Independence Day wasn’t the only hot event in Parker, CO, as four weeks of outstanding horse shows kicked off with the Colorado Circuit Preview at the Colorado Horse Park July 3-6. The jumpers were fast and furious during this preview show, giving us all a glimpse of things to come in the weeks ahead. Continuing their winning streak from the spring shows, Amanda and Emily McConnell were superstars in the Junior Jumpers. Amanda, riding A Twist of China, finished in a three-way tie for champion...

Lexington, KY- This past weekend at the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival (July 1-6, 2008) the U.S. Show Jumping Team took third in the Nations Cup which improved the U.S. Team’s placing overall in the Samsung Super League with FEI. The U.S. now sits in Fourth Place with three competitions left. We had very strong performances from our riders though out the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival. Beezie Madden and Authentic were fourth in the Rolex 350,000 Euro Grand Prix of Aachen. McLain...

Through the hard work of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and the NCAA Varsity equestrian, the 2008 NRHA Derby was host to the Collegiate Reining Championships in Oklahoma City, OK, on June 28 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. Taking top honors was Leah Kuehn from Oklahoma State University. She rode Double Run Farm’s Pretty Nifty Dun to an impressive score of 220. Ohio State University’s Keith Ceddia and BR China Rose finished second in...

Lexington, KY – Five American horses had their final preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games at the Barbury Castle International Horse Trials in Marlborough, England July 4-6. A star studded field of over 100 horses graced the beautiful venue despite some less than ideal weather throughout the weekend. Olympic-bound riders from numerous countries were spotted making their final preparations in the CIC*** at Barbury Castle. Californian Gina Miles was the highest placed American rider with Pan...

The FEI has awarded the 2010 Final of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping to Geneva, Switzerland. This event, which will be held April 14-18, 2010, is the second FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final to take place in the Swiss city after a first in 1996. “The FEI is looking forward to another outstanding Final,” said John Roche, Director of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping. “It is a great recognition for all of us on the organizing committee and our 700 volunteers,” commented Geneva CSI-W...

This year’s prestigious Lexington Junior League Horse Show opened Monday evening, July 7, with a star-studded cast of the best American Saddlebreds in the world, among nearly a thousand horses and ponies entered for competition at The Red Mile. Two of the three reigning Saddlebred World’s Grand Champions, Grande Gil and CH Along Came A Spider, will meet all comers in the first jewel of the breed’s Triple Crown of competitions. Other shows in the Triple Crown are the Kentucky State Fair World’s...

The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) is ready to rock and roll with the celebration of their 120th Anniversary during the 2008 American Shetland Pony National Championship Congress Show in Cloverdale, IN. The Shetland Pony Championship Congress Show will be held at the new Crossroads Arena facility in historic “Covered Bridge Country” on July 30 through August 2. The excitement is steadily growing as the Shetland Pony Congress kick-off date approaches. “In honor of the 120th Anniversary of...

Twenty-six riders from first grade through twelfth grade trotted into the ring for the Riding For Reading Class at the Golden Gate Classic held at the Horse Park at Woodside, July 4. This is the first class of the summertime Riding For Reading Classes, and the organizers could not have been happier. “It was great to see so many riders in the class,” said Riding For Reading Treasurer Kelly Scarinci. “The classes have grown and the riders seem to really like it.” If smiling faces were any...

Patrick Seaton wanted to win the $30,000 Golden Gate Grand Prix so he could claim the Woodside Jumper Accumulator prize of $20,000. Peter Breakwell wanted to win because he was tired of finishing second to Seaton. Macella O’Neill wanted to win because she is a fierce competitor and has a string of solid jumping horses. But in the end, a former Zone 10 Young Rider jumped a little higher, turned a little faster, and dared to leave a stride out to claim her first Grand Prix victory. Twenty-six...

Laura Kraut and Cedric Head to Hong Kong (KennethKraus/PhelpsSports.com) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY - Pending the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the USEF has recommended the following horse/rider combinations for the US Olympic Team in show jumping for the 2008 Olympic Games, to be held in Hong Kong, China, August 15-21, 2008. Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Beezie Madden/45/Cazenovia, NY/Authentic/13/KWPN/Gelding/Abigail Wexner McLain Ward/33/Brewster,...