Lexington, Ky. - Mette Rosencrantz of Topanga, Cal. was grinning from ear to ear as she accepted congratulations for becoming the first Finals champion crowned in 2014. Her long journey all the way from the West Coast ultimately proved worthwhile as she guided Anne Solbraekke's elegant black Hanoverian gelding De Noir 3 (De Niro x Maharani by Matcho) to a resounding victory in the Open Intermediate I Championship, earning the unanimous win under all three judges for a total score of 72.632%....

The vaulting portion of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is underway in Normandy with the Horse Inspection taking place on Monday. All U.S. horses passed and vaulters in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Deux, and Squad championships are ready to begin the competition and represent their country. FEI World Squad Vaulting Championship Having a fantastic year in 2014, the Woodside Vaulters will represent their country in Normandy in the FEI World Squad Vaulting...

Le Pin-au-Haras, France – The eventing portion of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrians Games kicked off Wednesday with all horses of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team passing the first horse inspection. A field of 95 combinations from 27 nations presented at the first horse inspection, with 94 horses passing and one, Alexander, the mount of Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE), withdrawing from the holding box. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, led by Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor, is...

The eventing portion of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrians Games kicked off Wednesday with all horses of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team passing the first horse inspection. A field of 95 combinations from 27 nations presented at the first horse inspection, with 94 horses passing and one, Alexander, the mount of Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE), withdrawing from the holding box. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, led by Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor, is prepared for strong performances...

Ben Maher & Aristo Z (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Paris, France - Friday evening’s feature class of the Longines Global Champions Tour Paris Eiffel Jumping presented by Gucci, the Prix du Qatar, was won by Ben Maher (GBR) and Aristo Z from the most difficult position in the draw, first to go in the jump-off. Second went to a very happy Abdelkebir Ouaddar (MAR) and Quickly de Kreisker, and third to Harrie Smolders (NED) and Don VHP Z. Uliano Vezzani’s first round design was a technical...

Wiesbaden, Germany – Lauren Hough (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Ohlala beat 42 other riders in the Lotto Hessen Preis Saturday at CSI3* Wiesbaden. They jumped clear in 58.89s to win the class, nearly a second faster than runners-up Cameron Hanley & Newton du Haut Bois of Ireland. See full results at reitturniere-live.de .

Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C' (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued with its twelfth week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Thursday with a full schedule of jumper action in the International Arena. The Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series hosted its final leg of the twelve-week series with a win for Beezie Madden (USA) and Cortes 'C'. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Prof de la Roque won...

Vaulting to be featured in the Middle East for the first time Sisters Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer, who placed first in the pairs (pas-de-deux) Vaulting event at the 2013 German Masters in Stuttgart last November, will be among the roster of world-class competitors who will gather in Doha, Qatar in March for the Second CHI AL SHAQAB. The siblings are the first vaulters from the United States to win a World Cup event. The prestigious event takes place at AL SHAQAB, the Arabian Gulf’s...

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its seventh week of competition on Wednesday with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. Sponsored by Adequan®, FTI WEF week seven runs February 19-23, 2014. The week will feature the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 on...

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...