Lexington, Ky. – The final day and phase of the 2017 USEF Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship at the Kentucky Classic CDE proved to be a challenging test for the drivers and horses. Nifty Hamilton and Makari Design (Picsofyou.com) Nifty Hamilton (Alva, Fla.) and Makari Design, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding owned by herself and Milton Hamilton, completed the cones course with 2.85 penalty points, but they could not be caught by the competition. Hamilton secured the title of...

Mill Spring, N.C. - The 2017 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships sponsored by Deloitte began Friday with competitors performing the FEI Team Test, the first of three tests in the competition. U.S. athletes finished on top in all five grades to put the Deloitte U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team ahead of Canada. With National Championship titles on the line, Friday’s Team Test will account for 40% of the overall championship totals. Saturday will feature the Individual...

Wayne, Ill. – The first set of champions were determined at the 2017 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships today. Anna Stovall and Frankie claimed the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage National Championship. Alyssa Doverspike and Darius 555 maintained their lead to become the national champions of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Five-Year-Old division, while Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF claim the Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old...

Wayne, Ill. – Combinations competing for the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship and USEF Children Dressage National Championship got their first shot in the ring on Friday to open the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. The judges saw a promising group of athletes in both divisions demonstrate their early potential with close scores across the board. Isabel Linder and Elvis have a narrow lead in the junior division with a score of 70.991%. Abby Fodor and Slip and Slide hold...

Norfolk, England – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team secured a third-place finish in the FEI Nations Cup at the Saracen Horse Feed Houghton International Horse Trials CICO3*. The U.S. team of Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, Katherine Coleman and Longwood, and Caroline Martin and The Apprentice finished on a score of 160.9, while Germany won gold with a score of 122.2 and Great Britain collected silver with a score of 142.5. The U.S. combinations finished in the top 20 individually,...

Arthur "Thom" Brede (Courtesy of Cheryle Francis) Dedicated horseman Arthur “Thom” Brede was a driving force in the horse world right up until his passing on April 20. He and his late wife, Ann “Wissie” Brede, moved their Thoroughbred breeding operation from Pennsylvania to Stamping Ground, Ky., in 2000. The Brede family owned Audley End and Taterland Farms. Brede was a devoted judge for US Equestrian who judged hunters at major horse shows across the United States and...

Jenny Karazissis and Puissance R (Shawn McMillen) Lexington, Ky. - For Jenny Karazissis, making the journey to Kentucky from Calabasas, California has already proven to be worthwhile. Karazissis and Puissance R bested a field of 132 top-caliber entries to win round one of the 2016 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show on Tuesday. Going later in the order, Karazissis unseated Scott Stewart and Storm Watch from the top spot, taking over his score of 261.5...

Givrins, Switzerland – The U.S. Reining team delivered a great display of showmanship at the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, August 11-13, at the CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland. Team members Shane Brown, Troy Heikes, Kari Klingenberg, and Nick Valentine all had consistent performances throughout the Team and Individual competitions. They finished fifth in the team competition with a score of 646. Heikes placed seventh in the Individual Final on Saturday to lead the U.S....

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl on their way to a $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - As the curtain closed on the HITS Saugerties Summer Series, thirty-five horses and riders turned out for Sunday’s $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix for a shot at the money. The field consisted of Olympians and world-cup finalists, in addition to talented juniors and amateurs, but only one could claim the top title. Twelve advanced to the shortened course set by Mark McGowan...

I would describe today as a Between Day; somewhere between good and bad, and for my persona, somewhere varying between “sociably acceptable and bear with sore head and irritated butt”. There is a standing guideline within the British Military called the 1/3rd - 2/3rd Rule – of the time available, use 1/3rd for your own planning leaving 2/3rds for your subordinates. I think it works in reverse when preparing for the first arrival of horses, grooms, staff and OMG..they are...