Diana DeRosa (Meredith Beerbaum and Shutterfly, champions of the 2005 FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final) Las Vegas, Nevada – There were many times during the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals when one had to take a reality check and pinch themselves just to be certain they weren’t at the NBA play-offs instead of an equestrian event. Anyone who loves sport, whether they have ever been interested in horses or not, would have enjoyed the pure entertainment value of this week’s...

Diana DeRosa (Debbie McDonald riding Brentina during the Grand Prix portion of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final) Las Vegas, NV —As some predicted long before Thursday’s qualifying Grand Prix, the Dutch made a fantastic showing during the first leg of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, April 21, proving their powerhouse precision is not to be underestimated. Edward Gal finished first on Geldnet Lingh with a total of 78.625. Ironically Gal’s score surpassed that of his...

Santa Fe will host the second annual New Mexico Grand Prix on Memorial Weekend 2005, May 28-29. The event takes place on the Polo Fields of the Santa Fe Horse Park. A huge step toward the goal of making Santa Fe a premiere equestrian destination, this major sporting event will feature top riders from all over the country who will compete for prize money. The event will attract equine professionals, amateur exhibitors, horse lovers, owners and riders, tourists and spectators. Proceeds from the...

Dover Saddlery has announced the opening of its latest store in Plaistow, NH. An authentic New England post and beam barn has been restored to reflect the ambiance of a premium horse stable, while offering equestrians the finest selection of products for horse and rider at all levels of competition. The store will offer customers tax-free shopping seven days a week on thousands of brand name equestrian products. Merchandise will be displayed over four floors, with the top floor entirely devoted...

The 60th anniversary celebration of the Del Mar National Horse Show begins on April 21, 2005, with Western Week and a spectacular Saturday night showcase of equestrian talent and entertainment, Night of the Horse, presented by Mary’s Tack & Feed. One of the nation’s largest and esteemed horse shows, the Del Mar National draws hundreds of North America’s finest horses and riders to the Del Mar Fairgrounds Equestrian Center every year, and this year’s 60th Anniversary dates are April 21 to May 8....

The anticipation builds in the equestrian community as Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS) prepares to host the HITS-on-the-Hudson Spring and Summer Circuits for the second year at its world-class show grounds in Saugerties, NY. The seven-week hunter/jumper circuit returns from May 25 to September 4, with many exciting new additions to the equestrian facility and the show jumping competition taking place there. Six of the seven HITS-on-the-Hudson shows are sanctioned by the FEI and will have a CSI***...

Members of the show jumping team that won the Silver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games in Athens will compete in the jumper divisions and in two thrilling grand prix classes at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which runs May 26-June 4. In a thrilling duel for this year’s top honors, Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, Open Jumper Champion for four of the last six years, will take on Olympians Chris Kappler of Hunterdon in Pittstown, NJ, Open Jumping Leading Rider at Devon two years...

In 2004, the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) paid out almost $3 million of a $4.6 million available pot in International Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes (Sweepstakes) prize money to eligible horses and scholarship recipients. Most prize money was won at the 18 regional shows where more than $3 million is available in addition to $261,000 in gelding incentive, an extra 25% paid to Arabian geldings competing in performance classes. At Canadian and U.S. Nationals, competitors vie for more than $1...

Jessica Heidemann, 24, of Bellingham, WA, captured the FEI World Cup Qualifier (CIC***-W) at Galway Downs, CA, on April 3 on her 14-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding, French Twist, with a score of 58.4. Heidemann took over the lead after the overnight leader, Lauren Whitlock, 20, of Rohnert Park, CA, and her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Kipling, lowered the oxer at fence seven to drop to second place on 60.1 penalties. Sara Mittleider, 19, Kuna, ID, with the 10-year-old Thoroughbred...

Burbank, CA — R-E-S-P-E-C-T. That’s exactly what Debbie McDonald earned from officials, competitors and spectators alike as she rode Brentina to victory in the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix Freestyle Championship and U.S. League Final in Burbank, California this weekend. Strutting through a freestyle program to the sound of Aretha Franklin, Olympic Team Bronze medalist McDonald and Brentina earned the winning score of 77.975% and a standing ovation in defending her 2004 title. Riding her...