SAUGERTIES, NY (June 11, 2005)—The Rolex/USEF $30,000 Intermediate Match, the second leg of the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship was won by Jimmy Torano riding Marcel, an eleven-year-old, 17H, chestnut, Belgian Warmblood gelding. Torano took second place in the first leg of the Championship, and his first place finish on Friday puts him at the top of the standings going into the last round. The Grand Finale of the Championship will take place on Sunday, June 12, when...

Diana DeRosa (Kim Frey and Marlou during the first round of jumping at the 2005 World Cup.) Las Vegas, NV – Amidst the fabulous Las Vegas spectacle of fireworks, a laser show, jumbo-tron videos and even an opening musical act, it was shaping up to be a German jump-fest on April 21 until Belgium’s Ludo Philipaerts, on the grey stallion Parco, and Kimberly Frey of the U.S, on her consistent Dutch mare Marlou, showed up to throw down a challenge late in the evening. The first to go...

Riders from Germany, Canada and Mexico will be competing against some 300 U.S. entries at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials, Temecula, CA, April 1-3, 2005. The FEI World Cup Qualifier (CIC***-W) has a strong field of 16 riders, including Natalie Rooney Pitts, of Napa, CA, who finished eighth at last year’s qualifier with Aladdin to make the finals. Lauren Whitlock, of Rohnert Park, CA, who came fifth aboard Kipling last year will also be back, as will James Moore who, in 2004,...

Dressage with the Expert will be offered at the 2005 Las Vegas World Cup, featuring FEI “O” Judge, Cara Whitham. Dressage with the Expert is a fascinating way to “eavesdrop” on the comments an expert might make about the performance of riders and horses while they are actually competing. It is a great way to gain a better understanding of this majestic sport. Whitham has judged all over the world and knows these horses and riders well. Headsets are available to hear a running commentary on each...

The Zada Enterprises, LLC, Florida Dressage Classic ended on a high note on Sunday, February 20, as spectators were treated to more than 20 musical freestyles performances. The $2,000 Grand Prix Musical Freestyle class drew a huge crowd and Leslie Morse’s winning ride on Kingston garnered almost unprecedented enthusiasm from the spectators. The dynamic ride to the Pirates of the Caribbean tune, "The Curse of the Black Pearl" was perfectly suited to Kingston, who seemed as pumped up as the crowd....

Lexington, KY —As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2004 Equestrians of Honor. Of these seven honorees, one will be selected by the USEF membership, as the 2004 USEF Equestrian of the Year. On-line voting begins today, and all members in good standing are invited to log on to www.usef.org to cast their votes. Just click on the “Equestrian of the Year” icon on the right side of our homepage. The seven finalists...

Barbara Kearney's G.G. Valentine and two-time World Championship Hunter Rider Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, finished their show season as winners at the 2004 Syracuse Invitational Horse Show. Held at the OnStar Center in Syracuse, NY. for the second time, the best riders came to compete from throughout North America. Alfano and G.G. Valentine took home the Working Hunter Championship to cap off their extraordinary 2004 season. "G.G. was just super for me," stated Alfano, 36. "She is one of...

Allyson Blais and Rocca K were the first of four to go clean over a tough, twisting course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. The pair went on to top of the field of 30 in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Jumper Finals, held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. “The first course was very difficult. You would think you were turning right and you would have to turn left,” explained Blais, 16, who went third in the order and was followed by numerous knockdowns,...

Gladstone, NJ – After two days of rigorous testing, topped off with a final-four ride-off, 16-year-old Brianne Goutal surpassed even her own expectations with a well-earned, but nonetheless, surprise victory. “I was never expecting to get into the top four,” Goutal says. “I asked my trainer before the last round what score I would need and she wouldn’t give me an answer. She just said ‘ride well.’” And ride well, she did. Give her a few years, and...

Gladstone, New Jersey—March 20, 2002—Zane Haverty and Brittany Franks are now tied for the lead in the USET Young Rider Reining Medal Standings, with 95 points each. The top twenty point-earners in the final standings will be invited to compete in the USET Young Rider Reining Medal Championship at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, Presented by State Line Tack, in Gladstone, NJ, June 19-23, 2002. Franks, of Franklin, TN, won her third USET Young Rider Reining Medal Qualifier at...