Ben Maher and Diva II (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Great Britain's Ben Maher and Diva II jumped to victory in the $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Saturday night at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The pair topped a three-horse jump-off with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Fibonacci 17 in second and Laura Kraut (USA) with Cedric third. Alan Wade's (IRL) course under the lights tested all of the horses and riders...

Karl Cook and Farrari, owned by Signe Ostby, jump in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Friday, March 5, 2015, at HITS Desert Circuit VII (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Karl Cook took home the blue ribbon in the $25,500 SmartPak Grand Prix Friday on Signe Ostby’s Farrari for his first Grand Prix victory of this year’s HITS Desert Circuit. Cook claimed the title over the rider who has prevailed most often this circuit, eight-time 2015 Grand Prix winner and U.S. Olympian Will...

Lexington, Ky. - In response to feedback from its membership, the United States Equestrian Federation Board of Directors took the following actions on Monday, February 23 in order to improve the process, procedures, and fairness of competition licensing. The first action that the Board adopted toward these improvements will take effect immediately. The Federation office will no longer issue competition licenses extending beyond a one-year term, allowing the Board time to evaluate the mileage...

Marie Hecart and Myself de Breve (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - France's Marie Hecart and Myself de Breve were the winners in Saturday night's $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®, at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival. Earning her first five-star victory as well as her first major Saturday night win in Wellington, Hecart topped a roster of major competition, including Olympic gold medalists Ben Maher (GBR) and Eric Lamaze (CAN)....

McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) took top honours in tonight's $34,000 Jolera International Jumper class at the CSI4*-W Toronto, The Royal Horse Show, with Double H Farm's HH Carlos Z. (BenRadvanyi.com) Toronto, Ontario - Often, equestrian sport is decided in mere fractions. Tenths, or even hundredths of seconds are not unusal deciding factors at the uppermost levels. Tonight, McLain Ward won the $34,000 Jolera International Jumper class by more than four seconds over his closest rival, Jessica...

Lexington, Ky. - Halloween Night at the 2014 National Horse Show featured creative costumes throughout the building; some on the many kids that came to trick or treat as well as those created by the riders in tonight's popular Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gamblers Choice Costume Class. Although it wasn't realized at the time, the class was over right after the first rider finished his imaginative course. Francois Mathy of Belgium, dressed as a soccer referee, raced Ornellaia through some...

Lexington, Ky. - In 2014 a new category of rules, GR 414 Prohibited Practices , was introduced to the USEF Rule Book with an effective date of December 1, 2013. Implementation of this rule affected changes to the administration of the following quantitatively restricted therapeutic medications in competition: * Dexamethasone (Azium®)* - maximum 24 hour dose has been decreased from 20milligrams/1000lb horse to 10milligrams/1000lb horse and must be administered in accordance with GR414. *...

South Dakota State's equestrian team was chosen as this year's NCEA sportsmanship award winner. An example of the Jackrabbits sportsmanship this year was towards the University of South Carolina during the teams' Nov. 23, 2013 competition in Brookings, S.D. Several Gamecock student-athletes and staff members still had missing luggage the morning of the meet, but South Dakota State's student-athletes and coaches agreed to move back the competition and offered to provide the...

Margie Engle and Royce (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - For the second year in a row, Margie Engle and Royce galloped to victory in the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, at the Kentucky Spring Classic. This year was different though, as the talented duo had to best a 22-horse jump-off, showcasing not just power, but speed as well. Engle and Royce, owned by Elm Rock Partners LLC, made perfect turns and left each rail in place to finish ahead...

Important Changes to the USEF EquineDrugs and Medications Rules for the 2014 Competition Year became effective December 1, 2013. These important changes were discussed and published in multiple distribution channels in 2013. The change to General Rule 414 introduces a new concept called Prohibited Practices to the Equine Drug & Medication Rules. For your convenience GR 414 rule is printed at the end of this advisory. There are a few bullet points to remember to comply with GR 414: - No...