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...

In grand style and competing against the best reiners in the world, champion reiner Shawn Flarida of Springfield, OH, broke into the elite Two Million Dollar Rider Club Saturday night at the FEI World Reining Masters Finals in Denver, CO. Flarida became only the second rider in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history to earn this incredible distinction. He competed against riders from 18 different countries at the Masters Finals earning the Gold medal. Flarida scored 223.5 riding...

Ten million dollars in equine research funding is needed to unlock the mysteries of the devastating equine disease known as laminitis, announced the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation, Inc. The life-threatening injury to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and the subsequent development of laminitis in the horse’s left hind foot has highlighted the prevalence and severity of the disease, which affects horses around the globe. Members of the AAEP have identified laminitis...

Smith Lilly and his gifted mount, He’s The Man (CH Man On The Town X Perfect), were the judges’ unanimous winners of the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship in Louisville’s Freedom Hall on Saturday evening, August 26. Having won the Five-Gaited Gelding Stake earlier in the week, the pair wowed the audience from the moment they came into the arena, with the trademark Louisville roar growing with every pass down a straightaway. In his comments to the show ring announcer, Smith was appreciative...

The atmosphere at the Piazza di Siena, located in the parklands of the lovely Villa Borghese in the heart of the Italian capital, is very laid back indeed - except for the tension in the air over tomorrow's third leg of the Samsung Super League with FEI Nations Cup series - and it's the British that just about everyone's talking about. They are looking good and when Chef d'Equipe Derek Ricketts was asked today about their chances he said "yes, they're up for it - I think they should do well...

Matthew Williams of Lexington, KY, development manager of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, has been promoted to the new position of director of development and communications, effective immediately, according to Alan F. Balch, ASHA Executive Secretary. “Since Matthew joined us not quite a year ago now, his performance has been exceptional,” Balch said. “He was a champion in the Saddlebred show ring, and he’s been a champion in his professional life with us as well. Although we’re...

Alison Hartwell/Phelps Media Group (Laura Kraut on Miss Independent) Wellington, FL – At the completion of the World Equestrian Games Selection Trials, the gutsy Margie Engle owns the top two spots based on the placings after five trials, despite only placing fourth and fifth in Trial #4 and fourth in Trial #5. Engle placed first overall after all five trials on Quervo Gold with only 11 faults and second overall on Hidden Creek’s Wapino with only 17 faults. Two of the ten total...