted videos, a panel of judges will select 10 finalists. Those ten finalists will be announced on June 2, and for 15 days the general public will...

Chester Weber and his team during the Yellowframe Farm FEI Driven Dressage. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com) Ocala, FL - The 2014 Live Oak International is underway, bringing the best competitors in show jumping and combined driving to Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida. The prestigious competition, considered the premier combined driving event in North America, was favored with flawless weather and a strong showing of appreciative spectators as the equestrian extravaganza began. Wednesday...

Ashlee Bond Clarke and Chela LS jumping to the top spot (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Ashlee Bond Clarke admits that she had to keep her nerves and her emotions in check when entering the ring for the jump-off of Sunday’s AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach, at HITS Thermal. She was, however, a picture of poise and control to the crowd of 4,000 spectators that looked on as she topped a star-studded field to win the historic event with Little...

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - After topping Saturday's $25,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the brand new partnership of McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm's HH Carlos Z went on to their second victory of the week in Sunday's $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The class saw 52 entries with six to jump-off. Laura Kraut and MH Sporthorse's Andretti S were first to jump-off and incurred 16...

Karl Cook and Banba (McCool Photography) Las Vegas, Nev. - Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge is brilliant at asking just the right questions for the field. With sixty-six entries, Jorge created a course that tested the technique necessary to tackle tight turns and tidy tracks. It included an interesting option fence - a skinny 1.40m gate 'winged' by a simpler vertical on each side. Heading home as fence 4, the skinny was the quicker choice to rollback to 5a-b; and later going...

Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man at the winter training session (USEF Archives) Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and its Eventing High Performance Department introduced a redesigned Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program for 2013, and the participants had impressive performances throughout the season. Selected by application, 17 riders from across the country benefitted from regular access, coaching, and guidance from U.S. Team Coach, David O’Connor. The...

American Olympian Leslie Howard and Utah took the $75,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge in front of a sold-out crowd to cap the international division at the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show (Ben Radvanyi) Toronto, On. – America’s Leslie Howard is a legend in the sport of show jumping and she handily won the $75,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge tonight at the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show, Toronto, in front of a standing-room only crowd of equine enthusiasts. Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill was runner-up...

Storyteller and Ashton Alexander (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - The 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) concluded competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. on Sunday, October 27, with the presentation of championship awards in the pony hunter divisions. Storyteller, owned by Samantha Kasowitz and ridden by Barbara Ann Merryman and Ashton Alexander, earned the Grand Pony Hunter Championship. Daisy Farish was named Best Child Rider on a Pony....

McLain Ward & Rothchild (Beatrice Scudo) Barcelona, Spain – With Friday’s disappointment behind them, the U.S. Nations Cup Jumping team was determined to jump well at CSIO5* Barcelona on Saturday. The day wasn’t without its ups and downs, or its thrills and disappointments, but it ended with a hard fought U.S. win in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final Consolation Round. The U.S. team had the advantage of being the last in the order of go. McLain Ward (Brewster,...