Photo by Bob Langrish (Guenter Seidel and Aragon on the first day of dressage competition.) Aachen, Germany—Europeans know how to do dressage. Each country brought their best to the table today, including their fans. The crowd was filled with foam fingers, waving flags, funny hats and colorful scarves. It looked more like an American football game and sounded like it when certain competitors finished their test and left the stadium. The rain held off, the sun tried unsuccessfully to break...

Bob Langrish (American Kathryn Downs was the highest-placed American in 17th in endurance.) Long before the sun rose over the first day of competition at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, a flurry of activity was going on as the stage was set for the first medal decisions made in the equestrian discipline of endurance. The consensus is that today’s championship served as the biggest in the sport’s interesting development and history, and the fact that temperatures...

After four long years of waiting, an anxious equestrian world watched the clock roll down to the moment everyone had their eyes turned to – the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Aachen FEI World Equestrian Games. And while gray skies and wet and windy weather welcomed the crème of the equine world to the picturesque town located in the westernmost corner of one of Europe’s most powerful horse countries, not even a downright deluge could have dampened the excitement and energy that was waiting to...

Aachen, Germany – The USEF announced today which eventing athletes would ride as the four team members and which two athletes would ride as individuals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. The U.S. eventing team will compete August 24-27. The eventing team will be defending the team gold and World Championship. The final eventing team of four includes (in alphabetical order by last name): •Will Faudree of Southern Pines, NC, riding Antigua, a 17-year-old Australian...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation® announces a change to the endurance team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. The team is made up of five horse and rider combinations that will compete in Aachen, Germany, August 21. The endurance competition will be the lead-off event beginning at 6:00 a.m. The U.S. endurance team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (in alphabetical order by rider) is as follows: •Kathryn Downs of Somerville, ME, riding Pygmalion, a 10-year-old...

Team USA takes to the field during the 2006 WEG Opening Ceremonies. (USEF Archive/Brian Sosby ) After four long years of waiting, an anxious equestrian world watched the clock roll down to the moment everyone had their eyes turned to – the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Aachen FEI World Equestrian Games. And while gray skies and wet and windy weather welcomed the crème of the equine world to the picturesque town located in the westernmost corner of one of Europe’s most...

At the Blowing Rock Horse Show series, held July 26-August 6, Over the Hill Farm had more stellar performances from their horses and riders. They took home five grand hunter titles and five trophies from the horse show. Once again, young Taylor Ann Adams of Eads, TN, was the star of the show. Adams was named the Best Child Rider on a Pony and won the Evelyn O. Faulkner Trophy. She was also the Leading Point Rider on a Horse and Pony and will have her name etched on the Jennifer Cox Memorial...

Lexington, KY— The fourth annual USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals were held during the Golden State Dressage Warm-Up and Cool-Down Show in Rancho Murieta, CA, July 28-30. Junior dressage riders from across the country competed in their respective age divisions of 13 & under and 14 to 18 years of age. The purpose of the Dressage Seat Medal Program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation, including correct seat, position and use of aids in the sport of dressage. Junior riders in these...

PhelpsPhotos.com/USEF Archives (Kaitlin Campbell on Rockette during the 2006 USEF Pony Finals National Championships.) Lexington, KY – At the close of what was the longest and largest USEF Pony Finals National Championships to date, Kaitlin Campbell of Upper Black Eddy, PA, was one happy camper. The 14-year-old Campbell rode five ponies at this year’s event and ended her sixth year at Pony Finals with the Overall Grand Champion title in the Wild Horsefeathers/USEF National Hunter...

Amber Siegelman and The Waterboy Sailing To The Gold Medal (PhelpsPhotos.com/USEF Archives ) Lexington, KY – When Amber Siegelman was the last to go in the jump-off at the 2006 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Individual Championship, you would have thought you were at a Western event by the sounds of the crowd. All night the crowd was clucking on horses to help them over the fences. But, when Siegelman’s ride looked to be the only clean of the five in the jump-off, the crowd got...