Aurora, Colo. - The Arabian Horse Association’s (AHA) Board of Directors (BOD), at their March 2015 Board Meeting, passed a motion that requires mandatory DNA testing for all horses competing in the Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Halter Futurity classes at Canadian and U.S. Nationals; as well as all horses competing in the Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Performance Futurity and Maturity classes at U.S. Nationals, in 2015. Half-Arabian horses entered in the aforementioned classes must have the...

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace (Mike McNally Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) hosted 12 up-and-coming riders in the inaugural Eventing 18 Program in 2014. All Participants put the lessons learned in January’s Training Sessions with U.S. Team Coach David O’Connor and respected eventing professionals to the test throughout the year to reach new heights of excellence in competition and all around horsemanship. Caroline Martin (Miami...

Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries (Libby Law Photography) Pau, France - The Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* came to a conclusion on Sunday afternoon as 19 combinations went forward to contest Jean-Philippe Desmaret’s challenging show jumping track. The United States closed out the competition by securing two spots within the top 10. Leading the way for the Americans was Erin Sylvester (Unionville, Pa.) with her own and Jill Tallman’s No Boundaries finishing in sixth place on 72.9...

Pau, France- The Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* came to a conclusion on Sunday afternoon as 19 combinations went forward to contest Jean-Philippe Desmaret’s challenging show jumping track. The United States closed out the competition by securing two spots within the top 10. Leading the way for the Americans was Erin Sylvester (Unionville, Pa.) with her own and Jill Tallman’s No Boundaries finishing in sixth place on 72.9 penalties. By collecting just four faults on Sunday, the pair...

Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries (Libby Law Photography) Pau, France - Two Americans stand within the top 10 following an influential cross country day at the Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4*. Erin Sylvester and Lauren Kieffer both produced clear jumping efforts over Pierre Michelet’s demanding track and will head to into the show jumping in competitive positions. Sylvester (Unionville, Pa.) and her own and Jill Tallman’s No Boundaries climbed 23 places up the leaderboard after only...

Tyler, Texas - Friday's cross country at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by VTO Saddlery proved extremely influential as the leaderboard of 2014 USEF National Open Horse Trial Championship experienced a great shake-up. With the quickest trip of the day over Capt. Mark Phillips' impressive track, Lainey Ashker and Anthony Patch flew to the head of the field. Lainey Ashker and Anthony Patch (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Ashker (Richmond, Va.) and her own 15-year-old...

Woodstock, England – The Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials CCI3* came to a conclusion on Sunday with the influential final show jumping phase. Leading the American effort were USEF Land Rover Competition Grant Recipients Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn, who earned a top 20 placing in their first CCI3* together. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (Libby Law Photography) Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding...

Saumur, France - Land Rover Competition Grant recipient Doug Payne closed out a successful weekend with Crown Talisman at the Saumur CCI3* on Sunday with near faultless performance in the show jumping to earn a sixth-place finish. Doug Payne and Crown Talisman (Les Garennes) The excitement began early in Saumur as France’s overnight leader Propriano de l’Ebat ridden by Luc Chateau was not accepted at the Final Horse Inspection. A total of 41 combinations went forward into the show...

Porto Alegre, Brazil - The U.S. jumped to a joint third place finish on Friday afternoon in Porto Alegre CSIO4*’s FEI Nations Cup. The team of Catherine Pasmore, Meghan Nusz, Derek Braun, and Kent Farrington completed the first round in third place on 13 faults and held their position in round two finishing on a total of 29 faults to tie with the team from Argentina. Finishing in first place was Brazil, with Venezuela collecting second place honors and Canada finishing in fifth. Leading...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...