Alicen Divita (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - The U.S. effort at the 2013 CHIO Aachen kicks off Friday as vaulters take center stage at the historic German venue. The United States will be represented by six athletes across three divisions in CVIO3* competition held June 20-23. Alicen Divita, Elizabeth Ioannou, and Mary Garrett will look to earn top Individual Female honors, while in Individual Male competition Kristian Roberts is the sole U.S. representative. In Pas de Deux competition,...

Sonoma, CA - Chelsea Jones exceeded her own expectations on Saturday evening by finishing 1-2 in the $15,000 Stübben Grand Prix during the Sonoma Horse Park’s HMI June Classic. The 26-year-old young professional qualified for the jumpoff aboard both her mounts, but with five other strong pairs joining her for the second round, she knew that the jumpoff wouldn’t be a cakewalk. So it was much to her surprise when the cards fell in her favor – not once, but twice. Early in...

A couple weeks ago a friend and I attended a WSH Dressage Show halfway across the state to ride the NAWD tests. The weather was gorgeous, the drive uneventful, the horses well behaved. The show was at a beautiful facility, with a qualified judge I trust to evaluate our western dressage horses. My stallion was perfectly behaved even in the warm-up area with the little ponies and their tiny children. Sounds like a perfect horse show weekend huh? It was, but for one thing. I was confused! For the...

Cannes, France - Laura Kraut entetred the GCT Grand Prix CSI5* in Cannes on Saturday one point back of the GCT Championship rankings lead. After a four fault effort over two rounds with Jubilee d'Ouilly and a top ten finish, Kraut is now back on top with 132 points. She lost the top ranking to Portugal's Luciana Diniz in London one week ago, but with the dust settling in Cannes is now 8-points ahead of Germany's Christian Ahlmann. Only five combinations jumped clear in the first...

Kent Farrington and Uceko (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – The biggest prize money purse on offer at the 'National' Tournament was in today's $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W 5*, and it was Kent Farrington (USA) who took home the winner's share for the second year in a row with Uceko. Reed Kessler (USA) Cylana finished second, while Charlie Jacobs (USA) and Flaming Star were third. Earlier in the day, Ashlee Bond (USA) sped to victory in the $60,000...

Lauren Hough & Ohlala (Stefano Grasso/Longines GCT) London, England - The 4th leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour is officially underway in England, with a full-list of international equestrian talent right here in London. Lauren Hough, representing the USA, went early on the 1.50 Massimo Dutti Prix aboard the slight but very fast, Ohlala. A horse Lauren had great success with this winter in Florida, this combination took no one by surprise with their early lead. "She's a very...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – The 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments began Wednesday, and riding on new turf footing, riders contested four FEI-level competitions. For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One...

Victoria Colvin (The Book LLC) Devon, PA - The final day of Devon was off to a beautiful start; the sun was shining, a nice breeze was blowing, and spectators lined the stands waiting for the first Hunter Derby rider to enter the in-gate. The ring was filled with hunter-style jumps--natural wood, shrubbery, a crisp hedge roll top, and numerous branches decorated a series of obstacles. The Derby is a unique set of classes, with fences set to different heights so riders can chose the high of low...

Buenos Dias, Julie Wolfert, and Buenos Aires Parker, CO - Julie Wolfert, the leader after the first two phases in the CCI* and Open Intermediate divisions at the Colorado Horse Park CCI*, Training 3-Day and Horse Trials, stayed consistent in Sunday's show jumping and claimed victory in both divisions. Solid rounds with Buenos Dias in the CCI* and Buenos Aires in Open Intermediate secured her the double wins. Wolfert had a single knockdown with each horse, but excellent dressage scores on...

Julie Wolfert and Buenos Dias Parker, CO - Many competitors had rave reviews for cross-country day at the Colorado Horse Park's CCI*/Training Three-Day/Horse Trials, but Julie Wolfert had more reasons than most to be happy. Wolfert turned in three double-clear cross-country rounds to cement her lead in the CCI* with Buenos Dias, taking over the lead in Open Intermediate with Buenos Aires, and moving up a notch from fifth to fourth in Novice Horse with Vindicated. "She was fantastic,"...