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...

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...

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...

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...

Lexington, KY – The U.S. duo of Chester Weber and Tucker Johnson equaled an Chester Weber Drives to Third Place (Franz & Andreas Steindl) American best on Sunday by placing third overall in the Four-in-Hand Nations Cup at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen. Weber made a mistake at the very first cone and added some time faults in the final phase to finish the three phases in third individually, a personal best in Aachen, by less than a point on a score on 154.06. “We had...

Lexington, KY - U.S. Drivers Chester Weber and Tucker Johnson prepared for September's World Championships with solid performances at the prestigious CHIO Chester Weber's Second Place Team (Andres Steindl) Aachen today in Aachen, Germany. Weber and Tucker sit in second and fourth individually after the marathon and lie second, on a score of 296.81, less than a point behind The Netherlands (296.23), in the team portion of the competition. Weber, from Ocala, FL, has a two-day score of 144.64...

Lexington, KY—EQUESTRIAN magazine, the official publication of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) since 1937, has recently been honored at the American Horse Publications (AHP) Annual Awards Program held in Saratoga Springs, NY, on June 21. AHP members were named finalists in the 2008 AHP Annual Awards Contest for material published in 2007. This year’s contest included 105 AHP members and 1,092 entries. A select panel of 29 industry judges reviewed the classes and critiqued the...

Riding For Reading, a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting reading, literacy and education through equestrian sports and activities, is pleased to announce that its Riding For Reading Class will be held at three different shows during the summer. The Riding For Reading Class at the Golden Gate Classic, July 4, in Woodside, CA, will kick off the summer. “I believe that reading is the most important aspect of a child’s education," stated Show Manager Chris Collman. “After all,...