Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening. The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream...

Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe and The Good Witch (Mike McNally) Lexington, KY - It's that time again. Winter vanished and suddenly the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone has arrived. Bigger than ever in 2010, the competition, which also serves as the USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship, boasts many of the very best in the game both from the US and around the globe. The action gets underway at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington April 22, 2010. All eyes will be firmly...

McLain Ward and Rothchild (Randi Muster/Mustphoto.com) Lexington, KY - Jumping got underway at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, and the horses and riders stretched their legs over the courses in the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland before the big events got going on Thursday afternoon. The American contingent is already winning at a fairly rapid rate. McLain Ward, who has been picked as one of the favorites to with the Final after his runner-up performance in 2009 with...

The FEI is to freeze the Rolex Rankings points for jumping riders on maternity leave, starting with the April Rankings issued on March 31 . Under the new system, female riders will now lose only 50% of their Rolex Rankings points during their absence from competition while on maternity leave. The new ruling means that former world number one Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum moves up from 31st on the March Rolex Rankings to 20th following the reinstatement of 50% of her points. The German rider, who...

Photo by Robbi Meisel (Daniel Geitner and Sympa) The Atlanta Spring Classics series closed this Easter weekend under perfect blue skies and more heated competition among hunters and jumpers. Held at the Georgia International Horse Park, home of the 1996 Olympics, in Conyers, GA, the two-week event presented by the Classic Company came to a close with the announcement of division champions. “We’ve had two weeks of glorious showing here in Conyers with great weather, good rings, and some of the...

Robin Groves collects her prizes (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL - With impending storms looming, the fourth and final day of the Live Oak International presented by US Trust featured a difficult cones phase and clear rounds were hard to find. But the best drivers in the US prevailed and two USEF National Champions were crowned based on their incredible three phase performances. A massive storm held off until the final few drivers, and then the weather deteriorated quickly. Chester Weber and...

Photo by Randi Muster (Daisy Farish aboard Ballou in the Small Pony Hunters.) The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Week Nine, held March 10-14, 2010, featured many winners in the equitation, hunters, and jumpers, including the leader in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI***, presented by CN. The week nine title sponsor was CN. Double H Farm's Night Train sped to the win with Olympic Gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI***,...

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was full of top competition during week eight, held March 3-7, 2010. The week featured the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games #3, #4, and #5, presented by Fidelity Investments, and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by CN, along with a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. The week eight title sponsor was CN. The $150,000 CN U.S. Open Grand Prix, CSIO**** was...

On April 3, 2010, the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) is conducting a full-day hands-on training for horse interested adults and new horse owners. The first of a two-part series, Horse Handling Basics combines classroom instruction with hands-on activities to teach safe handling skills to those who are new to horses, or just interested in learning more about horses. The session begins with information about horse behavior and safety. Participants progress throughout the day with each topic...

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), the leading year-end championship horse show in the country, is pleased to announce the election of Gregory W. Gingery of McLean, VA, and Wellington, FL, as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The 52nd annual Washington International Horse Show will take place October 26-31, 2010, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Gingery, who has been on the WIHS board since 2008, previously served as WIHS president (1994-1996) and vice chairman (1995-1996)....