Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team was on a mission today as four riders contested the Grade Ia and II Individual Championship Tests at the FEI World Para Dressage Championships. The scores for Jonathan Wentz and Laura Goldman proved to be doubly valuable as they not only determined their placings in the Individual Championship Test but also decided standings in the Team...

Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The FEI World Para Dressage Championships kicked off today with riders competing in the Team Test. The Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team fielded a group of four riders, three of whom were new to the international stage for the team competition. Jonathan Wentz, Laura Goldman and Susan Treabess all represented the U.S. for the first time at the championship level, with the 2000 and 2008...

Shannon Brinkman (Becky Holder and her Courageous Comet.) Lexington, KY - The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team continued to demonstrate consistency in the first phase with Karen O’Connor, Becky Holder and Phillip Dutton performing their dressage tests on Friday at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Riding as an Individual, Becky Holder and her own and Tom Holder’s Courageous Comet were second to go after the lunch break. They set the stage for the remainder of the afternoon scoring a 39....

Courageous Comet and Becky Holder (Photo by Mike McNally) Lexington, KY - The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) held its 25th annual National Awards Dinner in Lexington, Kentucky, September 10, 2010, honoring the achievements of Thoroughbred owners and breeders in North America. A new honor instituted this year, the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award was awarded to top eventing horse, Courageous Comet, owned by Tom and Becky Holder. Courageous Comet, a...

Gail Morey (John French and Crown Affair. ) Carson City, NV - With only a few days left to prepare for the $25,000 Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby at the Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility, anticipation is mounting. Equestrians are traveling from all over to take part in the first standalone hunter derby on the West Coast. Among the many hunter derby exhibitors will be top professionals John French and Jenny Karazissis. French will be accompanied by four hunter derby horses, which include two...

Lexington, KY - Ten days to go before the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (September 25-October 10) and the American horses and riders are putting the finishing touches on their preparation. Where are they and what are they up to? The DRESSAGE horses have all made it back to Gladstone, NJ where they are training at the USET Foundation Headquarters up until the WEG. Ravel and Steffen Peters had their trip delayed a couple of days by Hurricane Earl, but they arrived safe and sound on...

Arthur and Allison Springer (Emily Daily/USEA) Fairburn, GA – There is plenty at stake for the best riders in the United States this weekend at the Land Rover/USEA American Eventing Championships. Among the nearly 700 horses contesting the competition from Beginner Novice to Advanced, there are 38 American horses vying for the Jack LeGoff trophy for the USEF National Advanced Horse Trial Championship. Of those, 17 were vying for a spot on the Land Rover/US Eventing Team for the Alltech FEI...

Del Mar, CA - Twenty-nine horse-and-rider duets danced under the lights in the Del Mar Horse Park covered arena on the evening of September 4 in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Showpark CSI-W, presented by EquiFit, Inc. With riders representing eight different countries vying for the top prize, as well as points on the World Cup leader board, course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio had the task of building a course that tested both the scope of the horse and eye of the rider. Four earned a spot in the...

Bridgehampton, NY - Mario Deslauriers, of New York, NY, found his way to the top of the class in the $50,000 Spy Cost Farm Grand Prix Qualifier CSI**** at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Thursday riding Urico, owned by Jane Clark. "I had a great class," said Deslauriers. "My horse went great. He jumped beautifully and I was in a good spot to go last in the jump-off, so I knew exactly what I had to do to bring it home and everything worked out." Six made it to the jump-off out of the 50...

Bridgehampton, NY - Samantha Schaefer captured top honors in the $10,000 Sam Edelman Equitation Championship at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Thursday. The 17-year-old student from Westminster, MD, received the highest score of 182 points riding Pioneer, owned by Heritage Farm. "It's a big deal to win here," said Schaefer. "I rode in the class last year on a young horse and made it into the Top 10, but this is really great." Schaefer has only shown Pioneer three times at the suggestion of...