Equestrian Sport Productions has begun the upgrade of both the Gene Mische Grand Hunter Arena and the Rost Arena with the world class "Poels" Footing that is currently installed in the Magavoro, Denemethy, and the International Arenas. Work commenced this week and will be completed by mid-December well in advance of Week 1 of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins on January 13, 2010. Equestrian Services International, LLC, a Bart Poels Footing Company, will be installing the...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and the World Games 2010 Foundation announced the NRHA’s sponsorship of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. With its sponsorship, the National Reining Horse Association makes possible, for the first time in Games history, an exhibition freestyle event to the overall event schedule. NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall commented, “NRHA is proud to announce our official partnership with the Games and is thrilled to have this special opportunity to...

Las Vegas, NV – After defending Rolex FEI World Cup Champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum broke the timing beam at 32.04 seconds with Shutterfly at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final, the question remained: how do you beat this horse? US superstar McLain Ward tried with Sapphire, the pair looked phenomenal. Foot perfect, lightning fast and with some seriously bold moves, Ward went with two remaining in the 13 horse jump-off and there was reasonable consensus that Sapphire’s effort...

Wellington, FL ­– Kent Farrington riding Up Chiqui was the best of the American riders but finished second overall behind Canadian rider Eric Lamaze on Narcotique de Muze II in the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach at the 124th National Horse Show. 32 horses and riders cantered into the ring for the first round of the $25,000 class. Farrington and Up Chiqui have been very successful recently, picking up multiple Grand Prix wins in the second half of...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) released its new positioning statement, “amazing awaits,” today in an effort to help communicate the unique values of the Olympic Brand ahead of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “‘Amazing awaits’ is intended to tell the story of how Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls get to the Olympic and Paralympic Games and how that journey is the embodiment of the American spirit,” said Jim...

Amy Dragoo (Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor stand on a score of 48.2 heading into Sunday's show jumping phase.) Nearly 47,000 people turned out for a spectacular day of cross-country at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam. A variation of last year’s course greeted horses and riders, and at the end of a tumultuous day, Kristin Bachman, riding in only her second four-star on her own Gryffindor found herself on top of a very classy heap of horses and riders with a...

McLain Ward and Sapphire tackling a tough course at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup in Las Vegas. (Doug Prather) Las Vegas, NV - The show jumpers returned to the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Friday evening for the second round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final, and it was a blistering jump-off performance by American expatriate Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum aboard Shutterfly that left the crowd cheering. In 29.38 seconds, the pair scorched the six-obstacle round ahead of eight others...

As of January 1, 2007, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) began issuing Performance Permits to ApHC-registered, non-characteristic (N) Appaloosas. Permits allow all non-characteristic Appaloosas, regardless of parentage or age, to show in ApHC-approved and sponsored events as well as race with results counting toward ApHC race awards. The permit remains effective for the life of the horse once it is issued, regardless of ownership changes. Performance Permits eliminate the current Certified...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup has received official word that the dates for the 2006 International Saddle Seat World Cup competition have been changed. The event has moved one week later and will now be held December 4-10, 2006. The prestigious international competition will be held at South Africa’s premier equestrian facility, the Parys Indoor Arena in Parys, South Africa. The U.S. will be taking on teams from Canada, Great Britain, Namibia and South Africa in an effort to match...

The Westfalian-bred stallions Damon Hill and Florencio won the World Breeding Federation Sport Horses (WBFSH) World Championships for young dressage horses, held July 1-3 in Verden, Germany. Five-year-old Damon Hill (Donnerhall x Rubinstein), ridden by Helen Langehanenberg, scored a 9.02 in the finals, just ahead of half-brother Donnerball (Donnerhall x Alabaster) and FBW Dejavu (Dacaprio x Glueckspilz). In the six-year-old division, last year's five-year-old champion Florencio (Florestan x...