Lexington, KY— With 618 large, medium and small ponies entered in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2008 Pony Finals National Championships, the competition is challenging with more ponies than the previous year. With a total of 414 riders ranging in age from six to seventeen, this five-day championship has young riders competing for the title of four championships— Wild Horsefeathers/USEF Pony Hunter Finals, Wild Horsefeathers/USEF Green Hunter Pony Finals, USEF Pony Medal and the...

Hong Kong, China – Gina Miles waved the flag for the US tonight at Sha Tin, winning an Individual Silver medal with McKinlaigh. The duo jumped two textbook clean rounds, adding nothing to their two-day score o Gina Miles and McKinlaigh (Shannon Brinkman) f 56.1. “I always knew he was the best event horse in the world,” said Miles. “He had his day to shine at the Olympic Games.” The 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Thom Schulz and Laura Coats stepped around...

Hong Kong, China – It was an interesting cross-country day at the Beas River venue today as 70 horses took on Mike Etherington-Smith’s eight minute cross country course. Not one horse achieved the optimum Gina Miles and McKinlaigh (Shannon Brinkman) time, and Australia’s Shane Rose (riding All Luck) was the only pair to have single digit time penalties. The Germans, on 158.10, took a slim lead over dressage winners, Australia (162.00), in the team portion of the competition....

Phillip Dutton and Connaught in Hong Kong (Ken Braddick) Hong Kong, China – The second day of dressage got underway bright and early at Sha Tin and the overnight leaders, the Australians, never looked in danger of having their lead threatened. The same three scores the team used yesterday (out of the five riders) held their lead on a total mark of 102.80. The U.S. continued to well orchestrated plans, and their two most experienced riders put in very solid performances to leave the U.S....

Content provided by Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) SAUGERTIES, NY— After three days of exciting competition, a new champion was crowned when Jennifer Waxman rode her mount Red Panda to the Grand Championship at the 2008 East Coast USEF Junior Hunter Championship on Wednesday afternoon at HITS Saugerties. The Ohio native used an overall score of 87.63 aboard Red Panda, who is owned by John Ingram, in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Division to win the title. “Jen rose to the...

Betsy Steiner and Kathy Connelly will be among the experts offering audio commentary to Dressage with the Experts participants at the upcoming Dressage at Devon, September 23-28. Dressage with the Experts allows participants to listen, through radio-equipped audio headsets to what a top trainer or judge is saying about what is going on before them, hoof fall by hoof fall in the arena. It is an opportunity for those who know little about the sport to increase their understanding of the...

Content provided by Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) Saugerties, NY— In the days between HITS-on-the-Hudson V and VI, HITS is hosting the 2008 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship for the East Coast. It’s the fourth consecutive year that the event has taken to the rings at HITS Saugerties and competition kicked off yesterday with the WIHS Equitation Classic, the USEF/Pessoa Medal and the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal. Taylor Ann Adams and Miracle bested a field of 47 other pairs...

From an AVA Press Release Brno, Czech Republic - In the final day of competition at the World Vaulting Championships in Brno, Czech Republic, Team USA took home a bronze medal, while two US women placed in the top ten in the Individual competition. Dark Side of the Moon, a composite team made up of vaulters from FACE, Mt. Eden, Woodside and Shooting Stars vaulting clubs, finished in third place, with the Germans once again taking the gold, and the Austrian team taking the silver. US team...

Lexington, KY – Driver Chester Weber continued his stellar European campaign over the weekend with a convincing win at the German Fahrderby in Riesenbeck, Germany. The Fahrderby (Driving Derby) is a unique competition which consists of six separate phases. It began with each competitor driving a pair the first morning - a class that is equivalent to a show hunter class. Four drivers enter a standard driving arena and are directed by the judges to perform specific movements from letter to...

At the age of 25, the legendary Holsteiner sire Le Santo (Landgraf I x Metro, by Wildfeuer) was euthanized on Sunday, August 3, 2008, from complications from an injury last week. Le Santo was very well known for being one the highest bonited stallions in the United States, as well as being a leading sire for more than two decades. Le Santo was injured while being collected on July 30, 2008. With recommendation from several veterinarians and sports medicine specialists, his owners at Irish Hills...