Lexington, Ky. - The first championship titles of the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans were claimed Wednesday as the Large Regular Hunter Ponies and the Small Green Hunter Ponies completed their final phases of competition in the 2016 US Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm at the Kentucky Horse Park. Mimi Gochman and Storyteller earned top overall honors in the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship, while Caroline Passarelli and So Enchanted received the...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Dressage competition got underway Wednesday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, as 29 of the total 60 competitors representing 19 countries took to the main arena under cloudy skies at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center to perform in the Grand Prix, the first test in the team competition. The U.S. team, going eighth in the order of the 11 nations, finished day one in fourth place after two superb performances from Allison Brock and Kasey Perry-Glass. Leading the...

Givrins, Switzerland – The U.S. Reining Team will compete at the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships August 11-13, at the CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland. The team of Shane Brown, Troy Heikes, Kari Klingenberg, and Nick Valentine will face teams from nine other countries as they go after team and individual medals. They will be led by Chef d’Equipe Jeff Petska. The U.S. Reining Team (Bryn Wells) Heikes (Scottsdale, Ariz.) is no stranger to FEI level competition and will help...

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Cross-country, the heart of eventing competition, proved to be demanding for the 64 athlete-and-horse combinations who contested Pierre Michelet's technical course at the Olympic Equestrian Center at Deodoro on Monday. Only three entries finished double-clear, and only 26 crossed the finish without jumping penalties. U.S. veterans Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin rode brilliantly and stand fifth and sixth,...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl on their way to a $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - As the curtain closed on the HITS Saugerties Summer Series, thirty-five horses and riders turned out for Sunday’s $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix for a shot at the money. The field consisted of Olympians and world-cup finalists, in addition to talented juniors and amateurs, but only one could claim the top title. Twelve advanced to the shortened course set by Mark McGowan...

Piber Köflach, Austria – The U.S. Driving Team of Donna Crookston, Sterling Graburn, and Suzy Stafford, along with individual Leslie Berndl, made a valiant effort at the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, which proved to be a true championship test. The strong international field consisted of 75 combinations from 23 countries, and after four days of competition, the U.S. team finished 14th. Sterling Graburn and Mannkato (Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com) Graburn (Paris,...

Piber Köflach, Austria – Torrential rains on Friday afternoon made for slick spots and deep footing in the marathon obstacles on Saturday at the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, proving difficult for the U.S. combinations. Sterling Graburn is the top American in the overall standings in 51st place, while Donna Crookston was the top U.S. finisher in the marathon phase in 51st place in the field of 74 combinations. The U.S. Driving Team of Crookston, Graburn, and Suzy...

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince on their way to a $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - A big day of elite competition commenced with Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix. An accomplished field of forty-five tested the course set by Mark McGowan of Kilmarnock, Great Britain, but only one could take home the blue ribbon. There is no slowing down when the Chapot’s are in town. Rider, Laura Chapot, and her mother and trainer, Mary Chapot, have been...

Piber Köflach, Austria – Following the second day of driven dressage at the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, the U.S. Driving Team of Donna Crookston, Suzy Stafford, and Sterling Graburn sits in third place with a score of 105.4. Stafford leads the way for the U.S. contingent, sitting in second place with PVF Peace of Mind, with two other U.S. drivers, Graburn and individual Leslie Berndl, in the top 20. Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) had a stellar test with her own PVF...

Piber Köflach, Austria – The 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles got underway Thursday with the first of two days of driven dressage. The U.S. contingent is off to a solid start with Donna Crookston, Suzy Stafford, and Leslie Berndl performing polished tests. Stafford and PVF Peace of Mind currently lead the international field with a score of 49.34. Suzy Stafford and PVF Peace of Mind (Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com) Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) had an excellent test with...