Mary McCormick, earlier in the week (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The Alltech Arena was a sell-out house with old and new fans of the equestrian sport of vaulting as the men's and women's freestyle final was contested at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Saturday, October 9. The crowd was treated to the world's best vaulters who put on a fantastic show for a vocal and appreciative audience. The top 15 from each division were invited back to compete for a...

Jonathan Wentz, earlier in the week (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The second day of freestyle competition for the FEI World Para Dressage Championships got underway early this morning with the Grade II and Grade Ib riders. Like in yesterday's competition, the riders all came to win and rode their hearts out to try to claim one of the coveted medals from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Only two riders from the Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage...

Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - It was a chilly morning at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but the sun quickly warmed the air as the Grade III and Grade Ia Para-Equestrian athletes were ready to wow the crowds with their individual freestyle tests. This was the first group of freestyle tests for the Para-Dressage riders, with the individual and team tests having been performed earlier in the week. The Grade III riders were the first...

Shannon Brinkman (McLain Ward and Sapphire.) Lexington, KY - The top 30 horse-and-rider combinations going for the Gold medal in the World Jumping Championship presented by Rolex at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games battled it out in the Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park on Friday night in a two-round competition. The U.S. Team was represented by the world-class grand prix duo and two-time Olympic Gold medalists McLain Ward and Sapphire who have had an exceptional year in 2010....

U.S. Vaulting Team During Freestyle (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Thousands of fans packed into Alltech Arena for the FEI World Vaulting Championships this evening, waiting to see if the crowd favorite - the U.S. Vaulting Team - could hold on to the lead in the Team Freestyle. Together, these U.S. vaulters have earned a world-class reputation for technical difficulty, impeccable form, and breathtaking artistry. The team, made up of Devon Maitozo (35) of Woodside, CA,...

Lexington, KY - Week Two of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is in the books and it has been one for the ages. It was an extremely busy week for competitors and spectators alike as six of the eight disciplines represented held competitions during the second week of the Games, with most days seeing at least two competitions going on at once. DRESSAGE Grand Prix Freestyle Simply put, it was the greatest night of dressage action in the history of the sport on American soil. For the...

Lexington, Kentucky - Saddlebred trainer Michael Ray Benn, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2010. Benn had been a resident of Liberty for the past seven years and earned his living doing what he loved – training American Saddlebred Horses. He spent his younger years working with Don Hulse and Dale Pugh, and was the head trainer at Callaway Hills Stables in Columbia, Missouri for twelve years, before operating his own training barn in Springfield, Missouri. Most recently...

Mary McCormick (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Strong performances by both the Women's and Men's U.S. Vaulters entertained a near sold-out Alltech Arena during the second Individual phase of competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Thursday. Mary McCormick leads the U.S. effort, followed by Alicen Divita in ninth place and 2006 WEG Aachen Gold medalist Megan Benjamin in 11th place. The Vaulting Freestyle is perhaps the most appreciated phase of the...

Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team was on a mission today as four riders contested the Grade Ia and II Individual Championship Tests at the FEI World Para Dressage Championships. The scores for Jonathan Wentz and Laura Goldman proved to be doubly valuable as they not only determined their placings in the Individual Championship Test but also decided standings in the Team...

Chester Weber and his Four-in-Hand Team. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF. ) Lexington, KY - The final World Championship event in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games began today as part one of the Combined Driving Dressage took place. Thirteen drivers performed their tests today, 11 competing as part of the team competition and the United States' Casey Zubek and Bill Long competing as individuals. At the top of the leader board there is a tie for first place between Ijsbrand Chardon of...