Emma Weinert O’Rourke and Velvet WD (Terri Miller) San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – The final day of competition at California Dreaming Productions' Festival of the Horse CDI 3*/Y/J/U-25 (held March 31-April 2 in San Juan Capistrano) was also a day of firsts as Australia’s Emma Weinert O’Rourke rode her former KWPN broodmare Velvet WD (Polansky x Papayja by Jazz) to their very first CDI victory by topping 10 other competitors in the Grand Prix Special sponsored by Dressage...

Steffen Peters and Rosamunde (Terri Miller) San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Under glorious spring skies and set within the breathtaking vista of the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, the Festival of the Horse CDI 3*/Y/J/U-25 (being held March 31-April 2) got underway Thursday in San Juan Capistrano, and as the final event in California Dreaming Productions’ 2016 season this international dressage showcase drew the largest classes of the year across all CDI divisions as Olympic Team...

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (Terri Miller) Del Mar, Calif. – As 2016 Olympic Games qualifying kicks into high gear, the West Coast will see its largest field of international Grand Prix competitors of the year to date as 17 horse/rider combinations square off during this week’s California Dreaming Productions’ Dressage Affaire CDI3*/Y/J/U-25, being held March 10-13 at the Del Mar Horse Park. As the competition heats up, once again dressage fans from around the world will be...

Ellie Ferrigno and Boneparte Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Ellie Ferrigno guided Kristi C Siam's horse, Boneparte Z, to three firsts and a second over fences to finish the final day of hunter competition as the Echo Junior Hunter 3'3" champion. Only working together for a month, Ferrigno and Boneparte Z looked like seasoned partners. "He's [Boneparte Z] a really sweet horse. We match really well, and he's really fun!" Ferrigno exclaimed. The reserve champion was awarded to...

Matt Brown and Happenstance (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Elkton, Md. - Competition officially kicked off at the 2014 The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International with the first half of CCI2* competitors completing their dressage test, while the first rotation of CCI3* combinations headed down centerline to close out the afternoon session. Matt Brown (Petaluma, Calif.) and Mary McKee’s Happenstance proved unbeatable on the first day of the dressage to cruise into the early lead in the CCI2* and the...

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard (SusanJStickle.com) Lexington, Ky. - A strong U.S. contingent heads to Austria this week for the CDI4* Fritzens, as all eight members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team will compete in Big Tour competition. Additionally, two American entries will head down centerline in the Small Tour at the competition, which runs July 4-7. London Olympic Games veterans Steffen Peters, Jan Ebeling, Adrienne Lyle, and Tina Konyot will...

Columbia, S.C. - University of South Carolina hunt seat coach Carol Gwin has been named the head coach at SMU, it was announced late yesterday. Gwin takes over a Mustang program that went 5-10 last year. Gwin becomes SMU's third head coach in the last 12 months. "We are sad to see Carol go but we're excited for her with this new opportunity and certainly wish her all the best," South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. "The search for our new assistant hunt seat coach has already...

Saumur, France - The Saumur CCI3* is set to host some of the top international eventing combinations, May 22-25, in France’s picturesque countryside. Doug Payne has traveled from his North Carolina base to the prestigious competition on a Land Rover Competition Grant, and looks to impress with the ever-improving Crown Talisman. Doug Payne and Crown Talisman (USEF Archive) Payne (Apex, N.C.) and his own and Larry and Amelia Ross’ 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding make their...

Jennifer Alfano and Candid (The Book, LLC.) North Salem, N.Y. - The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse shows awarded their first hunter championships of the season today, and taking the Grand Hunter Championship was Candid, ridden and owned by Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY. Candid's performance in the Green Conformation Hunters garnered him the overall Grand Hunter Championship. On the first day, Candid and Alfano were first and third over fences and took the top ribbon in the under saddle and...

Sloane Coles and WEC l'Ami Noir (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The $20,000 Adequan® Seven-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic was featured at the FTI WEF on Friday afternoon with 20 out of 72 entries making it through to the jump-off and 13 double clear rounds over Anthony D'Ambrosio's short course. Early on, Sloane Coles (USA) and The Windwood Group's WEC l'Ami Noir set a very fast pace in 30.84 seconds that would hold on to the lead through the end. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and...