Lyon, France - The 2014 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final came to an exciting conclusion Sunday afternoon at the Lyon Eurexpo, as 17 of the world’s best performed their Freestyles in front of the Ground Jury of Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode, Dr. Jean-Michel Roudier, Thomas Lang, Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Gary Rockwell, Jacques van Daele, and Leif Tornblad. The two American riders, Tina Konyot and Cesar Parra, both posted improved scores over their Grand Prix results to close out their...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation Board of Directors has voted unanimously to appoint Chris Welton as Chief Executive Officer effective June 1, 2014. Welton will replace John Long who announced his decision to retire from the position a year ago. Welton possesses a broad background in sport development and management and has acquired a deep understanding of and experience with the Olympic movement. After practicing law in Atlanta for six years, in 1991 Welton was named...

Eduardo Menezes and Coupido Mercedes Benz jump to the top spot in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, the day before the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix takes the stage at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Just six months ago, Coupido Mercedes Benz was showing in 1.30m classes, but he carried Eduardo Menezes to a win this weekend in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, topping a field of 34 to claim the blue. Menezes was pleased with the win...

Bristol made a splash when he got back to the show ring after several months off with Rusty Stewart in the irons. The pair won the $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal this weekend (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Rusty Stewart, who hails from Camarillo, California, has rested his longtime grand prix mount Bristol since the end of last season, but returned to competition on the highest of notes this weekend at HITS Thermal. Stewart and the...

Aaron Vale and Spirit of Alena win the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Thirty contenders showed up to challenge the difficult track set by course designer David Ballard of Tottenham, Ontario, Canada in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Sunday at HITS Ocala. It was, however, Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida and Spirit of Alena that took the victory. The time allowed was set at 77 seconds, and the course included a...

Thermal, Calif. - With three mounts to jump around, not a single onlooker would know that John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California was battling the flu during the $50,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal on Sunday. He and Son of a Gun, owned by Forest View Farm, were one of only four pairs to jump clear against a very tight first round time allowed of 81 seconds. Pearce first appeared on trusted partner Chianto, owned by Forest View Farm and Allison Moore, and was...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal Calif. - With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will...

2002 Paralympian Gold Medal Sled Hockey Team and Marine Patt Sapp; James Wentz; Christin Wentz; Tina Wentz; Vice President of the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association and 1984 Olympian Joan Hansen; and USPEA's President and Paralympian Hope Hand (Lindsay Yosay McCall) Richardson, Texas - In November 2013, the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association, Southwest Chapter, donated $1,000 to the United States Para-Equestrian Association's Jonathan Wentz Memoria...

Stuttgart, Germany - At the Stuttgart German Masters CSI5*-W Friday young female American riders continued to show why they are a force to be reckoned with now, and will be for a while. Reed Kessler (Lexington, Ky.) won the 1.45m speed class, Prize of Raumpflege, with her own Soraya de l'Obstination, Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) took second with Old Oak Farm's Hannah, and Alexa Pessoa (Wellington, Fla.) finished fourth with Rodrigo Pessoa's Levade. Kessler was second in the...

Tim Gredley and Unex Valente clear 2.10m. (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - The 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Friday, October 25, with a exciting day of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The $25,000 Open Jumper Puissance, presented by The Boeing Company, was the highlight class of the evening with a win for Great Britain's Tim Gredley and Unex Competition Yard's Unex Valente, clearing the...