Laura Kraut and Cedric Head to Hong Kong (KennethKraus/PhelpsSports.com) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY - Pending the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the USEF has recommended the following horse/rider combinations for the US Olympic Team in show jumping for the 2008 Olympic Games, to be held in Hong Kong, China, August 15-21, 2008. Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Beezie Madden/45/Cazenovia, NY/Authentic/13/KWPN/Gelding/Abigail Wexner McLain Ward/33/Brewster,...

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...

Ravel, Brentina, Harmony's Mythilus (Amy McCool) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has approved the following nominated entry for the dressage team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. Final entries will be made to the USOC on July 15, 2008. The following riders are ranked based on their performance after the USEF Selection Trials for Dressage: Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner 1. Steffen Peters/44/San Diego, CA/Ravel/10/Dutch...

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...

Lexington, KY - As per the Olympic Selection Procedures, the USEF is extending an invitation to the top Veteran Olympians Debbie McDonald and Brentina (Bob Langrish) dressage horse/rider combinations in the U.S. to participate in the 2008 USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship/USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage. These horse/rider combinations are the top 12 from the 2008 USEF Grand Prix Dressage and Selection Trials Ranking List as of June 2, 2008. The following...

Photo by Randi Muster (Alex Matz and his pony, Wise Guy.) A famous jumping name will again be present in the Devon Horse Show catalog. The name is Matz, but this time it isn’t Michael, who showed for many years very successfully at Devon, but his son, Alex. Alex is only 11 years old and he’s only been competing in pony jumpers for a couple of months, but it’s already beginning to look like he’s inherited his famous father’s talent. The first time he ever competed...

Lexington, KY – After five second place finishes with five different horses at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Phillip Dutton and Connaught (Mike McNally) Event Presented by Farnam, Phillip Dutton brought last year’s runner-up, Connaught, back to the Kentucky Horse Park and won convincingly with a masterful clear round in the show jumping. The 15-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, who is owned by Dutton’s longtime supporter Bruce Duchossios, put together three impressive phases...

Lexington, KY - Thursday’s dressage winner Becky Holder got a run for her money early on and an assault continued on her score of 39.3 all day but no one was able to top her effort with Courageous Comet. They Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Mike McNally) remain the only pair under 40 at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam. Two points separate the top three horses as they head to the cross country phase on Saturday. The third pair to go, Heidi White and Northern...

Lexington, KY - Becky Holder and Courageous Comet made it very clear from the first moment ‘Comet’ set foot in the Shelia C. Johnson Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park that they meant business in the dressage. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet Flash Their Winning Trot (Mike McNally) And business on the day of Holder’s 39th birthday meant a winning dressage mark at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam. “I’m absolutely over the top,” said...

Chester Weber Wins Sixth Consecutive USEF National Driving Championship at Live Oak (Darlene Wohlart) By Joanie Morris Ocala, FL - Chester Weber added winner and his sixth consecutive USEF National Championship to his list of titles at the Live Oak Plantation Combined Driving Event presented by Budweiser. Not only did he win the FEI Team Horse Division he also played host, presenter, bloodstock agent, farm manager and competitor. “I want it seven times because nobody has ever won it seven...