Arthur "Thom" Brede (Courtesy of Cheryle Francis) Dedicated horseman Arthur “Thom” Brede was a driving force in the horse world right up until his passing on April 20. He and his late wife, Ann “Wissie” Brede, moved their Thoroughbred breeding operation from Pennsylvania to Stamping Ground, Ky., in 2000. The Brede family owned Audley End and Taterland Farms. Brede was a devoted judge for US Equestrian who judged hunters at major horse shows across the United States and...

Lexington, Ky. - The United Professional Horsemen's Association, American Saddlebred Horse Association, American Hackney Horse Society and the American Road Horse & Pony Association joined the United States Equestrian Federation in supporting and applauding the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of new rules added to the Horse Protection Act (HPA) designed to end the practice of soring Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses. Together we commend USDA's...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce the return of Scott Hassler and Willy Arts for the 2016 USDF Sport Horse Prospect Development Forum. This year's event will, again, feature a live forum approach and provide a correct, fundamental system for starting sport horse prospects. The program is intended for trainers, owners, and breeders nationwide, with the goal of developing a consistent training foundation for all sport horse prospects as they...

Rome, Italy - When it rains at this time of year in the Italian capital city, the people of Rome just nod and say “ah, yes, it must be time for Piazza di Siena!”, because when the world-famous horse show took place at the end of April it was often dogged by bad weather. Even since it was moved to the end of May the sun has often stayed away, but not this time around. The sun is out, the flowers are blooming all across the beautiful gardens of the Villa Borghese, and the horses and...

Despite gearing up for semester end projects, papers, finals, and even graduation for some, college riders still found the time to practice their equitation and patterns for the Intercollegiate Saddle Seat Riding Association Championships hosted this year by Morehead State University. Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville also competed. U of L had won high point team the first four shows of the 2015-16 season, but...

Lexington, Ky . - On a night dedicated to the horse, two special athletes were recognized for their excellence in 2015 during the USEF's Year-End Awards Gala. In a year that witnessed equestrian athletes excel, PVF Peace of Mind and Brunello reached the pinnacle of their sports and for their achievements were named International and National Horse of the Year, respectively. Voting was open to the public through January and both horses, already fan favorites, were rewarded for their...

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – After four challenging Phases of competition, Ransome Rombauer found herself in the ride-off on Saturday against three strong competitors in the 2015 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West. She edged out Savannah Jenkins by one point to win this year’s championship with a score of 351 to Jenkins’s 350. Eve Jobs finished in third place with a score of 331. Rounding out the ride-off was Mitchell Endicott who finished with...

Venturo 9 and Shane Sweetnam of Ireland won the $10,000 Marders Open Jumper at the 40th annual Hampton Classic. (McMillen photo) Bridgehampton, N.Y. -- Shane Sweetnam became the third Irish rider to win a class in the Grand Prix Ring at the 40th annual Hampton Classic when he urged Venturo 9 to victory in the $10,000 Marders Open Jumper on Wednesday afternoon. Sweetnam's jump-off time of 41.01 seconds was just enough to hold off Amanda Derbyshire of Great Britain on Lady Maria Bh (41.65)...

Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Shane Sweetnam became the third Irish rider to win a class in the Grand Prix Ring at the 40th annual Hampton Classic when he urged Venturo 9 to victory in the $10,000 Marders Open Jumper on Wednesday afternoon. Sweetnam's jump-off time of 41.01 seconds was just enough to hold off Amanda Derbyshire of Great Britain on Lady Maria Bh (41.65) and Richie Moloney of Ireland on Ypaja Yando (42.16). Derbyshire also claimed fourth on Cannavaro Bh (42.95), while Sweetnam took...

Scott Brash and Hello Forever (Emily Riden/PMG) Miami Beach, Fla. - It has been 29 years since a rider representing Great Britain has led the coveted American Invitational victory gallop, but today, the world's number one rider, Scott Brash (GBR) clinched the victory during the 43rd $127,500 American Invitational. Aboard Hello Forever, Brash broke the beam in 33.35 seconds to outrun his fellow eight contenders in a nine-horse jump off and take back the title after nearly a 30-year drought...