a guest blog post fom Mary Cox The following three ideas may take being somewhat adventuresome but trust me, the result will make it all worth it ! First, research a local stone fabricator in your area. A fabricator makes the template and cuts the stone for granite, marble or stone countertops. Once you’ve located one, pay them a visit and remember to put on your best “I’m a Tack Hoarder – help me” face. Then ask them very sweetly if you can do some “Dumpster...

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The U.S. Eventing Team travelled to the Santa Sofia Country Club Saturday and extended their lead at the Pan American Games. All five U.S. riders produced fault-free rounds over John Williams’ cross country track adding nothing to their 138.6 team total. They head into Sunday’s show jumping phase nearly 22 points clear of the second-placed Canadian team. Dressage Leader, Jessica Phoenix of Canada still leads the individual standings with a score of 43.9...

Wellington, FL - The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) continues to make great improvements to their program as the 2012 horse show, held January 13-15, quickly approaches. The second annual CPI Horse Show will be larger, allowing more riders to compete, and will include dressage classes and more educational opportunities for participants. Organizers are also pleased to announce that the number of scholarships for the 2012 horse show has increased. A total of five scholarships will be...

Dublin, Ireland - The French are drawn first to go in tomorrow's crunch leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 series at the Discover Ireland Horse Show in Dublin, Ireland. It's getting down to the wire with just one more leg remaining following the Irish fixture, and the draw took place this morning at the gracious Royal Dublin Society showgrounds which is widely recognised as the birth-place of the sport of show jumping. The order-of-go is as follows: 1, France; 2, The Netherlands; 3,...

Sophie Ruiz-Leimer, FEI Commercial Coordinator and John Young, President of the International Ground Jury at the top table with (below) Chefs d'Equipe Rob Hoekstra (GBR), Rob Ehrens (NED), George Morris (USA) and Henk Nooren (FRA) at the draw for the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 at Hickstead (GBR) (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton). Hickstead, Great Britain - The defending champions from France will lead the way as the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 kicks off...

Christine McCrea on her favorite horse, Vegas, at the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF). Thanks to the USEF Facebook fans for these questions for U.S. Team Show Jumper Christine McCrea. For the next "10 Questions With..." visit www.facebook.com/USEquestrian Christine McCrea East Windsor, CT Age: 32 Victoria Kelley : What is your training schedule like? Tuesday through Sunday and I ride the horses. Monday is the day off for them and me. If I am going to a...

The Dutch team scored a back-to-back double when winning the third leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup™ at St Gallen, Switzerland today. Pictured (L to R) Peter Stoessel, CSIO St-Gallen President; John Roche, FEI Director of Jumping and Dutch team-members Eric Van Der Vleuten, Maikel Van Der Vleuten, Chef d’equipe Rob Ehrens, Piet Raymakers Jr and Jur Vrieling. Photo: FEI/Katja Stuppia. St. Gallen, Switzerland - The Dutch team recorded a back-to-back double when topping the third leg of the 2011...

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG). Lexington, KY - It was an exciting night for the first grand prix event in the Hagyard Challenge Series at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Thirty-seven horse and rider combinations gathered at the Rolex Stadium in the Kentucky Horse Park to compete for the winning title during the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Eight horses advanced to the jump-off, and it...

USA's Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville. Photo by Shannon Brinkman. Lexington, KY - Great Britain's Mary King was unstoppable on cross-country day at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone. She guided two horses around Derek di Grazia's course to claim the top two places on the leaderboard. Australia's 2007 winner, Clayton Fredericks, sits third on Be My Guest and Sinead Halpin jumped up to fourth in her first CCI4* with Manoir de Carneville, to lead...

Leipzig, Germany – Beezie Madden kicked off the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with a win for the U.S. Wednesday morning in the Opening Competition. Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo bested the field of 24 as the only combination to jump faultlessly in the first round. Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG) Madden (Cazenovia, NY) was the first U.S. rider in the ring and set the tone immediately. The Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch jumped...