Part I We have a green light and Mission Control has pressed the big red, white and blue button. Afterburners have been ignited and phase one of the move to Rio is under way. Ok, so a bunch of Team clothing arrived after we had left, we do not know how we are going to get some 60 bags from USOC Team Processing in Houston to Rio, we are not entirely sure where our containers are in Rio, and the delivery of Coca Cola product to the Venue in Rio didn't go quite as smoothly as we had hoped....

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. The following is part three. Read parts one and two . Kari Klingenberg remembers the first time she saw her 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships mount, Mr. Electric Spark, or “Matt”. The Quarter Horse stallion was three-years old. She was sitting in the stands...

Aachen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team got off to a solid start in Nations Cup competition Thursday at CHIO Aachen. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler , Shelly Francis , Arlene “Tuny” Page , and Steffen Peters turned in strong performances, putting the U.S. in second on a total of 218.414 heading into Saturday’s second and final day of team competition. Germany took a commanding lead of the eight-nation field,...

Aachen, Germany – The U.S. will be represented by combinations in both the CDIO5* and CDI4* at CHIO Aachen this week. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team for the CDIO5* will include Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Shelly Francis , Arlene “Tuny” Page , and Steffen Peters . This competition is the final FEI Nations Cup™ for dressage in the series of six events that began with CDIO3* Wellington in late March. The U.S. is currently just...

The Plains, Va . – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team is in the lead following day one of the first-ever FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition in North America at the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan®. The team of Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Boyd Martin, and Clark Montgomery hold a two-phase lead on a score of 132.3 penalties. Great Britain is second with a score of 157.2 penalties and Canada is third with 171.7 penalties. The FEI Nations Cup™...

Stormy skies did nothing to dampen the spirits of pony enthusiasts as intense championship competition got underway Friday at the popular National Dressage Pony Cup, being held July 8-10, 2016 in Lexington, Ky. Competitors representing 23 different states from Maine to Texas competed in the first of two rounds of classes in pursuit of a stunning array of NDPC awards in Open, Adult Amateur, and Junior/Young Rider divisions, and showed off their pony power at all levels of competition from...

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. Before Troy Heikes and Denise Bixler met, both were at entirely different places in their reining lives. Heikes wanted to cut back, being selective of his clientele. Bixler was losing enthusiasm and love for the sport. Troy Heikes and RSD One Hot Deal competing in the $25,000...

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team placed fifth in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ at CSIO5* Rotterdam on Friday. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and Callan Solem overcame a difficult round one to produce strong efforts in round two. The Netherlands secured the win on their home turf in commanding fashion on zero faults. Switzerland placed second on...

Frank Chapot passed away peacefully on June 20 at the age of 84. Whether it was in life or through the sport of show jumping, Chapot gave it his all. As a husband, father, friend, teammate, coach, and competitor, Chapot left Frank Chapot and Good Twist (Show Jumping Hall of Fame) an abiding mark on the sport and on those who knew him. For five decades, Chapot played an instrumental role on the U.S. Show Jumping Team. After winning the renowned Maclay Championship in 1947 at the junior level,...

Chris Pratt and Concorde (McCool) San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - On a pretty Southern California afternoon, thirty-eight entries rode the track set by FEI course designer Anderson Lima in the $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.40m Grand Prix. With nine clean, fourth to go in the jump-off, Chris Pratt aboard Epic Group LLC's Concorde, couldn't be beat. Lima (BRA) had two goals with the 1.40m track he set today - one to challenge the open riders in the class and the second to test the Young Riders...