Chesterfield, SC - For the first of three days for the Heart of the Carolinas Three-Day Event, taking place at Southern Eights Farm in Chesterfield, SC, April 29-May 1, three divisions were featured: Beginner-Novice, Novice and Training. In the Dressage, Jim Baker and Wings are leading the way in Beginner-Novice with a score of 42.3. Anne Lane Maunder and Penny Lane are leading in Novice on a score of 29.3 and Sarah Morton and Conference Call head up the Training level riders with a score of 29....

Lexington, KY - For the first time in the history of the Western saddle sport of reining, a collection of the world’s best reining athletes slid into the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, to contest the inaugural five-star reining competition known as the CRI5* - the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. When the dirt in the arena settled, it was Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador who laid down a spectacular pattern to take the title on a score of 226.5 in this the...

Leipzig, Germany - The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final saw a shuffle throughout the standings after the conclusion of the second round this afternoon. With 44 World Cup points up for grabs and the chance to head into the final round on zero faults, clear rounds were at a premium. Forty horse/rider combinations jumped Frank Rothenberger’s impressive track, with seven riders representing six different nations returning for the jump-off. In Sunday’s final only the top 29 riders from the...

Thursday was one of those days that started at 5 am and finished at 10 pm without a moment to actually consider the pace at which we were actually moving. We have some great sponsors at the USEF, they are not only great friends, but they make our programs possible. So yesterday was a day full of sponsor photo shoots and other opportunities. It went like this: 6am Truluck (Phillip Dutton's horse who was scratched before the jog so is just along for the ride) had his morning handgraze...

Leipzig, Germany - The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final got underway Thursday evening with the grand prix presented by Sparkasse. The U.S. sent three combinations to the arena in Hall One of the Leipzig Exhibition Hall. The American horse/rider combinations did not disappoint in the field of 17. First in the arena for the U.S. was Jan Ebeling and Ann Romney’s Rafalca. This veteran pair demonstrated fluid trot work emphasized by a solid half-pass and had a consistent canter tour. Throughout...

Lexington, KY - With the sunshine came the first day of dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. After a week of rain, the sun shone brightly and the wind blew through the Kentucky Horse Park. Spectators that were here first thing were treated to the best test of the day as Allison Springer took the lead with Arthur. The pair was first in the ring - and their score of 42.3 rewarded an elegant effort for a pair that frequently lands atop the dressage...

Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador. Photo by Anthony Trollope. Lexington, KY - Cool and breezy weather provided a welcome change at the Kentucky Horse Park Thursday - perhaps the calm before the proverbial storm we'll see Friday and Saturday nights as the 2011 Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup gets ready to unleash a roster of star-studded talent in the Alltech Arena. Twenty horses were presented during Thursday's reining horse inspection at the Alltech Arena; all horses were accepted and...

During the Sponsor’s Welcome Party, Allison seemed to be on a roll. Not only did she pick up the prize for the Style Award for the best dressed woman at the first horse inspection for which she won a pair of new Dubarry boots. Later in the evening, she proved just how aligned the stars were for her when during the lucky draw for a new Rolex watch, she happened to win that, too! “So far, so good!” Allison laughed. “But, I do want to win one of these the hard way,...

Callan Solem was victorious in the $40,000 Grand Prix with Magic Cruise at HITS Culpeper. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG). Culpeper, VA - Callan Solem took both first and second place in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday, April 24. Solem was the only rider to complete double-clear efforts in the Commonwealth National Park finale. The Chester Springs, PA-based rider advanced to the jump-off in the show's highlight event after riding fault-free first-rounds over Danny Foster's course...

Leipzig, Germany – Beezie Madden kicked off the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with a win for the U.S. Wednesday morning in the Opening Competition. Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo bested the field of 24 as the only combination to jump faultlessly in the first round. Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG) Madden (Cazenovia, NY) was the first U.S. rider in the ring and set the tone immediately. The Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch jumped...