On Saturday, the best horses and riders from the hunter divisions competed for the top prize in the $15,000 WIHS Hunter Classic Derby at the Washington International Horse Show. After two rounds of competition it was Scott Stewart, of Ocala, FL, and Way Cool that led the victory gallop after they earned a total score of 170.9. Earlier in the day the Washington Pony Equitation Classic Finals were held, with Madeyln Keck and Tango receiving the top call and earning the blue ribbon. The champions...

Lexington, KY - After a day that tested the will and stamina of some of the world’s best endurance athletes, it proved to be a clean sweep of the medals podium in both the two-star and three-star endurance competitions in the 2009 Kentucky Cup Endurance race. The event, held at the Kentucky Horse Park and neighboring farms, served as the test events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In the 100-mile ride (that was shortened to 75 miles due to inclement weather and deteriorating...

As every breeder has experienced, the process of breeding mares and raising foals has many highs and lows. So when those moments of success arrive, it is important to savor them. Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited, had 48 hours to remember when four of her young stallions earned prestigious accolades. Homebred Pikko del Cerro HU won the 2009 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship-Six-Year-Old. Two days later at the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International (RPSI) inspection,...

One of the great things about any national show is that you get to meet people from all over the country. You get to see friends you only see once a year, or perhaps friends you've talked to online but never met in person. I'm facebook friends with all kinds of people I don't know at all, simply because we have mutual friends and interests. Some of them are pretty well known, so I always wonder if they think I'm some sort of weird Internet stalker. I'm not! I swear! Can I...

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....