Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello.) The summer season arrived early with plenty of sunshine and blue skies to kick off two weeks of heated competition at the Georgia International Horse Park. “This has been some start-up week—great weather, exciting competition, and new class debuts!” said Bob Bell, president of the Classic Company. Week one was designated a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) event and as such hosted both the United States HUnter Jumper...

The sun over Hansen Dam shone on a packed parking lot and a whole crowd of smiling faces for the fourth in the Verdugo Hills/Lake View show series May 15-16. The momentum has been building in these shows over the year, and last weekend’s large turnout made for a great weekend of competition. “The weather was perfect for this show weekend, and it was so nice to see so many trailers in the parking lot and a significant increase in the amount of entries,” said trainer Sandrine Seifert of D&D...

The 2009 title-holders from France hold the lead as the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series moves to Rome this week where the host country makes a guest appearance on home ground. This brings the total of competing nations to 11 for the second leg of the prestigious eight-round tournament which concludes at Dublin in early August. And it promises to raise the competitive temperature considerably, as Italy is already making a spirited comeback to the top level of team sport through good results...

The Polish team, complete newcomers to the top-level of nations cup jumping, are drawn first to go in the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series which kicks off at La Baule in France tomorrow afternoon. And with four of the 10 competing countries due to be relegated at the end of this season all the Chefs d'Equipe were in complete agreement about one thing during this afternoon's draw press conference - this is going to be a very tough season indeed. The order of go for tomorrow's first leg is as...

Chester Weber Goes for Eight (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL, – The Live Oak International sponsored by US Trust kicked off with the FEI dressage on Thursday, and two USEF National Driving Championships bookended the six FEI divisions at the premiere event. Held at Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, it is one of the featured events on the US calendar and showcased 40 of the best drivers in the United States. The USEF National Single Horse Championship got the morning started and Leslie...

Richard Spooner and Cristallo (Randi Muster/Mustphoto.com ) Wellington, FL – More than halfway home in the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and clear rounds are at a premium. McLain Ward and Rothchild won the Third Selection Trial presented by Fidelity Investments with the fastest time, but Richard Spooner found himself on top of the Selection Trials standings after a masterful round in blustery conditions with Cristallo....

Capt. Mark Phillips (Photo USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - At the conclusion of 2012 the US Eventing Program will undergo a significant change. After 20 years, Capt. Mark Phillips has announced his retirement as Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor following the London Olympic Games to "give someone else the opportunity to put their stamp on the program." To date, Capt. Phillips has led the Eventing Team to 23 Team and Individual medals during his time at the helm of the program. Highlights...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Holiday Fundraiser presented by SUCCEED® and Wellington Classic Dressage will be held on December 11-12 (6-10 p.m. both evenings) at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The fundraiser will feature a combination of clinics, fun demonstrations, team competitions and many holiday surprises from some of the top horses and riders in the country. Along with the exciting equestrian performances, the holiday gala will feature a catered VIP dinner and...

The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) honored top individuals, horses and organizations at the annual awards banquet held at the International Conference in Fort Collins, CO, at Colorado State University on October 10. Clinic Instructor of the Year Clinic instructors are the CHA Master Level Instructors that are clinic staff and certify instructors for CHA throughout North America. At the end of each clinic, participants write evaluations of the clinic staff. It is from these evaluations...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The dressage riders temporarily reclaimed the ring from the show jumpers tonight at Sha Tin and although Germany continued to rule… the Americans put in an impressive showing. Two US riders were in the fold and Steffen Peters and Ravel (who is owned by Aikiko Yamazaki) were first of the pair in the ring. Their test was brilliant, with no mistakes, Peters did a masterful job in the piaffe and passage and guided the...