Lexington, KY - Eight teams from around the world are preparing to represent their countries and regions at the WEF Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, FL this week and challenge for the $35,000 FEI Nations Cup title. The United States, Canada, Australia, Latin America and Europe will all be represented in small tour competition. Comprising the United States team are four riders in the midst of very good 2012 seasons. Chris Hickey will ride Hilltop...

The FEI has today given final sign-off on the footing that will be used for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events at Greenwich Park. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) conducted footing tests at a site near Preston in the north of England on 20 and 21 December 2011. The mix for the footing is now composed of non-waxed sand, felt and fibre. Testing of the new footing concluded on 21 December when international riders Geoff Billington...

Austin Dressage Unlimited and The Dressage Foundation announce a matching fund drive in honor of Lowell Boomer, to benefit the Violet M. Hopkins Fund. Austin Dressage Unlimited has generously provided the initial $500 donation in honor of Lowell Boomer's 100th Birthday on October 12, 2011, and is encouraging all other United States Dressage Federation Group Member Organizations (USDF GMOs) or other equestrian groups to make a donation as well! Funds raised through this matching challenge...

Jan Ebeling riding Rafalca. (Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler.) Burbank, CA - For West Coast riders, there was no joking around this April Fool's Day as a huge field of competitors fought for the blue ribbon in the CDI Prix St. Georges Test at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J. Officiating for today's class were FEI judges Linda Zang (5* USA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), and Eddy de Wolff (4* NED). "The overall quality in the top group of this class was very good," said judge Eddy de Wolff. Emerging...

Greystone's Adirondack A'Herne, also known as "Harry. (Martha Stewart Show) New York City – Former United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) member and breeder Cindy Fletcher is the proud owner of Greystone's Adirondack A'Herne, also known as "Harry," an 18-year-old bay Connemara stallion who appeared this month on stage at the “Martha Stewart Show.” Previous to his Martha Stewart stardom, Harry has made his mark in the show ring, winning more than 50 champion or reserve champion driving...

Chesterfield, SC - If ever there was a place that shouts “Long Live the Long Format,” Southern Eighths is that place and on April 28-May 1 Classic Eventing will host its inaugural Heart of the Carolinas (HOTC) Three-Day Event on this 300-acre facility. This Long Format Three-Day Event is the amateur rider’s “Rolex.” It’s the event where Beginner Novice, Novice and Training level riders can negotiate their ultimate Long Format test in a USEA recognized T3D, N3D and BN3D event. And what makes...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that beginning this year, it will assume responsibility for fielding and supporting the U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation Team for the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup. The USEF will also assist in hosting the competition when held in the United States. "This is what USEF does," said Federation President David O'Connor. "It just makes sense for us to be involved with this." The bi-annual competition originated in...

Mario Deslauriers kicked off CSIO Wellington with a win on Jane Clark’s Vicomte D in the WEF Challenge 8. He will ride Urico on the Nations Cup Team tomorrow but today he topped a big competitive International field, many looking to make sure all the buttons were working for tomorrow night’s $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. I made it just in time to catch most of the class, it feels so nice to get a little sunshine and not constantly looking for my gloves. It was a...

The USEA is pleased to announce that its online express entry system, Xentry, will be available by open invitation on February 8 for current open events. Xentry will make entering all USEA recognized horse trials a simplified and speedy process through the USEA website. When Xentry is launched on February 8, it will offer a wide variety of helpful features including: • A streamlined, easy-to-use process • Option of paying by credit card for all events with only a 3.5% convenience fee • Digital...

San Antonio, TX - A record number of attendees gathered in San Antonio, TX, for the sixth annual United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Annual Meeting, presented by the Texas Hunter Jumper Association. There they discussed a number of issues, including standardizing zone children’s and adult specifications, a revamped amateur definition and whether or not money won in derbies and classics should be counted toward Horse of the Year Awards. The 346 attendees traveled to the Westin La...