Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Leslie Threlkeld/USEA Photo) Fairburn, GA - The cross country portion of the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Bit of Britain (AEC) took place today for the Merial Advanced division at the lovely facility of Chattahoochee Hills. Making the time on cross country proved to be a challenge on this hot and humid day as almost the entire field incurred time penalties except for two riders. Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) was one of those riders,...

Excited WIHS fans on Barn Night show their spirit! Washington, D.C . - The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is pleased to announce “What’s Your Dream?” as the theme for this year’s Barn Night. Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery, will be featured on Thursday, October 25, during the 54th annual WIHS. The competition will be held on October 23-28, 2012, at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Returning sponsor Dover Saddlery is excited to be a part of...

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Leslie Threlkeld/USEA Photo) Fairburn, GA - Competition at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Bit of Britain (AEC) got underway today. With the Advanced division at the AEC also playing host to the USEF National Advanced Horse Trials Championship, stakes were running high. Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and her longtime partner Courageous Comet lead the field after scoring an impressive 23.7 on their dressage test, 5.6 points ahead of...

Greenwich, UK - The Para-Equestrian Dressage portion of the 2012 Paralympic Games came to a close on Tuesday with Freestyle Test being ridden in Grades IV, III and 1a. Donna Ponessa was the lone U.S. representative on the day, performing her Grade 1a Freestyle in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Lilian Iannone, Gudrun Hofinga, Sarah Rodger and Freddy Leyman. Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) closed out the 2012 Paralympic Games for the U.S. in fine style scoring 70.75% with Wesley...

Meg O’Mara won the Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy (Shawn McMillen) Bridgehampton, NY - Meg O’Mara, of Rumson, N.J., was the recipient of the 2012 Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy at the 37th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. O’Mara won the $25,000 David Yurman Show Jumping Derby and the High Junior Jumper Championship on Sinatra IV. The Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy is awarded to the junior jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation as...

Reining National Champion Shawn Flarida and Shiners Chick (Waltenberry) Tulsa, OK - The 2012 Adequan/USEF National Reining Championship lived up to its billing on August 31 as six of the top riders in the nation went head-to-head for the title of 2012 Reining National Champion. The class, held at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic, had some of the top names in the sport with two of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold medalists competing. In the end, one of those riders would take...

Del Mar, CA - Congratulations Rusty Stewart and Bristol for their flawless performance in today's $50,000 Showpark World Cup Grand Prix, presented by EQU Lifestyle Magazine. Stewart guided Bristol to the only double clear round of the day over the large track set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). It was an FEI regulated course at it's finest with large spreads and tall verticals with an objective to shave down the field. Many pairs fell victim to the multiple combinations, while a select...

Greenwich, UK - Sunday saw the conclusion of the Team Championship as well medals awarded for individual performances in Grade IV, III and 1a competition at the 2012 Paralympic Games. The host nation took medals by the handful claiming two Individual Silvers, an Individual Gold and Team Gold. This is the fifth time Great Britain has earned the top spot on the team podium since 1996 when Para-Equestrian Dressage was first included in the Paralympic Games. Claiming Silver behind Great Britain was...

Donna Ponessa (West Windsor, NY) had a long time to wait before she was able to make her debut at the 2012 Paralympic Games. But she made it worth the wait as she piloted Wes Dunham’s Western Rose to a score of 70.235% in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Sarah Rodger, Gudrun Hofinga, Freddy Leyman and Anne Prain. Riding in Grade 1a competition, Ponessa produced a steady, rhythmic test with the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare to earn fifth place. Western Rose is well Donna Ponessa and...

London, England, United Kingdom - In London, there is always one conversational topic that a stranger can depend on to relieve an awkward situation, the weather. On Thursday August 30th, at the 2012 Paralympic Equestrian venue in Greenwich Park, the weather transitioned from rain, to wind, on to more rain, and brisk temperatures. As the opening day of the Para-Dressage Team Test competition transpired the weather became accommodating to some riders and unpleasant to others. Jonathan Wentz (USA)...