Mandiba and Karen O'Connor (Shannon Brinkman ) Lexington, KY – The first half of the field in the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone took to the dressage ring today under the looming threat of rain. It never really materialized but it was a sharp reminder that the glorious weather of the past weeks is coming to a close. Rolex and a little bit of rain has become a tradition. Of the first group, Olympic veteran and three-time winner, Karen O’Connor was the best of the...

Tracey Winter and Martailo Win Draper Equine Therapy Sponsored Grand Prix Special at Gold Coast Grand Finale I Tracey Winter, who owns Tranquility Dressage in Wellington, FL, turned in another consistent ride at the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Grand Finale I show, winning the Grand Prix Special on her long-time partner Martailo. Draper Equine Therapy, makers of therapeutic horse and rider products featuring the innovative “smart fiber” textile Celliant™/Holofiber®, sponsored Winter’s...

Photo by Michelle Dunn (Miksls Munter Gundersen on Leonbrg) Lexington, KY - Yesterday Mikala Munter Gundersen experienced the drama inherent in competition. The Danish rider had to cut her warm-up for the Grand Prix short because Leonberg's bit was rubbing his lips, and her groom had to run back to the barn to get another one. Her sixth-placed finish in the Grand Prix was the result. Today, though, Gundersen had plenty of time to progressively prepare her German Warmblood for his test, and she...

Photo by MDunnPhoto.com (Tina Konyot on Calecto V.) Lexington, KY - Tina Konyot, of Palm City, FL, and her stallion Calecto V scored 70.63% to top a field of 25 in today's Kentucky Cup Grand Prix. The Kentucky Cup is the test event for the dressage World Championships that will be one of the eight competitions at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Belinda Trussell, of Newmarket, Ontario, finished second on Anton (70.21%), and Bonny Bonnello, of Calgary, Alberta, finished third on...

Lexington, KY and Geneva, Switzerland - The Ground Jury of the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzerland disqualified US jumping horse, Sapphire; in the early hours of April 17 (CEST) after her runner-up finish in the second leg of the competition with rider McLain Ward. The grounds for disqualification was hypersensitivity of the horse's leg. Sapphire was selected for hypersensitivity testing before she jumped in the class and according to the FEI Press Release: Following the...

The Kentucky Cup Jumping Test Event will feature some of the biggest stars in the sport. The test event, to be held April 19-22 in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, is in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). The 2010 WEG will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25-October 10, marking the first time that equestrian sport's biggest event is being held outside Europe. Beezie Madden heads the list of entries to test the show jumping venue...

It was with speed and grace that Jeffery Welles was able to capture Saturday night's victory with his top mount, Armani, during a three-horse jump-off. The pair raced through the finish line in 44.36 seconds after completing a clear short course during the 2010 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm at Raymond James Stadium. Peter Leone tried to catch his time with Select, who also left all the rails intact, but the duo's time of 44.87 seconds would fall just short...

The 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which kicks off with preliminary classes at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva tomorrow (Wednesday), has been blown wide open by the late withdrawal of Ireland's Jessica Kuerten. When three-times champion Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who gave birth to her first baby just six weeks ago, confirmed last week that she will not defend the title, then Kuerten's position as long-time favorite was further strengthened. But the Irish rider who topped...

The inaugural $5,000 American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF) World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Handy Hunter Classic was well received and was a highlight event on April 3rd at the Tampa Bay Classic held at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Samantha Schaefer and Bishonen, owned by Mariana Wade, led the field from start to finish winning out of a field of the top professional, emerging professional, amateur-owner, and junior hunter riders with her two-round total of 171. In her first round...

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to an end on Sunday, April 4, and Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is proud to congratulate all of the Circuit Champions for the 2010 season. ESP is also thrilled with the many accomplishments that were made throughout the 2010 season and look forward to continued improvements during the summer months to make the 2011 Winter Equestrian Festival an unparalleled equestrian destination. Throughout the 12 weeks of competition, almost $6 million...