Las Vegas, NV – 44 riders from 22 nations went to task this evening in the Thomas & Mack Arena, 12 of them American. By the time the music died down and the last pair of feet landed on the arena floor, it was the reigning Rolex FEI World Cup champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly who proved to be the fastest in the First Leg of the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final: the Speed Class. Again. The German pair were quickest by just less than a second with a time of 56.48. “I thought the...

Molly Rosin and Havarah's Charly Hold their Lead (Shannon Brinkman) Elkton, MD ¬– The temperatures dropped overnight but the competition continued to heat up at the 2008 Dansko Fair Hill International which is playing host to the 2008 USEF National CCI** and CCI*** Eventing Championships. The second day of dressage unfolded without a change to the top of the leaderboard in the CCI**. Local rider Molly Rosin and Havarah’s Charly staved off a charge from the Californian...

Ocala, FL – The marathon got underway at 9 a.m. at the CAI-A Ocala and the first of two USEF National Driving Championships started after lunch on Saturday March 29, 2008. Known as the Live Oak Plantation Combined Driving Event presented by Budweiser, the showcase of the country’s best drivers and horses is taking place at Chester Weber’s Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, FL. The competition also serves as the second USEF Selection Trial for two of the World Driving Championships....

Laura Kraut and Cedric Remain High Atop the Leaderboard at the USEF Selection Trials in Show Jumping (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) Wellington, FL – The third leg of the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping got underway between the raindrops at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL on March 5, 2008. With 30 riders left in the mix for Short List for the 2008 Olympic Games, the third of five trials was for Selection Trial horses only. Sponsored by Equine Motor...

Phillip Dutton and The Foreman (Photo by Shannon Brinkman ) Elkton, MD – The competition continued on Sunday as numerous USEF National Championships were up for grabs at the Fair Hill International CCI***. Phillip Dutton won for the fourth time, but this was the first time that the U.S. national anthem was played in his honor. Riding The Foreman, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Ann Jones, Dutton won the USEF National Eventing Championships on a score of 46.4, adding one rail...

Diana DeRosa (Karen O'Connor and the pony Theodore O'Connor take the lead after cross-country.) Rio de Janeiro—Cross-country day at the XV Pan American Games dawned clear and sunny July 21 at the Deodoro venue. With five Americans in the top five places after the first phase, and a firm grip on the team lead after the first phase, there was a lot at stake on the 10-minute track. When the dust settled, a pony took on all the horses and rewrote history. Pathfinder Karen O’Connor, from...

By Bob Langrish (Beezie Madden and Authentic are leading all show jumpers at the WEG for two days in a row.) It’s double duty again at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany, as two disciplines played out simultaneously – one of them in the Main Stadium (show jumping) and the other having its first-day opener in Stadium 2 (four-in-hand driving). Both of the disciplines have fans running back and forth to take in the action. In show jumping, it’s Day One of a...

The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) have once again sent a team of top riders to compete in Europe this summer. The contingent of riders from California made their first stop in France a success as they picked up seven top placings, including a win, and as icing on the first week’s cake, the Leading Lady Rider title, as well. The team is comprised of Joie Gatlin, Francie Steinwedell Carvin, Jenni Martin and Susan Artes. Bernie Traurig is George Morris’ associate chef d’ equipe for the West...

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS (Matt Turer/US Equestrian) Lexington, Ky. – The second day of dressage was filled with quality dressage tests at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian ™ . Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai du Loir sit atop the leaderboard with a score of 22.1, while Tamie Smith and Mai Baum’s dressage test from Thursday kept them as the top Americans in third place overall on a score of 24.2. As the top U.S. combination in the CCI5*-L,...

Sarah Hamilton from strategic communications consulting firm Kivvit gave a presentation on social media to kick off Friday’s Workshop Sessions. She reviewed the basics, different platforms, strengths and weaknesses of social media, and best practices. Hamilton concluded by fielding questions from the audience for a thoroughly informative session. Social media is a communication tool “Social media is just one tool in a larger communications and marketing external relations plan that...