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...

Lexington, Ky Michael Pollard and Mensa G (Shannon Brinkman Photo) . – Competition began Thursday at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover with the first day of dressage. Thirty-one horse-and-rider combinations performed their test in the Rolex Stadium in front of the Ground Jury of Sandy Phillips (GBR), Gillian Rolton (AUS), and Christina Klingspor (SWE). The U.S. riders took a commanding lead on Thursday holding the top positions on the leaderboard. Michael Pollard...

Lyon, France - The 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final got underway on Friday evening at the Lyon Eurexpo, with 40 of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations from 20 nations going to task over Frank Rothenberger’s 13 obstacle track. Of the talented field that lined-up to contest the Speed Leg 11 were representing the United States and looking to bring the World Cup title back across Beezie Madden and Simon (Kendall Bierer/PhelpsSports.com) the Atlantic for the third time...

Juan Matute, Jr. and Don Diego Ymas (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - January 26, 2014 - Spain's Juan Matute, Jr. collected another blue ribbon prize after winning the FEI Intermediare Freestyle presented by Chespeake Dressage Institute on Sunday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Sixteen-year-old Matute, Jr. and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Frederico finished on a score of 74.400% for victory. Second place went to American Heather Mason and Zar for their...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena are unstoppable in the $50,000 LEGIS Grand Prix of Los Angeles (Flying Horse Photography) Los Angeles, Calif. - Christian Heineking (GER) heard the German national anthem for the second weekend in a row as he clinched another win aboard NKH Selena (NKH LLC, owner) in the fast and furious $50,000 LEGIS Grand Prix of Los Angeles (a World Cup Qualifier). “I definitely rode the momentum from last week’s grand prix win,” Christian commented....

Glory Days and Katie Dinan clear the Ace Bakery oxer (Ben Radvanyi) Toronto, On. – The phrase “We have a jump off!” is commonly heard around the horse show ring, but it’s rarely, if ever, heard following a speed class at a four-star international event. Friday night the ‘one-in-a-million’ happened. Veteran American rider Laura Kraut (Middleburg, VA) put in an incredible round in what, under normal circumstances would have been the first and only round of the...

Kristi Nunnink and Lod Lombardi won division A of the Training Level Three-Day Event at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event (Amy McCool photo) Temecula, Calif. - Kristi Nunnink and Katie Yozamp won the two divisions of the Training Level Three-Day Event at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Nunnink, of Auburn, Calif., won division A on Lord Lombardi (33.6), edging Lindsay Weaver on Sintra (34.1) and Joe McKinley on Lone Tree Farm’s Street Wise (36.8). McKinley also...

Candi Aversenti and The Veldt Queen (Jane Jacobs of Jacobs Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The Veldt Queen, owned and ridden by Candi Aversenti, claimed the victory in the Five-Gaited Amateur Stake on Wednesday evening as the American Saddlebred Division, presented by James & Misdee Miller and Elisabeth Goth & Richard Shadwick, got underway at the Alltech National Horse Show. A staple of the National Horse Show in its Madison Square Garden days, the American Saddlebred Division made its...

Stephanie Sedlacko and Jennifer Alfano rode to the first place finish in the American Saddlebred Hunter Challenge (Brooke Jacobs) Lexington, Ky. - It's not every day that you see riders compete over their first hunter course during a national championship, but when four world champion American Saddlebred trainers take the reins of a hunter and grand prix and professional hunter riders take the reins of an American Saddlebred, it makes for a night of fun and excitement. It was a...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky's Blue Angel beat out Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms' Nice de Prissey in an exciting one-on-one jump-off for victory in Saturday night's $125,000 President's Cup Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Events DC at the 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). The FEI World Cup qualifying grand prix was a highlight event of the week at WIHS,...