Fairfield, CT — St. Andrews University Equestrian Program director and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) coach, Peggy McElveen, is promising quintessential Southern hospitality when the Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex hosts the 39th Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships, May 3-6, 2012, in Raleigh, NC. Think rocking chairs. Magnolia blossoms. White picket fences. “A Taste of Raleigh” from its finest five-star restaurants. And...

Things are getting going now. The day started with a trip to the USOC communications headquarters at the Main Press Center - it was great to see everyone and make some plans for the next three weeks. To many of the sport people, what we do is very foreign so I did a lot of explaining about how these horses are going to get to Mexico. The USOC staff is great, I met them all in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago - it is a great reminder that we are part of something so much greater than our sport....

We have landed at the 2011 Pan American Games. Well four of us have. Jim Wolf, the Chef d'Mission, Christy Baxter the world's most organized executive assistant, Doug Hannum, stable manager to the stars, and me, Joanie Morris - I'm the press officer. I hope you don't get tired of hearing from me. I will be (attempting) to use twitter, press releases, the USEF Network so choose your poison and keep up to speed with what the teams are up to. We are getting the lay of the land,...

Laura Chapot on course with Mary Chapot's Umberto in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — As excitement builds for the return of the coveted Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and the debut of the first ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final next weekend, HITS show jumping action returned to Saugerties this week for the last leg of the qualifying season. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, opened the Grand...

Lexington, KY - Canada's Yann Candele has taken over the lead in the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series after earning strong finishes with four mounts over the last two weeks during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and the KHJA Horse Show. Two weeks ago, Candele took home the winning prize aboard Azzaro during the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and also placed fifth and sixth. During the KHJA Horse Show, Candle placed sixth, ninth, and eleventh in the prestigious class to earn valuable...

McLain Ward placed first and second in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to take over the lead in the Hagyard Challenge Series standings (Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG). Lexington, KY - McLain Ward continues to hold the lead in the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series after claiming the first and second place honors in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. The talented rider completed double clear rounds aboard Pjotter Van De...

Lexington, KY - The USEF has named the following horse/rider combinations to the Short List/Nominated Entry for the 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team to represent the United States at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner (in alpha order) Emily Beshear/34/Somerset, VA/Here’s to You/11/Thoroughbred/G/ Deep Purple Eventing Hannah Sue Burnett/25/Ocala, FL/Harbour Pilot/8/Irish Sport Horse/G/ Jacqueline Mars William Coleman...

Eligibility: The contest is open to anyone 13 to 19 years old who is a legal resident of the United States. Employees of the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc., (and their immediate family members) are not eligible to win. Submission deadline: Entries are due August 3, 2011, 11:59 p.m. EDT via Facebook ( www.facebook.com/USEquestrianFederation - USEF Horse Drawing Contest). Instructions: Scan or photograph drawing and submit entry via Facebook (www.facebook/USEquestrianFederation)...

Culpeper, VA – Show jumping action is set to resume this week in the heart of Virginia’s horse country at HITS Culpeper. The Showday National (July 6-10) will kick off the series, followed by the Cavalier Classic (July 13-17) at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, VA. Each week will feature a full schedule of competition from beginner level to high-performance classes. Entries are strong for both shows and HITS is expecting some fierce competition as both hunter and jumper riders...

The Greenwich Park venue. London, England - There was a huge buzz of anticipation and excitement as the first horse inspection for the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC **) got underway in London this afternoon at the first LOCOG test event in the build-up to London 2012. Over the next three days, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games will test key aspects of the Greenwich logistics and operations in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the...