Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening. The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream...

Online store continues to raise funds and awareness in support of injured dressage star. The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store is now featuring new helmet wearing campaign t-shirts, designed by Jeri Bryant, a single mom and dressage fan based in southern California. The t-shirts feature the slogan “Strap One On—Everyone’s Doing It” in an eye-catching graphic treatment. The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store was established last month by King-Dye’s long-time sponsor Succeed®...

The roster of horses at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, reads a bit like this, “16-hand Thoroughbred gelding, 17-hand Thoroughbred-cross, 17.1-hand Irish Sport Horse, 17-hand Selle Francais, 16.3-hand Oldenburg, 16.1-hand Holsteiner, etc.” It paints a picture of a sport dominated by Thoroughbreds, Sport Horses, and Warmbloods. But one Half-Arabian gelding is also making his mark in the top levels of three-day eventing. Technically he is an...

Kim Severson Leads the Way with Tipperary Liadhnan (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - The gamble with the weather paid off on cross country day at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone and the Organizing Committee was rewarded for their efforts and cancellation of the lunch break with a sunny cross country phase. The storms loomed toward the end of the day, but the competition went off unscathed and Great Britain's William Fox-Pitt held on to his lead with a text book...

Holly Hudspeth is no stranger to the Kentucky Horse Park or the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. However, more than one person might be questioning who Mrs. Hudspeth was, as this is a relatively new surname to eventing. Many spectators this weekend know this tall blonde as Holly Hepp. Holly completed the 4* in 2002, 2003 and 2004 with Lester Piggot and did double duty in 04 completing with Damian as well. Also on her resume is representing the US at the 2003 Pan American Games with Lester Piggot....

Photo by mdunnphoto.com ((l-r) Chris von Martels, Tina Konyot and Jacqueline Brooks) Lexington, KY - Sashaying in to KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and The Cherry Tree," Tina Konyot's big black horse Calecto V showed their partnership has reached new heights with a decisive win in the 2010 Kentucky Cup CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 76.25%. Chris von Martels on Naomi (70.20%) rode into second place, with Jacqueline Brooks on Balmoral close behind in third (67.35%). "It was great fun [out...

McLain Ward and Sapphire Look to go One Better in 2010 (Shannon Brinkman/ USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - With 10 riders representing the United States at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (April 15-18), the American assault on Geneva looks very strong. Led by 2009 runner-up McLain Ward and his legendary Sapphire, the 34-year-old will look to go one better in Switzerland than they did in Las Vegas one year ago. Fortunately, they won't have the fleet-footed Shutterfly to chase as the defending...

The FEI is to freeze the Rolex Rankings points for jumping riders on maternity leave, starting with the April Rankings issued on March 31 . Under the new system, female riders will now lose only 50% of their Rolex Rankings points during their absence from competition while on maternity leave. The new ruling means that former world number one Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum moves up from 31st on the March Rolex Rankings to 20th following the reinstatement of 50% of her points. The German rider, who...

I spent last night stuck in Orlando and then Charlotte before finally getting home well after 2 am. Tornadoes ripped through North Carolina and there were a lot of stranded people. It was very encouraging that it was all over the news in the airport. I could have been stuck in Ocala at my lovely friend Max's house. She was kind enough to let me stay while I was at Live Oak, she works for Karen O'Connor, and lives on their wonderful farm, so I had it pretty good for 5 days. I paid for it by...

Chester Weber Goes for Eight (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL, – The Live Oak International sponsored by US Trust kicked off with the FEI dressage on Thursday, and two USEF National Driving Championships bookended the six FEI divisions at the premiere event. Held at Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, it is one of the featured events on the US calendar and showcased 40 of the best drivers in the United States. The USEF National Single Horse Championship got the morning started and Leslie...