Randi Muster (McLain Ward) Lexington, KY – Exactly three-quarters of the way through a series of 12 qualifying competitions for the East Coast League, the dust of a heated race to the 2005 FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final is quickly starting to settle. Just as quickly, a clear trend in leaders begins to unfold, and Brewster, New York’s McLain Ward seems determined to lead the way to Las Vegas on April 20. Heading up a varied group of more than 60 riders, Ward holds onto the...

Indio, CA – With only two World Cup qualifiers left for the West Coast League, Nicole Simpson stakes a new claim in the top spot, positioning herself 15 points ahead of second ranked rider Joie Gatlin. Simpson now boasts an impressive 81 points to Gatlin’s 66. Last week’s first-ranked Richard Spooner is in third place following this latest qualifier, with 65 points. These top contenders are among nearly 30 West Coast riders vying for the three World Cup spots the League is...

Lexington, KY —As the 2004 Horse of the Year season comes to a close, the Federation gears up for a new year of competition with the release of the 2005 Triple Point Competitions, for the Hackney/Harness, Roadster, and Saddlebred divisions. Each year, the corresponding discipline committees vote to assign triple point status to one competition in each of the twelve regions. Points won at these designated competitions are tripled, and will be applied to the standings for the 2005 USEF...

Lexington, KY —Aaron Ralston captured the win in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Open Reining Championship Qualifier at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO on Monday, January 10. The International Reining Competition (CRI) was the second in the USEF series, but the first for the Carbondale, CO resident, who defeated a group of veterans on Smart Paul Olena. “It’s amazing to be able to compete with the likes of these guys,” said Ralston. “I...

The American Grand Prix Association (AGA) released the official 2005 schedule of events for this year’s tour, the nation’s richest and longest running series of equestrian show jumping events. In its 27th year of equestrian excellence, the AGA tour includes 32 events in 22 different equestrian markets and offers over $2.5 million in prize money. When the American Grand Prix Association debuted in 1978 there were 16 events on a tour that stopped in eight different states. In 1978, most...

Gail Abele of Highland Village, TX, has been named the 2004 USDF/Dover Adult Medal National Champion. Awarded for the first time in 2004, the year-end award is presented jointly by the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and Dover Saddlery as part of the USDF/Dover Adult Medal program, which is designed to acknowledge and reward adult amateurs riding at Second Level. To be eligible for the year-end award, a rider must win at least three USDF/Dover Adult Medals, which were presented at over...

Wellington, FL —With seven World Cup slots hanging just out of reach, and the possibility of two wild cards factoring in, East Coast League riders hold a collective breath as the latest round of qualifying points is tallied. After eight rounds of competition, the rivalry stays ever close, with McLain Ward emerging the new leader as the group takes a short recess for the Winter months. Closely following Ward’s 92 points are Kimberly Frey with 81, Laura Kraut with 72, and Lauren Hough...

Wellington, FL —The retired Olympic horse Flim Flam passed away in Florida last week, following a brief, but irreparable illness. The 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Fritz Kundrun and ridden by Sue Blinks, was humanely euthanized on the operating table after discovery of a ruptured stomach on Thursday, October 28, 2004. Flim Flam was only ill for a few hours and seemingly experienced very little pain. “Flim was the horse of a lifetime for me,” Blinks said. “I am...

The U.S. Team is currently in second place behind Germany after the first day of the Grand Prix Dressage competition. Lisa Wilcox, a native of Los Angeles now residing in Germany, posted a score of 68.792 and is in 8th place overall, and Guenter Seidel, a German born American citizen residing in Del Mar, California earned a score of 69.500 and is in seventh place. Their combined team score stands at 69.146. Their two other teammates, Debbie McDonald of Hailey, Idaho, and Robert Dover of...

USEF Announces Eventing Team for 2004 Olympic Games The United States Equestrian Federation announced today the Eventing team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The five horse and rider combinations are as follows: TEAM Rider Residence Horse Owner Darren Chiacchia Springville, NY Windfall 2 Tim Holekamp Trakehner Stallion Julie Richards Atlanta, GA Jacob Two Two Jim Richards Canadian Thoroughbred Gelding Kim Severson Keene, VA Winsome Adante Linda Wachtmeister English Thoroughbred Gelding...