The first half of this day involved my computer, two cappuccinos and the hotel office. "Just be sure we kick some ass." Unfortunately Jon Holling's Eventing horse Downtown Harrison was withdrawn for veterinary reasons in Ocala this morning. But those were his words when I texted him my condolences. He's a friend and a class act, so we're all sad for him. Luckily we have Lynn Symansky to step into his shoes. She's a star. Interestingly she will be making her second Pan Am...

The 11-year-old Westphalian gelding was produced through the USEF Young Horse and Developing Horse Program by Jason Canton. He was the 2007 6-year-old Champion at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships and was then third in 2009 at the Developing Horse Championships. Now ridden by Cesar Parra, who until 2010 represented his native Colombia, is making his first U.S. Team appearance. Jenny Mandracia has worked for Cesar since 2002 but she is also making her first U.S. Team appearance....

It’s not Fair Hill if there’s no rain . Well, we are defiantly at Fair Hill. It could have been far worse but rain is still rain. The morning was grey but just threatened rained. Most of us lucked out as they majority of spectators, riders and connections were tucked under tents out of the elements when the rain started at the lunch break. However, there were a few competitors using the down time in the main ring to school in the warm-up. Needless to say they got wet! I was planning...

It takes a lot of people to keep our U.S. show on the road, so the first Barn Notes will be fairly basic introductions of the Dressage staff: Barn Manager Dougie Hannum first travelled with the U.S. Team in 1966 as a show jumping groom and he hasn't missed much over the last four decades. The first team horse he looked after was called Ilan, he belonged to James Paxton but Frank Chapot rode him on the team and Dougie was part of the deal. He was around when a jumping horse named Sloopy had...

Paragon He’s only eight years old but he’s the talk of the dressage world. Yesterday people came to watch him school because they had seen him on YouTube and they wanted to see him in person. Luckily for the U.S. he’s on our team at the 2011 Pan American Games, after claiming reserve championship honors at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Owned and ridden by Heather Blitz, the lanky 18- plus-hand chestnut gelding has jaw-dropping movement in...

Anne Marie Biron of Overtime Farm and trainer Tim Roesink with the 2011 World Champion Mare, Jungle Love. (Photo © Abbie Trexler) Shelburne, VT — The best of the best in the Morgan breed is being celebrated in Oklahoma City for the 39th edition of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United...

Noah Buehler and Porsche Win the North American League Pony Jumper Finals. (Al Cook Photo). Harrisburg, PA – Noah Buehler of Wall, NJ, took top honors in the North American League (NAL) $5,000 Pony Jumper Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Thursday evening riding Porsche, his 11-year-old Quarter Horse. Buehler was the only rider out of the field of 16 that negotiated a clear round to win the class. Elizabeth Shaffer and Styled with Perfection managed to leave...

Things are in full swing at Fair Hill. More than 100 horses were presented to the ground juries for the two and three star today. Many were on their toes as the autumn breeze kicked up. Riders also took the opportunity to don their fall fashions; as colorful scarves and boots were the theme for the ladies and the guys took the chance to dust off their corduroys and blazers. The horses also looked nicely clipped and turned-out to the nines! Last Minute Preps Before Jogging My traveling companion...

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....

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy win the High Performance Hunters Reserve Championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Photo By: Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. Buffalo, NY - SBS Farms returned home yesterday from the prestigious Capital Challenge Horse Show held in Marlboro, MD. The event has seen some of the most respected riders of the industry showing for the top honors in the competitive hunter divisions. SBS Farms' professional rider and trainer Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy captured...