Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince dominate day one of FEI competition at the HITS Championship winning the $34,000 Saugerties Jumper Classic. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - It was a beautiful Wednesday in Saugerties, New York for the first afternoon of FEI-ranked competition. Starting the week off on the right foot, Laura Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, and Quointreau Un Prince, co-owned with McLain Ward, swept through the $34,000 FEI Saugerties Jumper Classic course for...

American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Equine Welfare Committee Left to right: Lisa Duncan, Registrar, American Saddlebred Registry, Lynn Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President, Kathie Dunn Jacobsen, ASHA EWC Chair and Karen Medicus, ASHA EWC Vice Chair. (Adam Brennan) The EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award was jointly established by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the EQUUS Foundation in 2009 to celebrate the humanitarian achievements made by members of the equine...

Stamford, England – The dressage phase of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* wrapped up Friday afternoon and the U.S. combinations had solid performances in the talented field of 74 entries. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation, are the top American pair in 27th place as the compeition moves into the cross-country phase tomorrow. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights (Libby Law Photography) Rutledge...

Olympic Gold Medalist and one of the US's most decorated equestrians, Laura Kraut will be a top competitor to watch at this year's American Gold Cup. She earned second place in 2014. (Phelps Media Group) North Salem, N.Y . - The 2015 American Gold Cup is set to return to scenic Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York. The popular and prestigious show jumping classic is scheduled to run Sept. 9-13, 2015. A truly international field of world-class competitors, representing 14 nations from around...

Stamford, England – A top international field of 74 combinations passed the first horse inspection and are set to take on the prestigious Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*, held September 3-6. Three U.S. combinations, two of which are grant recipients, are ready to contest the competition at the renowned venue. Colleen Rutledge (Frederick, Md.) and her own Covert Rights were awarded a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant, through the USET Foundation, to attend Burghley. She will use...

Lexington, Ky. - Debbie McDonald, who has served as the USEF Developing Dressage Coach for over 10 years has announced that she will step down from the position on May 1, 2016, in order to spend more time with her family and focus on personal clients. Debbie McDonald (USEF Archive) "It has truly been an honor to serve in this role, and I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity," said McDonald. "We have come so far with this program; I am grateful to the USEF sponsors and members, the...

Breda, Netherlands - Accomplished pony driver Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) will represent the United States this week at the 2015 FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies. The championships will take place during Outdoor Brabant at the beautiful Prinsenhoeve Estate in Breda, The Netherlands, September 2- 6, featuring 88 drivers from 16 nations competing across three divisions: single, pair, and pony team. Morgan will drive her own trusted partner, German Riding Pony, Fuego 88, in the...

The Board of Directors of the EQUUS Foundation is proud to announce that over $250,000 was awarded in grants and scholarships in 2015 to ensure the well-being of horses, improve the quality of life of people through equine-assisted activities and therapies, and foster the horse-human bond. "Our challenge is to not only come to the rescue of horses in need and to make equine therapy available to more people, it is also to ensure that the charities receiving financial support are operating at the...

Simpson receives the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award from Show Jumping Hall of Fame Executive Director Marty Bauman (The Book LLC) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Sophie Simpson of Wellington, FL, was presented with the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award at the 40th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. The award is presented to the rider in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division whose form and style best exemplifies that of great American riders of the past such as Hall of...

Kirk Webby and Brando Du Rouet (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) Littlestown, Pa. - The win in Saturday evening's $25,000 Swan Lake Fall Festival Grand Prix all came down to the wire - and at the wire it all came down to just over a second in time. It was the last pair in the ring, Kirk Webby and Brando Du Rouet, who won the race against the clock to claim the victory in an exciting finish to the highlight event at the Swan Lake Fall Festival. In addition to Webby and Brando Du Rouet, four...