Temecula, Calif. – The Galway Downs International CCI3* got underway Friday afternoon with the dressage phase. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients are off to a solid start in the competition with Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett and Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman both in the top 12. Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook's Scarlett (Captured Moment Photography) Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Meadowbrook's Scarlett laid down a lovely test with a few minor bobbles to...

Conor Swail and Viva Colombia (SEL Photography) Lexington, Ky. - October 10, 2015 - On a tremendous Day Two at the Split Rock Jumping Tour's Bourbon International, Conor Swail made it two-for-two when he picked up the win in the $35,000 Amalaya CSI3* Speed Cup. Thirty-five horses vied for the top prize over a 1.45m course where not only speed was needed to go clean. FEI course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio set a technical track with some light jumps and stride options, and less than half...

I met Jan Ebeling in 2003, when he was a clinician at Larkspur in Littleton, MA. While riding in the clinic and observing him work with the other riders, I was impressed with his professionalism and brilliant teaching methods. He encouraged everyone to see the importance of the basic building blocks of dressage, such as straightness and rhythm, and how they related to a perfect shoulder-in and ultimately to the Levels. Jan focuses on the theories of classical dressage. While I still wanted to...

Stellenbosch, South Africa – The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Travel Team made the trek to Africa to compete in the 2015 South Africa Saddle Seat Invitational at the Mistico Equestrian Centre, September 16-19. The 11 U.S. athletes delivered fantastic performances against nine of South Africa’s top saddle seat equitation riders. Under the guidance of coaches Kelly Kraegel (Guthrie, Okla.) and Sarah Lawson (Rockport, Ind.) and assisted by 2012 Saddle Seat Gold Medal coach Kristen...

North Salem, NY - It was a perfect day at Old Salem Farm as the 2015 American Gold Cup got underway with some of the world's top athletes competing on the Grand Prix Field. With record entries, the highlight event of the day, the $8,000 Douglas Elliman FEI Open Jumper speed class was separated into two sections. Abigail McArdle with Cosma 20 and Heather Caristo-Williams aboard Wistful each picked up victories after clocking in under the 56 second mark. Rounding out the day, Ireland's...

Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice president of Longines (second left), and Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Cohen presented a Longines timepiece to Paul O'Shea, winner of the $40,000 Longines Cup at the Hampton Classic. (McMillen photo) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Paul O'Shea of Ireland recovered from what seemed a devastating crash in Friday's grand prix to win the $40,000 Longines Cup on Skara Glen's Dolphin on Saturday. His faultless jump-off round, in 41.52 seconds, handily...

Isaiah Forte won the LIHSSRD Walk With Aids Academy Class at the 40th annual Hampton Classic. (Classic Communications) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - For the 10th consecutive year, the Hampton Classic hosted the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities on Monday, with riders in three divisions competing for year-end titles. The 40th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show runs Aug. 23-30, in Bridgehampton, N.Y. The Hampton Classic features world-class equestrian...

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM on their way to winning Richland Park CIC3*. (USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo) Buck Davidson was all about the scoring predictions this weekend and once again he was right, knowing he could have a little bit of time on Ian Stark’s cross-country course and still bring home the blue ribbon. This is the second time that Davidson and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Ballynoe Castle RM have won the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3*...

Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is sad to report the passing of Karen Stives on August 14, 2015. Karen passed away peacefully at her home in Dover, Massachusetts after a long illness. Karen has been heavily involved with the USET Foundation for two decades, serving as a Trustee from 1989-2002 and a member of the National Advisory Committee from 2003 - present. In 2014, Karen established the Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund for High Performance Eventing with a $1...

Aachen, Germany – Competition got underway Thursday at the Aachen CICO3* with the top-notch field of 43 combinations performing both the dressage and show jumping phases at the massive German venue. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team put forth a solid effort and sits in fifth place at the end of day one. In the dressage phase, Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica had a lovely test highlighted by excellent trot work. She and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood...