Diana DeRosa (Christopher Hickey and Regent in Rio de Janeiro) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—When most people think of Rio, sunshine comes quickly to mind. However, that was not the case today at Deodoro Stadium and the National Equestrian Center outside of the city. Clouds, the threat of rain showers and cooler temperatures loomed, but it was a rather bright day for the hopes of the American dressage riders as all three of them competed in the first of two rounds that will determine the...

Steffen Peters finished fourth yesterday in the grand prix special with a 75.200%, just out of the medals. They finished sixth tonight in the musical freestyle on a score of 78.600%. (Bob Langrish) Crowds were spilling out of the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Saturday, with record crowds jamming not only the dressage freestyle, but the cross-country course, as well as the show grounds. Across the day, more than 44,000 fans of eventing were on-hand; 40,000 tickets were sold (and 60,000 were on...

Lexington, KY – After the excitement of being in the Bronze Medal position after the dressage phase in the three-phased 2005 FEI World Driving Championship Pairs in Wals-Siezenheim, Austria, fate turned the other way for a moment, leaving the U.S. Driving Team to finish seventh out of 18 teams competing. Combining penalty scores from the dressage, cones and marathon phases, Austria’s home team was destined to win, with a final score of 248.58. “We put on a really good...

USEF Archive (Devon Maitozo, 2005 Men’s National Champion) Denver, CO – In a crowd-capturing performance, vaulting’s revered Devon Maitozo, of Simi Valley, California, once again claimed the right to the golden title, as Men’s National Champion, at the 2005 USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championships in Denver, Colorado, August 11-14. Vaulting atop Mozart, a Warmblood gelding, longed by Carolyn Bland and owned by FACE Vaulters, Maitozo performed his technical test to John...

Lexington, KY – When the world’s most talented show jumpers converge on Las Vegas, April 20-24, Nicole Simpson, of Thousand Oaks, California, will be among them. Following her third-place performance on El Campeon’s So Long at the $75,000 Ultimate Equine Grand Prix in Indio, California, February 27, Simpson’s ticket to the Entertainment Capital of the World has essentially been purchased. Leading a group of more than 30 equestrian hopefuls in the West Coast League,...

Event: HITS Arizona Winter Horse Show Circuit What: Six-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit produced by Horse Shows In The Sun, Inc. Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson, AZ When: Wednesday through Sunday, 2005 show dates are: February 2-6 - Sundance Welcome February 9-13 - Kachina Classic February 16-20 - Tucson Winter Classic February 23-27 - Sahuaro Classic March 2-6 - Arizona Winter Festival March 9-13 - Arizona Desert Finals In Brief: The six-week Arizona Winter Circuit has been a...

Gladstone, NJ – After two days of rigorous testing, topped off with a final-four ride-off, 16-year-old Brianne Goutal surpassed even her own expectations with a well-earned, but nonetheless, surprise victory. “I was never expecting to get into the top four,” Goutal says. “I asked my trainer before the last round what score I would need and she wouldn’t give me an answer. She just said ‘ride well.’” And ride well, she did. Give her a few years, and...

John Pearce and Johnny B Good (Flying Horse Photography) Parker, CO -John Pearce had a winning week at the Colorado Horse Park during Summer in the Rockies II. First clinching the victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake and then again during the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix when he finished first and second. Twenty-two talented pairs faced the challenging Danny Foster course, but only three turned in phenomenal, clear, first-round performances....

Kim Vanderveen earned the top prize money in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix during week six of the Colorado Summer Circuit (Photo: Flying Horse Photography). Parker, CO — Kristen Vanderveen made her trip from Wellington, FL, worthwhile when she capped three weeks in Colorado with a win in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. The six-week Colorado Summer Circuit ended with a bang, complete with Military Appreciation Day, a visit from...

John French and Crown Affair (Flying Horse Photography). Parker, CO — While the Grand Prix horses are always a big draw at any hunter/jumper show, the hunters are getting a lot of attention during the Colorado Summer Circuit. Show manager Pat Boyle not only has great prize money in every division, but he’s created a wonderful, lush platform for the course designers to develop classes that show off the athletic ability and beauty of some of the nation’s finest hunters....