Winners in Rome (Courtesy FEI ) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – The US Show Jumping squad bounced back with a valiant effort, winning the second leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Rome, Italy. Chef d’Equipe, George Morris continues to build a show jumping empire with the US. After winning back-to-back Olympic Gold medals in 2004 and 2008, Morris brought a team of mixed experience to Rome and dominated the nine other nations to finish on a two round total of 4 faults. The French...

Las Vegas, NV – 44 riders from 22 nations went to task this evening in the Thomas & Mack Arena, 12 of them American. By the time the music died down and the last pair of feet landed on the arena floor, it was the reigning Rolex FEI World Cup champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly who proved to be the fastest in the First Leg of the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final: the Speed Class. Again. The German pair were quickest by just less than a second with a time of 56.48. “I thought the...

Todd Minkus and Pavoratti (Darren Reeves) Lexington, KY – The US Show Jumpers continued their winning ways, storming to victory in the prestigious BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows Masters CSIO5* in Calgary, Canada. The American squad of Lauren Hough, Todd Minikus, Richard Spooner and Rich Fellers finished on four faults, leaving them clear of The Netherlands, Canada and Germany who all finished on eight. George Morris, who led Team USA to Gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong...

From an FEI Press Release ‘s-Hertogenbosch , The Netherlands - “To me this was top of the bill. This was a top final at a top venue with a top field of competitors doing top performances,” Ground Jury President Jan Peeters complimented. Probably the highest standard field ever to compete in the 23rd FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. After the Grand Prix as a warming up test won by Isabell Werth, Anky van Grunsven scored her ninth FEI World Cup™ Dressage victory, her...

Diana DeRosa (Karen O'Connor aboard Theodore O'Connor (left) lead the Gold-medal U.S. team in eventing at the 2007 Pan American Games.) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—Going into the third and final day of the eventing portion of the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the top three riders (all member of Team USA) were separated by less than two points. With all the remaining U.S. horses passing the final horse inspection, the U.S. support team had a busy afternoon on Sunday, July 22,...

The American Horse Council (AHC) will host the 2007 National Issues Forum June 17-20 in Washington, DC. This is an exciting opportunity for the AHC to bring together industry experts and participants to discuss important national equine issues. The general session on Tuesday, June 19, will feature key seminars, including: Disease Control: Who’s Really Responsible?— Equine diseases have dramatically affected racing, showing, breeding, sales and the movement of horses over the last two years....

Amy Dragoo (Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor stand on a score of 48.2 heading into Sunday's show jumping phase.) Nearly 47,000 people turned out for a spectacular day of cross-country at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam. A variation of last year’s course greeted horses and riders, and at the end of a tumultuous day, Kristin Bachman, riding in only her second four-star on her own Gryffindor found herself on top of a very classy heap of horses and riders with a...

Brian Sosby (The Thomas and Mack Center on the UNLV campus.) Riders from around the world have gathered to battle it out for the World Cup titles in dressage and show jumping at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Thomas and Mack Center, and they are certainly ready to take to the stage. But before the curtain rises on the horses and riders, there was some unexpected news that could potentially shake up the final standings in the dressage competition. Out of the...

Lexington, KY—Once again, the USEF is offering the continuation of the successful Outreach Grant Program. This has been a valuable assistance to financially challenged breed shows that applied in 2006. Competitions must meet certain prerequisites and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. A total of $125,000 has been budgeted of 2007. Each grant request will be evaluated by the National Affiliates staff with final approval by the Executive offices. An approved grant of up...

Tracey Winter and her 13-year old Trakehner gelding Martailo won top honors at the recent GAIG/USDF Region Three Dressage Championships when they were awarded the tri-colored neck ribbon for the grand prix championship. This coveted win would be an exceptional victory for any dressage competitor, but for this pair, the victory was the culmination of a dream that spanned more than a decade. Winter acquired Martailo as a weanling and has trained the gelding herself over the past 13 years. Before...