Boyd Martin and Master Frisky (Shannon Brinkman) Elkton, Md. - The first phase of competition came to a conclusion on Friday as the final 45 combinations in CCI3* competition completed their dressage tests, while the second half of the CCI2* field headed down centerline. Boyd Martin and Master Frisky will head out on the cross country in the pole position of the three-star, and in the two-star no one was able to catch Thursday’s leader Matt Brown. Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Stephen...

Lexin George Williams (USEF Archive) gton, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the appointment of the US Dressage Youth Coach and the Assistant Dressage Youth Coach. George Williams will serve as the US Dressage Youth Coach and Charlotte Bredahl-Baker will serve as Assistant Dressage Youth Coach, pending contract negotiations. George Williams is an accomplished International Grand Prix competitor that is widely renowned in his field. Over the years, he...

Molly Kinnamon and Puttin on the Ritz (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Elkton, Md. - The focus of U.S. eventing will be on Elkton, Md., this week as many of America’s top combinations are set to contest CCI2* and CCI3* competition at The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International. In 2014, 160 combinations have travelled to Fair Hill and of those 137 will by vying for U.S. National Titles at the competition running October 16-19. Wednesday afternoon hosted the first Veterinary Inspection; the CCI3* will...

Kelley Farmer and Mindful (Tricia Booker/USHJA Archives) Upper Marlboro, Md. - The top six hunter riders in the country went head to head over three rounds Friday at The Capital Challenge Horse Show, and Kelley Farmer took the top spot. The WCHR Pro Finals used the same three-round format as last year. Riders switched on two donated horses for the first two rounds, then brought a horse of their own for the third and final handy round. In the first round, the high score went to Sandy Ferrell on...

Matthew Brown was the recipient of the 2014 Jacqueline B. Mars Training Grant from the USET Foundation. (Shannon Brinkman) Gladstone, N.J. - The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that the Jacqueline B. Mars National Competition and Training Grant has been awarded to Matthew Brown of Petaluma, California. The grant is given to an Eventing rider who has been identified and recommended by the USEF Eventing Selectors, with an impressive record and potential to represent the United States in...

Lexington, Ky. - The final USEF National Combined Driving Championships will be decided this weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE. Held October 2-5, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., plays host to the USEF National Pairs Championship and the USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships. Talented fields of drivers will vie for top honors in their respective championships in what will surely be an exciting competition. USEF National Pairs Championship Three strong competitors make up...

Lauren Kieffer & Veronica (Amy Dragoo) Unionville, Pa. - Lauren Kieffer and Veronica started out the first day of Plantation Field International Horse Trials on a high note, scoring 31.8 to lead the small yet talented Advanced division after dressage. After placing second at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, Kieffer and Veronica were named to the U.S. World Equestrian Games squad in addition to receiving a Land Rover Competition Grant to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials....

Leslie Burr Howard and Tic-Tac (Cealy Tetley) Calgary, Canada - The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team clinched a second-place finish in the BMO FEI Nations Cup on Saturday afternoon before a packed house. The U.S., led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, sent a veteran squad composed of Lauren Hough, Leslie Burr Howard, McLain Ward, and Beezie Madden into Spruce Meadows CSIO5* ‘Masters’ Tournament’s team competition to jump Leopoldo Palacio’s 12-obstacle track....

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (Libby Law Photography) Woodstock, England - Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn made a sizable jump up the leaderboard following a proficient trip across the country on Saturday at the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials. On a day where Eric Winter’s difficult CCI3* track caused a shuffle of the standings, the USEF Land Rover Competition Grant Recipients jumped clear picking up 3.2 time faults to stand in ninth place heading into the show...

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (Libby Law Photography) Woodstock, England - USEF Land Rover Competition Grant Recipients Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn lead the way for the U.S. following the first phase of the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. The pair, which were the second competitors into the ring on Thursday morning, earned a dressage mark of 47.0 from the Ground Jury of Christina Klingspor, Andrew Bennie, and Ciska Van Meggelen-Peek and head out onto the...