Leipzig, Germany – Beezie Madden kicked off the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with a win for the U.S. Wednesday morning in the Opening Competition. Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo bested the field of 24 as the only combination to jump faultlessly in the first round. Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG) Madden (Cazenovia, NY) was the first U.S. rider in the ring and set the tone immediately. The Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch jumped...

Badminton, England - Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after a nail-biting finale that went right to the wire. Courtesy of the Badminton Horse Trials: https://www.badminton-horse.co.uk Just a single pole separated the top 12 going into this afternoon’s final showjumping phase and Mark kept a clean sheet to claim the title for a fourth time, 31 years after he first won Badminton aboard Southern Comfort. At 55, this makes Mark the oldest winner...

Lexington, KY - The United States will have strong representation in Germany for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals (April 27-May 1), with 20 of the country's best riders ready to leave their mark on Leipzig. For the first time the World Cup Finals in dressage, driving, jumping and vaulting will all be held under one roof, with the US sending competitors to vie for top honors in the dressage and jumping. The US will also use the Leipzig Exhibition Hall to showcase up-and-coming jumping riders in...

The entries in principle for the inaugural FEI Reining World Final, which will be held in exactly one month’s time on May 21, 2011, at the renowned equestrian facility of Bökeberg, just outside of Malmö, Sweden, are the strongest in the sport’s history. Reiners from 20 nations will be vying for the coveted title of FEI Reining World Champion and the $100,000 prize pot. The nations intending to field athletes are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,...

Waco, TX - Auburn University claimed its second overall team national championship in the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championships at Waco, TX, April 14-16, in the Extraco Events Center. The Tigers, also winners in 2006, placed first in hunter seat competition and fourth in Western. University of Georgia claimed second place with second-place (hunter seat) and third-place (Western) finishes. Texas A&M University was awarded third place by finishing first in Western and sixth in Hunter...

The Rolex Stadium will host many of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows' main events, and was also the location of the show jumping competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo courtesy Phelps Media Group). Lexington KY - The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows is one of the nation's premier hunter/jumper events, and will be kicking-off its two weeks of competition with the Kentucky Spring Horse Show May 11-15, 2011, and will conclude with the Kentucky Spring Classic May...

The FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 series will go ahead with its prize money unchanged from last year. The agreement with series title sponsor Meydan came to an end in 2010 and the Dubai-based company has chosen to refocus its cooperation with the FEI and is currently negotiating terms to move into an exciting new partnership in Endurance. Whilst negotiations with potential partners for the FEI Nations Cup™ Top League are still ongoing, the FEI has guaranteed that prize money to the athletes...

Lexington, KY - The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) would like to remind potential applicants that the deadline to submit applications for ASHA Youth Scholarships is April 30. The purpose of ASHA scholarships is to encourage, support and recognize participation in all aspects of the American Saddlebred industry, as well as to strengthen the American Saddlebred industry and breed through education. Scholarships are awarded only to high school graduates or those students whose...

Cyndi Jackson and Strauss (USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - Dressage riders on the West coast had their opportunity to work with USEF Technical Advisor, Anne Gribbons in the first USEF Observation Session held in California in 2011 on April 5 and 6. Steffen and Shannon Peters kindly hosted the session at their Arroyo Del Mar training facility in San Diego, CA. Over two days, Gribbons worked with each combination individually, fine tuning movements with the veteran pairs and introducing new...

Lexington, KY — Grant applications continue to come in to USA Equestrian Trust (USAET) but there’s still time to submit a proposal. All not-for-profits are invited to apply by going to the web site at https://www.trusthorses.org/grant/request.html to fill out the online grant application. The deadline is May 2 at 5 p.m. EST. Past recipients of grants include those doing equine health research, equestrian land conservation, and educational programs. The Trust welcomes applications for need-based...