Bob Langrish (Vaulter Megan Benjamin won an Individual Gold medal.) (Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last 30 world championships....

Steffen Peters finished fourth yesterday in the grand prix special with a 75.200%, just out of the medals. They finished sixth tonight in the musical freestyle on a score of 78.600%. (Bob Langrish) Crowds were spilling out of the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Saturday, with record crowds jamming not only the dressage freestyle, but the cross-country course, as well as the show grounds. Across the day, more than 44,000 fans of eventing were on-hand; 40,000 tickets were sold (and 60,000 were on...

(Aachen, Germany)—The United States Equestrian Federation announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games due to a veterinary concern. Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, “Brentina had a slight swelling after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her...

Photo by Bob Langrish (Guenter Seidel and Aragon on the first day of dressage competition.) Aachen, Germany—Europeans know how to do dressage. Each country brought their best to the table today, including their fans. The crowd was filled with foam fingers, waving flags, funny hats and colorful scarves. It looked more like an American football game and sounded like it when certain competitors finished their test and left the stadium. The rain held off, the sun tried unsuccessfully to break...

After four long years of waiting, an anxious equestrian world watched the clock roll down to the moment everyone had their eyes turned to – the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Aachen FEI World Equestrian Games. And while gray skies and wet and windy weather welcomed the crème of the equine world to the picturesque town located in the westernmost corner of one of Europe’s most powerful horse countries, not even a downright deluge could have dampened the excitement and energy that was waiting to...

Governor Donald Carcieri signed into law a bill designed to protect and inform Rhode Islanders who ride horses with equestrian instructors. The bill, introduced in the House by Representative Carol Mumford R-Scituate, mandates any person who holds themselves out to be an equestrian professional and taking compensation for lessons must be certified in first aid. It also mandates equestrian facilities to have on premises and on the trailer during events a fully operational first aid kit. The law...

Marilyn Adams, USEF High-Performance Director of Dressage, and a highly regarded manager for international teams in both show jumping and dressage, has resigned from the USEF effective Tuesday, June 20, for personal reasons. After a highly accomplished career as a young rider in three-day eventing, including international competition, Adams was with the American Horse Show Association (AHSA) in New York prior to joining the USET in 1999 as Assistant Director of Show Jumping Activities, and then...

Gladstone, NJ – Three was the magic number today at the USET Foundation Dressage Festival of Champions. Rebecca Hart won the USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship after she pulled off a hat-trick, winning all three classes three days in a row. Then, in the USEF Grand Prix Special, it was déjà vu with the top three riders in the same placings as Thursday, when they performed their Grand Prix. The third class that makes up the 2006 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National...

Brentina Cup Winner Elisabeth Austin and Olivier (SusanJStickle.com) Gladstone, NJ – The inaugural Brentina Cup was awarded to the winner of the USEF National Young Adult Dressage Championship today as part of the USET Foundation Dressage Festival of Champions. Elisabeth Austin of Williston, VT and her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, Olivier scored a 70.39% on their FEI Intermediaire II test despite it being only his ninth show ever and only his third recognized FEI competition....

Courtney King went six-for-six at the Windy Hollow Hunt Summer I Dressage show, held June 10-11, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. King exhibited three horses in six classes and claimed victory in all six competitions. King’s winning mounts were Harmony’s Wyoming, Jubilant and Idocus. High scores of the show were awarded by level/type and two of King’s mounts earned the high score in their respective divisions--Harmony’s Wyoming earned the Open High Score (79.444%) for first...