Rachael Blanchard (decraen.com/Rinaldo de Craen) Topolcianky, Slovakia - The United States sent two drivers into driven dressage competition at the 2013 FEI World Driving Championships for Pairs on Thursday. Rachael Blanchard and Scott Dancer performed admirably to each slot into the top 15. Blanchard (Upperville, VA) was first into the arena for the U.S. driving the talented horses owned Heather Briggs of Belle Grey Farm. In her first World Championship appearance, Blanchard drove to a score...

Lexington, KY – The Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic plays host to the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship, drawing the country’s top reiners to vie for a national title. Six horse-and-rider combinations will take to the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 30 with hopes of executing a pattern that will earn them a score high enough to be named champion. The 2011 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Champion, Craig Schmersal (Overbrook, OK), returns to the championship...

Team Weber on the marathon course at Caen. (Photo courtesy of Madeleine Augustsson) Ocala, FL – Nine-time U.S. national four-in-hand champion Chester Weber remains undefeated in France following his second win there in the CAI-A4 Caen August 23-25, against a field of 12 drivers and 60 horses representing seven nations. Team Weber’s win at the CAI-A4 Caen is especially significant as the competition was the test event for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. In early June, Weber had the...

Lexington, KY - Each year a grant of $1,000 is awarded to a Junior Hunter Finals competitor for educational purposes. The grant winner is the applicant who constructs the best essay detailing how their competitive experience has affected them, and what it would mean to be awarded the grant. This year’s winner was Rachel Heist, a competitor on the east coast. Rachel competed in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 with her own horse Cordelanne. Rachel positive philosphy, as expressed through her...

Lexington, KY - The United States heads to Topolcianky, Slovakia, this week to secure a podium finish at the 2013 FEI World Driving Championships for Pairs. The U.S. will be represented by three talented drivers at the bi-annual championship, which in 2013 is hosted at the National Stud Farm Topolcianky and runs August 28-September 1. All three members of the U.S. team were part of the fourth-place effort at CAIO Riesenbeck at the beginning of August. Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL)...

Bridgehampton, NY - Lillie Keenan rode her Londinium to a narrow victory in the $20,000 Hampton Classic Time Challenge at the 38th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. Her time of 57.08 seconds barely eclipsed the time of Todd Minikus on Tuxedo, who stopped the clock in 57.51 seconds. Shane Sweetnam rode Cyklon 1083 to third place in 58.47 seconds. Keenan, 16, New York, N.Y., said she'd watched Minikus go on Tuxedo, and she knew that replicating his performance would be the key. Minikus went...

Lexington, KY - The United States will look to secure another top finish in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition this week at the CSIO5* Gijon. The future of American jumping will be on display as talented Young Riders along with team veterans riding up-and-coming horses are set to compete in Gijon, Spain, August 28-September 2. After making her Olympic debut last summer, 19-year-old Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY) continues to impress. The 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Champion has spent the...

Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano jump their way to a win in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Culpeper (ESI Photography) Culpeper, VA – Top prize in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis at HITS Culpeper came down to a speed duel on Sunday afternoon. Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas topped a five-horse jump-off with MTM Farms’ MTM Centano by fractions of a second. She returned first over the short course and crossed the timers clear in 42.60...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) are pleased to announce eventing competition grants for European competition in the fall of 2013. All grants were awarded based on an application process. Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grants The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that the Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grants have been awarded to Meghan O’Donoghue and Lynn Symansky; eventing...

The NorCal Hunter Jumper Association and Langer Equestrian Group are pleased to announce that the 33rd Annual NorCal Medal Finals (Oct 9-13) are right around the corner! Many of Northern California’s top horses and riders will compete at the Brookside Equestrian Park in not only the NorCal Medal Finals themselves, but a variety of other classes and special events at this USEF “A” rated, NorCal double pointed 2013 NorCal Medal Finals Horse Show. The NorCal Medal Finals started...