Another successful show for Alexandra Thornton of Bedminster, NJ, placed the 12-year-old in the winner’s circle once again. This time, her triumph made history at the highly regarded Hampton Classic in Bridgehampton, NY. Thornton, who trains with renowned judge and trainer Susie Humes, piloted her way to the division tricolor in the Younger Small Junior Hunters aboard her mount Tobasco, a small, yet scopey chestnut gelding. She then continued her winning ways and became the youngest rider to...

Aaron Ralston (left) and Tim McQuay (right) were awarded the Bronze and Silver Individual reining medals at the 2006 WEG. Canada's Duane Latimer took the Gold. (Bob Langrish ) (Aachen, Germany) —It ended like it began, with wind and rain. But, it was a wet, windy and wonderful finale to an amazing two weeks of equestrian sport at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. By all accounts, it has turned out to be the biggest and most impressive equestrian competition in...

Beezie Madden and Authentic made the final four cut in show jumping's Rolex World Championship. (Bob Langrish) The show jumpers returned to day four of five in a hotly contested race to the medal podium. America’s Beezie Madden and Authentic have dazzled the legions of show jumping fans that have traveled to Aachen to witness the very best of the best. Today’s two-round go was the decisive test of which four horse-and-rider pairs were asked to return for one last round on Sunday....

Team USA does it again by bringing home the Team Gold medal in reining. Pictured are: Dell Hendricks, Tim McQuay, Aaron Rahlston and Matt Mills. (By Ceci Flanagan-Snow) More than 38,000 fans of reining and driving descended on the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Friday to watch the exciting marathon phase of four-in-hand driving and the Team medal competition in the Western discipline of reining. It was a Gold-medal day for Team USA’s reiners, while three American drivers took to the...

Aachen, Germany – The United States Equestrian Federation® announces the team that will travel to Canada and compete at the 2006 CSIO Spruce Meadows, September 6-10. Selection was based on the ranking of the July 28, 2006 USEF Computer List. The riders and their horses are as follows: 1. Margie Engle of Wellington, FL and Hidden Creek’s Wapino, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, owned by Hidden Creek Farm 2. Molly Ashe of Wellington, FL, and Neuville, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by...

Aachen, Germany – The United States Equestrian Federation® has announced the five riders that will compete in the eighth and final show in the Samsung Super League tour CSIO Barcelona, Spain (September 14-17). In Barcelona, all team points accumulated will count for double. The riders and their horses are: 1. Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, and Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, owned by Hidden Creek Farm 2. McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Sapphire, an...

The 60th annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) will host yet another year of top hunter and jumper competition in the Northwest in 2006. Held at the Buffalo Equestrian Center (BEC), which is formerly known as the Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club, the horse show has a long tradition of excellence and has seen some of the nation’s best equestrians compete in its hallowed indoor arena. The show will be held September 13-17 and will benefit the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC)....

By Bob Langrish (Beezie Madden and Authentic in the Main Stadium in Aachen, Germany.) (Aachen, Germany)— The 16 efforts put in front of the 116 show jumpers going round during the 1st qualifier and speed class for the individual and team FEI World Championships in Aachen were a bit more than a few could handle. And for Team USA, there were few bumps along the road translating into less than a handful of downed rails in a windy Main Stadium. Over the day, six horses were eliminated, and...

Bob Langrish (Vaulter Megan Benjamin won an Individual Gold medal.) (Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last 30 world championships....

Steffen Peters finished fourth yesterday in the grand prix special with a 75.200%, just out of the medals. They finished sixth tonight in the musical freestyle on a score of 78.600%. (Bob Langrish) Crowds were spilling out of the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Saturday, with record crowds jamming not only the dressage freestyle, but the cross-country course, as well as the show grounds. Across the day, more than 44,000 fans of eventing were on-hand; 40,000 tickets were sold (and 60,000 were on...