Sartilly, France - The endurance race at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games kicked off at 7:00 a.m.local time on Friday, as 165 horse-and-rider combinations headed out on the five-loop track, all hoping to be the first to finish at the end of the day. A sloppy trail from rain all week tested teams’ strategies and riding tactics, resulting in numerous problems throughout the day. On Thursday, the U.S. was represented by Ellen Olson, Jeremy Olson, Heather Reynolds, Jeremy Reynolds,...

Matthew Johnson and Petersborg's Qasanova (SusanJStickle.com provided by Matthew Johnson) Lexington, Ky. - Verden, Germany is set to host the 2014 FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses this weekend, August 6-10. The United States will look for a strong finish in the five-year-old championship as Matthew Johnson and Petersborg’s Qasanova fly the U.S. flag. Johnson (Lake Worth, Fla.) and his Dutch Warmblood stallion (Quaterback x Kajana I/Calypso II) qualified to...

McLain Ward and Dulien Van De Smeets fly to a win (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When McLain Ward climbed down from the tack of Dulien Van De Smeets after winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis, he didn’t look for congratulations, but marched straight to the mare’s owner, his godmother. Susie Heller stood clutching a winner’s trophy and was scooped up by Ward’s embrace. Every win is special, but this was divinely special. This week marked the...

Kent Farrington with Willow (standing in for Voyeur) at the Prize Giving. Aachen, Germany - What a spectacular round: Kent Farrington won the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe. The 33-year-old literally flew to victory with his 12-year-old KWPN gelding Voyeur – very much in keeping with the new Top Level Sponsor. The scoreboard showed the unbelievable time of 47.82 seconds as the US-American crossed the finish line of the 410-metre long jump-off course with its eight obstacles. 17 horses...

Laura Bowery and Vanhattan (The Book LLC) Old Salem, N.Y. - Although she had not competed for nine months, Laura Bowery didn't feel any jitters when she walked into the show ring this week. Having the ride on Vanhattan made it that much easier. She and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Manhattan owned by Kerry Anne LLC flew around the speed course, designed by Alan Wade of Ireland in 62.154 seconds to win the $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m. Second place in the class went to Wiplala and Richard...

John French and Comex Gold lead the West Coast in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - The West Coast came out on top this year as they swept the top five spots in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge. John French of Woodside, California was the inevitable winner when he piloted Comex Gold to scores of 90 and 94 for amateur rider Lee Kellogg Sadrian. “Comex Gold is a great, quiet, beautiful mover and he actually goes better for...

Rich Fellers and Flexible were on top of their game Friday in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal. They topped an impressive field of 58 for the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, Oregon and the famed Flexible climbed the ranks at HITS Thermal on Friday to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, over a field of 58 starters. Earlier this year, the fate of 2012 USEF International Horse of the Year...

Mandy Porter and Lexito jump to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif - When Mandy Porter walked into the Strongid® C 2X™ Grand Prix Stadium on Friday, the crowd expected to see her in the tack of her usual stallion, Con Capilot. This time, however, she piloted a 16.3 hand grey gelding named Lexito for Marguerite McAfee of P2 Capital, LLC. Porter, who hails from Encinitas, California, catch rode for Lexito’s...

Kyle King and Quigley bested an impressive field on Sunday to win the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal. They were one of three in the jump-off and used Quigley’s speed to earn the blue (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Quigley may not have many grand prix miles behind him, but his rider Kyle King of Ocala, Florida is looking forward to the 10-year-old gelding stepping up to the level with a bang. He is certainly on the right track after winning...

Elizabeth Gingras and Floreen SFN jump to a win in the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition CSI-W2* Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - When the Canadian National Anthem played at the conclusion of Saturday’s $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition CSI-W2* Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal it was playing for more than just the winner, Elizabeth Gingras of Alberta. Gingras and the up-and-coming Bretton Chad, also of Alberta, went...