Lexington, Ky. - The excitement of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE) is about to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the first horse inspection, 59 horse-and-rider combinations from nine nations will vie for top honors at America's only CCI4* event, which also serves as the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship. For the first time in 2017, the Roger Haller Trophy, honoring the late, internationally-respected eventing official, will be...

Courtney Cooper got into breeding with every intention of producing upper-level event horses. Colleen Rutledge simply wanted to dabble in breeding with no particular expectations. They each took a chance on the process, and the U.S. eventing athletes believe they are on the right track with their four-star, homebred horses. Cooper and Who’s A Star and Rutledge and Covert Rights (CR) will each compete together in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover for the second...

Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus (Kasey @ Rare Air Photography) Lauren Kieffer’s return to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is particularly nostalgic, because her mount this year—Vermiculus—is a full brother to Snooze Alarm, the horse that brought Kieffer to her first Rolex Kentucky back in 2010. Bred in Indiana by Lawson and Jeanne Williams, Snooze and Vermiculus are Anglo-Arabians, by the Arabian stallion Serazim and out of the Thoroughbred mare Wake...

Lexington, Ky. - After 12 years, the Eventing Sport Committee approved a next phase for the US Equestrian Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor Program. In 2017, Richard Jeffery will review show jumping courses for all FEI eventing competitions in the U.S. following the event. Course designers will be asked to submit their courses as posted at the competition to Jeffery with all technical details (distance, time allowed, etc.) within five days of the completion of the competition. Each course,...

Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna are first-time competitors this year at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, but their partnership goes back years. “My mom’s farrier, Dennis Ackerman at Pendragon Stud in Colorado, actually bred her,” Backus said of the Anglo-Trakehner mare. “So I’ve known her for her whole life. It’s been quite an adventure.” Backus, whose mother Laura...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) is pleased to announce that Dover Saddlery is the new title sponsor of the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final will be held Sunday, October 15, 2017, at the Pennsylvania National Horse show in Harrisburg, Pa. Dover Saddlery will offer 10% discounts to all US Equestrian members through the Member Perks program (certain exclusions apply). In addition, the new Dover Saddlery...

We caught up with professional groom Max Corcoran, who was an important part of the famed O’Connor Event Team for more than a decade before establishing her own business, Max Corcoran Horse Care, in 2012. She also teaches horse management as a clinician for US Equestrian’s Emerging Athlete Eventing Program, the United States Eventing Association, and the Equine Management Training Center in Axton, Va. When your horse is in work, thoroughly groom him or her at least once a day:...

Lee McKeever started riding at the age of eight at a local riding school in Ireland and fell in love with it. He came to the U.S. at 18, and a short time later, began working for McLain Ward’s father. Ward began hanging out with McKeever at horse shows growing up, and the rest is history. McKeever has overseen Ward’s support team from the time that Ward began his professional career through four Olympic Games and much more. Lee McKeever walks to the warm-up ring with McLain Ward and...

Omaha, Neb. - On his 17th attempt, McLain Ward with HH Azur won the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Final title on Sunday in front of an electric home crowd in Omaha's CenturyLink Center. The 2016 Rio Olympic team silver medalist combination jumped five consecutive clean rounds to secure the title that has eluded him his entire career. Switzerland’s Romain Duguet and Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann finished second and third, respectively. Seven additional U.S. combinations...

(Shannon Brinkman Photo) Omaha, Neb. - McLain Ward and HH Azur have won the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. HH Azur is a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Double H Farm & Francois Mathy. Romain Duguet (SUI) & Twentytwo des Biches finished second and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) & Mary Lou finished third. More news and photos to follow. Follow US Equestrian for the latest coverage of the Final and more on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Snapchat .