I really like the combination of World Cup Finals and a venue like Las Vegas. I like what each does to elevate the other; the World Cup Finals bringing sophistication, world-class competition and the best equestrian has to offer, to Vegas. Vegas lending its style, flair and showmanship to the Finals. The athletes love it. The fans love it. And they're hoping the tradition will continue, despite a struggling economy. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but by the looks of it, I...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented by the following Horse/Rider combinations at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final to be held April 15-19, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. Riders listed in the order in which they qualified. East Coast: Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Kent Farrington/27/Chicago, IL/ Up Chiqui/11/Belgian Warmblood/G/Alex Boone & Craig Dobbs McLain Ward/33/Brewster, NY/Sapphire/14/Belgian Warmblood/M/McLain Ward, Tom...

Manerbio, Italy – It was a close finish but with a total of 667.5 points Team Italy took the gold medal in the very first FEI World Reining Championship on Friday, September 12. Team USA took the silver medal with 663.5 points closely followed by Team Germany which finished only a point behind the United States. Sixteen countries were represented in the World Reining Championship and in order to determine who would step on the podium for the bronze medal, reining enthusiasts had to wait...

Norwood, NC - There were no ribbons and no winners, but today was as important as any competition day in the lives of the 10 horses preparing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in Eventing. The horses, along BallyNoe Castle RM (Mike McNally) with five who have been preparing in England, are on the USEF Short List for Eventing, from which the Team for the 2008 Olympic Games will be selected on Monday. The Fork Stables graciously opened its gates to the USEF to allow the horses and riders a...

The tally has just begun, and your votes will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. Merely weeks away from the 2008 USEF Annual Meeting, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar Brentina (2005...

Phillip Dutton and The Foreman (Photo by Shannon Brinkman ) Elkton, MD – The competition continued on Sunday as numerous USEF National Championships were up for grabs at the Fair Hill International CCI***. Phillip Dutton won for the fourth time, but this was the first time that the U.S. national anthem was played in his honor. Riding The Foreman, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Ann Jones, Dutton won the USEF National Eventing Championships on a score of 46.4, adding one rail...

Elkton, MD – The weather blew through the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday night and cross country/ marathon day at the USEF National Championships at the Dansko Fair Hill International boasted perfect conditions and terrain. Phillip Dutton, the overnight leader in the CCI*** Championships had to wait until the very end of the day to maintain his lead with Ann Jones’ The Foreman and put on a cross country clinic with the 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. The Foreman, who won the event...

Diana DeRosa (Lauren Hough and Casadora lead the American effort after Day One of show jumping.) Rio de Janeiro—Some 47 Pan American Games show jumpers entered the arena at Deodoro Stadium outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday morning to begin the first of two days of team competition. Leading the way for Team USA was rider Lauren Hough aboard Casadora. The last of the four to go was Todd Minikus and Pavarotti. Team USA ended the day in a surprising overall fourth place after the...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 38 USDF members successfully completed the USDF “L” Education Program from August to November 2006. The USDF “L” Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) “r” Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The...

Bob Langrish (Steffen Peters aboard Floriano finished in fourth place in the grand prix special during Friday's dressage competition in Aachen.) (Aachen, Germany)—To say it was tough competition today in the dressage grand prix special at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) would be a gross understatement. But two Americans made it look like a walk in the park. American’s Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters, who are now both poised to enter a showdown among the top 15 dressage...