Ravel-Horse of the Year in 2009. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - December 21 - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2010, five horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 21, the United States Equestrian Federation will bestow just one of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. The five...

Fairfield, CT - The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) has announced a realigning of its National Zones, compressing nine Zones into eight, and reflecting several new changes. In brief: * Former Zone 7 was absorbed into Zones 8 and 5 * Zone 9 was renamed Zone 7 * New regions were created in Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 (former Zone 9) * Zone 1 sent a region to Zone 2 * Zone 2 shifted a region to Zone 3 * Zone 3 lost two regions - one to Zone 4 and another to Zone 6 * Zone 4 shifted a...

Alissa Kinsey & Grisset (©Flashpoint Photography ) Conyers, GA—November 14, 2010—Classic Company’s Season Finale event, the Atlanta Fall Classics, is a virtual cornucopia of equestrian competition with everything from Zone Championships to a $25,000 Adult-Child Jumper Classic to a show jumping Grand Prix just in the first week. “We always like to end our year big!” Classic Company President Bob Bell quipped. Friday’s kick off of head to head competition began with the USHJA National Hunter...

Syracuse, NY - The final day of competition at the 2010 Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 127th National Horse Show came to a close with the 2010 ASPCA Maclay National Championships. Riders worked all year to qualify for this event and after three phases of competition and it was 17-year-old Hayley Barnhill of Collierville, TN, leading the victory gallop and taking home the championship honors. In the first round of competition, 153 riders were tested on a course...

Clark Montgomery Wins From Gate to Wire with Loughan Glen (Stockimageservices.com) Elkton, MD - There was a plenty at stake at the Dansko Fair Hill International, as 44 CCI2* horses and 24 CCI3* horses went to task in the USEF National Eventing Championships over Sally Ike's show jumping courses on a perfect October day. Hannah Burnett did something no one has ever done, the 2009 National CCI2* Champion returned to Fair Hill with Richard Thompson's St. Barths and finished on her dressage score...

Mary McCormick (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Strong performances by both the Women's and Men's U.S. Vaulters entertained a near sold-out Alltech Arena during the second Individual phase of competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Thursday. Mary McCormick leads the U.S. effort, followed by Alicen Divita in ninth place and 2006 WEG Aachen Gold medalist Megan Benjamin in 11th place. The Vaulting Freestyle is perhaps the most appreciated phase of the...

McLain Ward and Sapphire (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - After a fantastic start to the Individual competition on Monday, four members of the U.S. Show Jumping Team returned to the Rolex Stadium as the Jumping World Championships presented by Rolex began on Tuesday morning at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. Monday's action set the stage for big things for the U.S. Team after two riders ended the Speed Round in the top two places. Mario...

Laura Linback and Cartusch 15 won the $1,500 1.30m Modified Jumpers at the Showplace Fall Classic (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Wayne, IL - September 15, 2010 - It was a beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, as the Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show kicked into high gear. Today's highlight event was the $1,500 1.30m Modified Jumper class where Laura Linback took home the top honors aboard Cartusch 15 after completing the fastest double clear effort. This week's...

Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano (Photo © 2010 Lindsay McCall for PMG) Chicago, Illinois -August 29, 2010- Equestrians and spectators could not have asked for a better afternoon for the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (Chicago Hunter Derby) Presented By Canadian National (CN). The Chicago Hunter Derby vintage hunt course was set upon the beautifully landscaped steeplechase course in-field of Annali Farm in Antioch, IL. Today's festivities included a children's horseless horse show, a...

American Fans Are Ready for WEG (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - There are 101 different athletes (some nominated on more than one horse) from 22 different states nominated to represent the United States at the biggest equestrian event in US history. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is the first opportunity to see all eight disciplines: Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Driving, Jumping, Para-Equestrian Dressage, Reining and Vaulting in one place at the same time when these games come...