Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Robert Ridland will continue to serve as the Chef D’Equipe and Technical Advisor for U.S. Show Jumping. Ridland will continue to play an important role, alongside the Show Jumping Managing Director, in the development and implementation of show jumping plans for the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team and will help grow programs for developing and elite athletes. “After an outstanding four...

Boekelo, The Netherlands - The U.S. contingent had a respectable performance in the solid international field of 97 combinations in the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*. Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant recipient Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett led the way as the top U.S. pair in fourth place. Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook's Scarlett (Libby Law Photography) Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) began the competition with a fabulous dressage test aboard Marie Le Menestrel’s...

Woodstock, England – A top notch international field of 76 combinations contested the 2016 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* from September 8-11 at the picturesque venue. Three Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant recipients, Hannah Sue Burnett, Holly Payne Caravella, and Kurt Martin, made their trips worthwhile with strong performances. Burnett and Harbour Pilot were the top U.S. combination in fifth place. Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Libby Law Photography)...

Lexington, Ky. - Each year, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) awards a $1,000 US Junior Hunter National Championships educational grant. In 2016, the grant went to Virginia Millie Stearns of Watkinsville, Ga. Stearns competed at the US Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast in the 3’3” Junior Hunter division with THS Enterprise’s THS Pia-Lena. Virginia Millie Stearns riding THS Pia-Lena (Cathrin Cammett Photo) The grant is awarded annually to the...

I started this blog this morning with the aim of completing by the start of the jumping competition and extolling the virtues of the Glorious 12th. However it is now evening and the blog is only just being started due to the time consuming shenanigans of the Annoying 14th. It has been one of those days that Rio 2016 have perfected the art of creating; frustrating and unnecessary. Casting my mind back to the Glorious 12th, I still get goosebumps combined with deep reoccurring nervous tension...

"I shot an arrow in the air. She fell to earth in Berkeley Square"; so goes the line from Kind Hearts and Coronets. Well apparently some mischievous soul shot a rifle round in the air and it fell to ground in the equestrian media centre here in Rio. It has been amusing reading the varying reports and through varying connotations and use of English, differing implications. A round did come through the media tent roof but it was not a large calibre (more rifle size) and had, I would suggest,...

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Eventing competition at the Olympic Equestrian Center at Deodoro continued on Sunday with the second day of dressage. The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team moved up from seventh place and is now tied with New Zealand for sixth place on a total of 137.50. Lauren Kieffer and Phillip Dutton gave strong performances for the U.S. in a hotly contested team competition. Germany currently leads the team standings on a total of...

Lexington, Ky. – The final North American Selection Trial for the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships took place over the weekend at the Bromont International Driving CAI. James Fairclough led from start to finish to claim top honors in the CAI2*-H4 division. James Fairclough (Cealy Tetley) Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his mixed team of Warmbloods started off the competition with a solid dressage test to earn a score of 46.91 to win the dressage phase. He and his horses delivered a bold...

Lexington, Ky. – The 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE) came to its conclusion with Sunday's show jumping phase over Richard Jeffery's challenging track. The U.S. contingent was impressive at the RK3DE, taking eight of the top 10 places on the leaderboard. Finishing second overall, Lauren Kieffer won her second Rolex/USEF CCI4* National Championship with Veronica with excellent performances in each phase. However, it was Michael Jung (GER) and...

Lauren Hough has announced the retirement of 17-year-old Selle Francais, Quick Study (Quick Star—Sirene de Plantro, What A Joy XX), after a decade-long partnership that traveled the world many times over. “It is with great pride, and a touch of sadness, that I am announcing the retirement of my partner of 10 years, Quick Study, better known to his friends as Joey,” said Hough from her winter base in Wellington, Fla. “We have had a remarkable journey together and have had...