Andy Kocher and his own Heliante clear the Budweiser oxer on their way to the win in Sunday's $35,000 Budweiser Grand Prix (Alison Hartwell) Gulfport, Miss. - Twenty seven horse and rider teams tackled Sunday's $35,000 Budweiser Grand Prix course, designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico in front of delighted crowds. Esparza is a top international course designer whose resume includes his position as an Assistant Designer for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000,...

Lexington, Ky. - A strong contingent of 10 U.S. athlete-and-horse combinations are set to compete in the CDI5* taking place February 4-8 during week five of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla. The following athlete-and-horse combinations will be representing the U.S. in the CDI5* (listed in alphabetical order): Michael Barisone (Long Valley, N.J.) and Virginia Alling's HF Victor HF Victor is a 2002 Trakehner gelding. Heather Blitz (Medfield, Mass.) and her own and...

Derrick Perkins Wins the 2014 AQHA World Championship Show Para-Reining Demonstration. (Larri Jo Starkey) Oklahoma City, Okla. - Para-reining returned November 15 to the 2014 AQHA World Championship Show as a demonstration sport. Six high-level para-dressage riders changed saddles and took a spin on American Quarter Horses in the Jim Norick Coliseum at Oklahoma State Fair Park. Along with a standing ovation from the crowd of reining enthusiasts in Oklahoma City, U.S. Air Force veteran Derrick...

Shawn Flarida & Spooks Gotta Whiz (Andrea Bonaga) Caen, France - The United States upped its medal count by three today in the FEI Reining World Championships at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In the Individual Final, the Adequan U.S. Reining Squad swept the podium with combinations putting in amazing performances. A field of twenty one riders hoped to top the leaderboard in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Caen Exhibition Center but leading the way was Shawn Flarida who...

Caen, France - The Adequan U.S. Reining Team kicked off the opening week for the United States with a spectacular performance at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games earning the Team Gold medal. Andrea Fappani riding Custom Cash Advance, Shawn Flarida riding Spooks Gotta Whiz, Jordan Larson riding HF Jordan Larson, Mandy McCutcheon, Andrea Fappani, Shawn Flarida, and Jeff Petska (Shannon Brinkman) Mobster, and Mandy McCutcheon riding Yellow Jersey all gave electric rides to take the U.S....

Caen, France - With the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games underway, the world’s best reining combinations from 24 nations prepare to vie for top honors in Team and Individual Competition. Looking to defend their Team Gold and Individual Gold and Silver medal performances from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Ky., the squad is filled with talented athletes ready to put in strong performances. Led by Chef d’Equipe Jeff Petska, U.S. combinations will...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation has named three horse-and-rider combinations to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2014 Rotterdam CDIO5* taking place during the CHIO Rotterdam in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 18-22. Additionally, the U.S. will be represented by one individual in the CDI-U25 competition. The following combinations have been named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the Rotterdam CDIO5* (listed in Alphabetical Order): Susie Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) will ride Tim...

Lexington, Ky. Shawn Flarida & Spooks Gotta Whiz (Alleyn Evans for Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo) - Sixteen combinations entered the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena Sunday morning with National Championship honors and selection for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on their minds for the second and final round of the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad. And in a repeat of...

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard during a training session with USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Robert Dover (USEF Archive) Lexington, Ky. - The first USEF Dressage Observation & Strategic Planning Session of 2014 took place earlier this week at Havensafe Farm South in Wellington, Fla. Lead by Robert Dover, USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor, the session provided training and strategic guidance for athletes as they look toward international competition and the 2014 Alltech FEI World...

Aachen, Germany - Competition was in full swing at CHIO Aachen Wednesday with dressage, driving and jumping competitions all taking place. The U.S. had representation in all three disciplines and did not disappoint as American combinations notched solid results. Driving Leading the U.S. effort on Wednesday was veteran driver Chester Weber, who dominated the start of CAIO-4 competition. For the second consecutive year, Weber (Ocala, FL) claimed victory in the Preis der Fa. Horsch in a...