Week I of the Atlanta Summer Classic was highlighted by two spectacular weekend events: the $25,000 ASG Software/USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $25,000 Central Equine Grand Prix, held Friday and Saturday evening, respectively, at the Georgia International Horse Park’s Olympic Stadium. On Friday night an astounding 39 hunter teams gathered under the lights for the International Hunter Derby. After the tight turns were negotiated, the jumps cleared, and the gates opened and closed, it...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – Day one of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions was highlighted by the afternoon performances of the 12 best horses in the country competing in the USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Team in Dressage. Serving also as the National Grand Prix Dressage Championship, the class featured four Olympic veterans. San Diego rider and Olympic veteran Steffen Peters had plenty of fans on hand to watch him...

Chicago, IL - Legends define themselves. Mike Plumb defined himself with eight Olympic Games. He defined the sport of Eventing for four decades - but tonight the US Olympic Hall of Fame will define him as a legend - across all sports. The first Equestrian in history will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame tonight, June 19, at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theatre in downtown Chicago. He will stand on the stage with fellow sporting icons: John Morgan, Bruce Baumgarder, Joan Benoit...

At the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Horse Show, the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USJA International Hunter Derby presented by Dietrich Insurance featuring Walsh Harness & Saddlery was won by New Yorker Patricia Griffith on North Country, owned by Laura King-Kaplan. The class of more than forty entries produced flawless performance after flawless performance, but Griffin was the star of the day aboard North Country, an eight-year-old bay Warmblood. The course, designed by Skip...

Lexington, KY - Five USEF National Champions will be crowned after two weekends of dressage competition in San Juan Capistrano, CA June 21-22 and June 27-29. Always an exciting competition Kassandra Barteau and Gabriella (PhelpsPhotos.com) amongst the nation’s best dressage riders, this year the National Grand Prix Dressage Championship is also the USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage. The best horses and riders in each division are coming from across the...

International dressage trainer, Oded Shimoni, takes short breaks from his training schedule at Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, FL, to teach clinics throughout the U.S. Last month he was at Amanda Person’s farm in Atlanta teaching Amanda, Jason Canton, and others. This month Shimoni is heading to Pennsylvania to coach three-day eventer Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr., in preparation for the 2008 Olympics Hong Kong. Last year U.S. Three-Day Eventing Coach and Chef d’Equipe, Captain Mark Phillips,...

Winner’s of the 2008 Markel Amateur Winter Dressage Championships presented by The Paddock Saddlery were notified this week. The Markel Amateur Winter Dressage Championships recognizes leading amateur’s accomplishments over the winter show season in South Florida. The 2008 awards ceremony will be a virtual presentation. Photographs of winners with their awards will be viewable on The Paddock Saddlery’s website, www.paddocksaddlery.com . The idea for an amateur championship was the brainchild of...

The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) would like to remind all adult saddle seat equitation riders that there is still time to qualify for the 2008 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final that will be held on Friday, July 11, during the Lexington Junior League Horse Show in Lexington, KY. To participate in the 2008 Final, you must win a ribbon in one of the USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal “qualifying” classes held between June 28, 2007, and June 27, 2008. Please note that...

Prior to Sunday's $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, HITS handed out its Spring Circuit Awards to the most accomplished equestrians who participated at HITS Saugerties this spring. The overall and reserve circuit champions in 68 divisions were awarded during a special Parade of Champions celebration in the grand prix ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson to cap off three exciting weeks of competition. It was a very successful spring for trainer Cynthia Williams of New England Farms, and it showed on Sunday...

After his spectacular success at the 2007 Stallion Performance Test, where he earned the highest score in the history of U.S. testing, 164.86, Little Bit Farm’s homebred Rashka took some well-deserved time off. At his first show of 2008, Rashka remained true to his early promise by winning all seven of his classes at the May Dressage at Lamplight show, where he was high score of the show with an 80.4%, champion at T4, and reserve champion at First Level. With an additional T4 score of 75%, he...