At exactly 8:08 p.m. on August 8, the official one-year-to-go countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games was launched. Eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture. In general, eight is an auspicious number for Buddhists. In front of 10,000 people gathered on Tianan’men Square, with the Forbidden City as a backdrop, a sumptuous ceremony took place where Chinese culture and traditions were clearly on show. The International Olympic Committee President handed out the official invitations to the...

Tokyo, Japan – The U.S. Para Dressage Team saw its first two combinations head down the center line at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, Japan, opening the first day of equestrian competition at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Beatrice de Lavalette and Clarc were the first combination to contest the Grade II Individual Test in the main stadium, earning a 70.265 percent, while Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40 closed out the evening of competition with a 70.854 percent as the last combination in the...

Wellington, Fla. – McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) guided his mount Noche de Ronda to their second consecutive five-star grand prix win in two weeks, as the duo rose to the top of the $213,300 Longines Grand Prix CSIO5* today at Deeridge Farms. The pair crossed through the finish in 37.86 seconds to take the win, while Ireland’s Billy Twomey guided Kimba Flamenco through the timers in 38.29 seconds for second place ahead of Margie Engle and Dicas, who rounded out the top three placings...

Schuyler Riley and Dobra De Porceyo ©LizCrawleyPhotography Mill Spring, NC - July 12, 2015 - A large crowd of spectators filled the stands to witness the $210,000 Asheville Regional Airport Grand Prix CSI 4* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on a beautiful summer evening in Mill Spring, NC. Schuyler Riley (USA) captured another big international win, adding back-to-back victories in the "Saturday Night Lights" Series aboard nine-year-old Dobra De Porceyo. The duo crossed the...

Contador de Bornival Z and Maddrix Charleston, South Carolina - July 11, 2015 - Tim Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama has had the magic touch Week I at the Charleston Summer Classic. Last night before a sold out VIP tent, Maddrix piloted Contador De Bornival Z, owned by Baily Martin to Contador's first grand prix win in the $35,000 Regions Private Wealth Management Grand Prix. Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana, Technical Coordinator for the 2015 World Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada, designed...

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Pau, France - Four talented American combinations have headed to Pau, France, this week to contest the final CCI4* of 2014 hosted in the Northern Hemisphere. Leading the charge at the Les Étoiles de Pau are Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Kieffer (Ocala, Fla.) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica head into the prestigious French...

Darragh Kenny and PROF DE LA ROQUE (AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - Ireland's Darragh Kenny was the crowned the 'speed demon' of the evening at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, capturing the $33,000 Keystone Classic Speed Stake with PROF DE LA ROQUE, owned by Postage Stamp Farm, LLC, as well as the Open Jumper Speed Championship with TOP GUN IV, owned by Oakland Ventures LLC. Fellow Irishman Alan Wade designed the course, which consisted of 13 obstacles set at 1.45 meters...

Nick Skelton and Big Star. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - The fifth week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with the $25,00 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic, and it was Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, who proved victorious over a field of 65 entries. Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, designed today's courses and set a first-round track that 11 combinations would clear....

Photo by Terri Miller In this economy, businesses are looking for unique ways to reach new markets and expand their presence with their existing customers—all in a very cost-effective manner. For niche industries, like premiere equestrian events, the challenges businesses are facing have resulted in an interesting opportunity. This year Dressage at Devon (DAD), the premiere dressage show in North America, celebrates its 35th anniversary at the Devon Horse Show Grounds. Historically the...

Photo by Lauren Fisher/PMG (Lisa Goldman and Morocco won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/AO Jumper Classic.) It was a fantastic day for 21-year-old Denise Wilson of Oconomowoc, WI, and Blue Gate Farm LLC's Life is Life 15 when the pair raced to victory in Saturday afternoon's $30,000 Showplace Productions Grand Prix. Held in the beautiful Grand Prix Ring at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, the grand prix was the first of three in the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show...