Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos Go Clear for the U.S. Team. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF. ) Lexington, KY - Everything was on the line today as 55 horse and rider combinations prepared to compete in the final phase of the Eventing World Championships presented by Reem Acra at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. With just about 10 points separating the top three teams in the Team Competition, everyone knew they had to have the ride of their lives to try to bring home the gold...

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The FEI Eventing World Championships, presented by Reem Acra, are officially underway at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Eighty horses passed the veterinary inspections yesterday, and the first forty performed their dressage tests today. With such decorated riders as Mark Todd of New Zealand, William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, and Ingrid Klimke of Germany taking to the arena today,...

There are few things in life I get more excited about than cheering on Team USA, and not just in equestrian events. I can get behind any sport if there’s a USA title or medal on the line; I even watched soccer this year. The Olympics consume my life every two years, I rarely come out from behind a television or computer screen and end up feeling void and lost when they’re over. Needless to say, WEG has been quite the adrenaline rush for me. If you have never seen a US Team win a medal you need...

On my list of things I find to be riveting I usually would not rank watching dressage among the top, but in the last two days I have really gotten into it. I found myself glued to the monitors that had the live feed playing all day yesterday, watching intently and calculating scores trying to determine what teams were in medal contention. Over the two days of the team competition, it seemed as though each rider that went down centerline set a new standard of excellence. In any sporting event it...

Karen O'Connor and Mandiba. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named Karen O'Connor and Mandiba to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, following the withdrawal of Tipperary Liadhnan by Kim Severson (that story is available here: https://usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=6225). The following horse/rider combinations will represent the U.S. on the Team: Buck...

Here is a list of 10 things I would like to do at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and my progress on them so far. 1. Get my picture taken with GBR event horses Miner’s Frolic and Opposition Buzz. I have seen them hacking down the horse path, so I’m considering this a baby step in the right direction. 2. See Totilas in real life . I saw him working in the practice ring Sunday as I was driving past in the golf cart. There’s only one way to describe what I saw. UNREAL. It completely...

Todd Flettrich and Otto. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - Although not rookies in the sport of dressage, both Todd Flettrich, of Royal Palm Beach, FL, and Katherine Bateson-Chandler, of Wellington, FL, rode in their first championship competition today for the United States. They set a strong start for the U.S. Dressage Team in the FEI World Dressage Championship. This was the Team Grand Prix competition, and the United States sits in fourth place after the first day of...

Adequan U.S. Reining Team Wins Gold! (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The Adequan U.S. Reining Team kicked off the opening week for the United States with a spectacular performance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for the Team Gold medal. Tim McQuay/Hollywoodstinseltown, Craig Schmersal/Mister Montana Nic, Tom McCutcheon/Gunners Special Nite, and Shawn Flarida/RC Fancy Step all gave electric rides to take the U.S. to a large winning margin. Today's FEI Reining...

Tucker Johnson and Karen O'Connor Leading the U.S. Team. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF. ) Lexington, KY - Simply put, it was a night to remember. After years of planning, the efforts of thousands and the hard work of the world's best equestrian athletes, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games officially got underway with a star-studded Opening Ceremonies that saw the equestrian world gather together accompanied by the pomp and circumstance of great music and elegant pageantry. The...

Join us in Jacksonville, Florida for the 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention & Symposium. The convention will be held December 1-3 at the Hyatt Regency River Front. Make your reservations by November 8 to receive the USDF room rate. At the convention you can attend regional meetings, committee meetings, USDF University sessions with Jochen Schleese, CMS, Dr. Jenny Susser, Dr. Hilary Clayton and Dr. Emily Lamprecht, Round Table Discussions, and much much more. At the symposium, held December...