Derek di Grazia’s courses are known for being challenging but fair and safe. (Mike McNally Photo) Derek di Grazia knows what it’s like to ride—and win—the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover: he won it in 1985 on Sasquatch, a Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross. These days, as the Rolex Kentucky event’s cross-country course designer, di Grazia is the man asking the questions of the four-star horses and riders galloping over the Kentucky Horse...

Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus (Kasey @ Rare Air Photography) Lauren Kieffer’s return to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is particularly nostalgic, because her mount this year—Vermiculus—is a full brother to Snooze Alarm, the horse that brought Kieffer to her first Rolex Kentucky back in 2010. Bred in Indiana by Lawson and Jeanne Williams, Snooze and Vermiculus are Anglo-Arabians, by the Arabian stallion Serazim and out of the Thoroughbred mare Wake...

Photo Credit: ©Elena Lusenti Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian today announced details of the Discover the Joy Tour , which will stop at competitions throughout the year, bringing the joy of horse sports to fans across the United States. The tour begins in Omaha, Neb., at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping & FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals, and will engage fans through athlete meet-and-greets, interactive photo elements, US Equestrian merchandise giveaways, and more. The...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian has named the following combinations to The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team for the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO3*, March 21- 25, in Wellington, Fla., at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF): Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor, a 2003 Oldenburg gelding Direct Reserve Horse Patricia Stempel’s Danilo, a 2004 Hanoverian gelding Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and her own Lonoir, a 2004 Danish...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina “Cricket” Russillo as the US Equestrian Dressage Team Veterinarian. Dr. Russillo will take over for Dr. Rick Mitchell who has served in the role for 14 years. Dr. Russillo graduated from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. She completed a one-year Internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. It was during her...

Wayne, Ill. – Two divisions apart of the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions determined their champions on Saturday. Bebe Davis and Feivel Mousekewitz claimed the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship title, while Jenna Upchurch and Greystoke earned top honors in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship. In the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship division, Hannah Irons and Bohdjan took the early lead with a steady ride in the FEI Pony Team Test....

Early nights all round for the dressage and eventing teams; and I bet there are a ton of people out there that wish they could turn in to their slumber pits early as well. Overnight equine arrivals plus the huge amount of work that the equestrian experts supporting the Rio 2016 Organising Committee have had to undertake, has ensured that there are many tired people out there. But these experts have done an excellent job getting the venue ready and whilst there remain frustrations and areas...

(c) ESI Photography Melissa Feller and Serafino, owned by Elisabeth McFadden, jump in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson V on Saturday. SAUGERTIES, New York - July 28, 2015 - Melissa Feller and Serafino, owned by Elisabeth McFadden, took first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix by more than six points out of a field of 50 entries Saturday at HITS-on-the-Hudson V. Feller, of Lincoln Park, New Jersey, and Serafino did not have the highest score, an 88.5, in Round 1, but...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following High Performance Summer/Fall Training Lists for 2015. The following athletes will participate in Training Sessions with U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor. Training Session dates and locations will be announced at a later date. World Class List: Athletes that currently possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. Additions to the list denoted with an *. Will Coleman (Gordonsville,...

Sunny Drescher and Sting on their way to a HITS Equitation Championship win at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - It was a picturesque evening under the lights of the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium for the return of the HITS Equitation Championship. High school senior Sunny Drescher, of Hinesburg, Vermont, and her own Sting proved that determination and drive pay off, moving up five spots from the 2014 event, to take home the blue ribbon and top honors. After ten weeks of qualifying...