www.flickr.com/photos/skodak (Rio de Janeiro) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 during its 121st Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid’s 32 in the final round of voting. IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated Rio de Janeiro on its election and praised the high quality of the bid, “I would like to congratulate the city of Rio de...

Lady Calido's first time was a charm as she and Robyn Fisher took home the big win in the mare's inaugural CIC*** this past weekend at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA. The CIC*** also served as the final event in the 2009 $10,000 Adequan/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup Series, where top horses and riders across the country competed for cash, prizes, and leaderboard points. Needless to say, Fisher, 29, of Topanga, CA, was thrilled with "Callie's" performance. "She was...

Sunday: American Driving Standard raised Sunday morning always brings a mix of emotions. The adrenaline from the marathon has passed and has been replaced by a feeling of certainty for the last phase of competition. The morning routine seems to drag a little for all grooms are feeling the pressure of the week and hoping no unpleasant surprises await. An in barn vet check takes place for American team drivers to make sure all horses are fit after the marathon. Luckily there were no serious...

Two Champions "Three-Peat" as Breed Show Wraps Up When individual breed classes took center stage on day three of Dressage at Devon 2009, two horses who had dominated the news in the prestigious show's first two days continued to grab headlines. Perfect Qredit, a yearling colt by Quaterback, added an 83.80% win in the Oldenburg (GOV) division to his Grand Championship, Young Horse Championship, Colt Championship, and Yearling Colts and Geldings title for owner Michelle Coursin, an air-traffic...

Southbound Show Management is pleased to announce that the prizelist for the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show is now available online at www.southboundshows.com . The 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show is set to return to the beautiful Texas Rose Horse Park in scenic Tyler, TX, this year and will be held the week of October 28-Novermber 1, 2009. The Dallas Harvest Horse Show benefits Habitat for Horses and is one of the largest fundraisers for the program. The most prestigious 'AA' rated horse show...

As every breeder has experienced, the process of breeding mares and raising foals has many highs and lows. So when those moments of success arrive, it is important to savor them. Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited, had 48 hours to remember when four of her young stallions earned prestigious accolades. Homebred Pikko del Cerro HU won the 2009 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship-Six-Year-Old. Two days later at the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International (RPSI) inspection,...

This past weekend, Canterbury Farm in Hampshire, IL, hosted a clinic for the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program. Held on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, the clinic was conducted by renowned equestrians Melanie Smith Taylor and Ray Texel. Diane Carney of Hampshire, IL, was the on-site coordinator for the event, which was a Level II Training Session. The clinic was part of the Emerging Athletes Program, an educational program that focuses on...

On a beautiful New England day, the 20th Annual Jumper Classic, featuring the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, kicked off by welcoming riders of all ages to New England's premiere equestrian venue at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. The Jumper Classic is the only American Grand Prix Association-sanctioned grand prix to take place in New England. The event features more than 72 classes and $200,000 in prize money. The Jumper Classic offers an array of divisions designed to attract...

Series Finale Scheduled for Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show With just one grand prix remaining in the 2009 Hagyard Challenge Series, Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, ranks in first place with 760 points. Pablo Barrios of Caracas, Venezuela, is not far behind, currently occupying second with 740 points. The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long string of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Offering $215,000 in total prize money, the series will award its...

Wayne, IL – The sun finally emerged at the spectacular Lamplight Equestrian Center to spotlight the nation’s future dressage talent in the six-year-old and developing horse divisions. It was a competition worthy of champions as presented to judges Linda Zang, Jeanne McDonald, and Hilda Gurney. In the Six-Year-Old division, U.S.-bred “Pikko del Cerro HU” made America proud by claiming the Markel/USEF National Championship with an overall score of 7.9. Ridden by Mikala Munter Gundersen of...