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...

Las Vegas, NV – 44 riders from 22 nations went to task this evening in the Thomas & Mack Arena, 12 of them American. By the time the music died down and the last pair of feet landed on the arena floor, it was the reigning Rolex FEI World Cup champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly who proved to be the fastest in the First Leg of the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final: the Speed Class. Again. The German pair were quickest by just less than a second with a time of 56.48. “I thought the...

Content provided by Julie Bennett, Baylor University WACO, Texas— For the third straight season, Baylor and Waco will host the Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Complex. The eighth annual championships are on Thursday, April 16 and continue through Saturday, April 18. The event is open to the public and no admission will be charged. Varsity equestrian is divided into two areas: hunter seat and western. The University of Georgia claimed the...

So much has happened today I'm not sure where to start. This morning started with another run on the strip. More illicit activities witnessed and I was a little later so there was loads more activity. Made for some quick thinking at times. Back to the venue… the day got off to a very disappointing start for the dressage riders, my heart just broke for Jan Ebeling and Leslie Morse, both had huge disappointments. Jan's mare, Rafalca, simply couldn't take the atmosphere and...

As thousands of visitors travel to Lexington, KY, to watch the world’s premiere equestrians compete for top honors at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, there is another reason to explore the city in the heart of the Bluegrass. Horse Capital Productions, LLC, a Lexington-based company, will present the 2010 International Equestrian Festival™, to be held simultaneously with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The 2010 International Equestrian Festival™ will run from...

American Shetland Ponies are getting their well-deserved time in the spotlight, starring as the Breed of the Week on the United States Eqeustrian Federation’s ClubEquestrian.com website. The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) is a USEF recognized breed association and has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the USEF. The “Breed of the Week” spotlight details the breed’s history as well as the fact that the small but mighty equines are a favorite of children and adults. Many of today’s...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that Ashlee Bond, 23, of Hidden Hills, CA, and Michelle Spadone, 25, of Califon, NJ, are this year's co-winners of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award. The USET Foundation awarded these rising young equestrians this honor because of their competitive records to date and because of their promise for the future in show jumping. Bond and Spadone were given trophies at a presentation during the 2009...

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony at the Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, on Saturday evening, April 4. Honored with induction were Dr. John Steele and the horses Abdullah, Miss Budweiser and Riviera Wonder. Induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is a great honor bestowed annually upon select individuals whose contribution to the sport has set them apart from others and whose influence has had a significant impact on the...

The tradition of elite show jumping competition with a European look and feel keeps some of the finest international equestrian athletes returning to the Jumper Classic, now in its 20th year. The 2009 Jumper Classic, with its premiere event, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, will be held September 2-6 over Labor Day weekend at New England's finest equestrian show grounds, Silver Oak Equestrian Center, in Hampton Falls, NH. The five-day show, held for the past 19 years in early...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® is now accepting bids from photographers who would like to be considered for the position of “Official Photographer for the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.” These championships will be held in Gladstone, NJ at the USET Foundation Headquarters June 18-21, 2009. Showcasing the best American dressage riders at the highest levels of the sport from FEI Juniors (aged 14 to 18) to the Olympic-level of Grand Prix...