Temecula, CA — Sara Mittleider and Harry Houdini put in a measured dressage test on Thursday, but the Trakehner gelding looked just as at home on the cross-country course today as he galloped around faultlessly to maintain their lead in the CCI1*. Mittleider, of Kuna, Idaho, was thrilled with her rising star, whom she’s only been riding for a year and half. “I was very impressed with the maturity and confidence he showed today. The footing was a non-issue, and I was so, so...

Sterling Graburn. PicsofYou.com. Lexington, KY - An exciting day of dressage in Aiken, SC, showcased some of the very best in the U.S. vying for USEF National Single Horse Championship honors at the Katydid CDE. After all but one of 19 horses passed inspection - Wilson Groves' UVM Worthy was deemed unfit to compete - Sterling Graburn (Georgetown, KY) drove to the lead in Friday's dressage competition phase, on a score of 43.09. Kate Shields (Middleburg, VA) was in second on a score of...

Elkton, MD - Riders completing their dressage tests Friday at the 2011 Dankso Fair Hill International put in impressive efforts as scores dipped lower and lower into the 40s and spectators and riders alike were subject again to intermittent rain showers throughout the day. Heading the field in their respective CCI divisions and the USEF National Eventing Championships, which are held in conjunction with the Dankso Fair Hill International, are Boyd Martin and Susan Beebee. Martin and Ying Yang...

Lexington, KY - The 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final - West is well under way at the L.A. International Jumping Festival, September 21-25, in Burbank, CA. The flat phase, first of the four phases took place Thursday night. The judging team of noted judge Sue Ashe and her daughter, international jumper rider Molly Ashe, tested the riders on their mastery of the skills needed to properly prepare a jumper for flatwork, including a demonstration of haunches in and a...

Eligibility: The contest is open to anyone 13 to 19 years old who is a legal resident of the United States. Employees of the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc., (and their immediate family members) are not eligible to win. Submission deadline: Entries are due August 3, 2011, 11:59 p.m. EDT via Facebook ( www.facebook.com/USEquestrianFederation - USEF Horse Drawing Contest). Instructions: Scan or photograph drawing and submit entry via Facebook (www.facebook/USEquestrianFederation)...

Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Two-time Olympic Gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) bested an international entry of 52 to score his first victory of the Spruce Meadows “Canada One” Tournament in the WESTJET Cup. Riding his 10-year-old Dutch gelding, Pjotter, Ward piloted two clear rounds, with a blazing trip around the jump-off course of 42.52 seconds to defeat American teammate Mario Deslauriers. Fourteen horse/rider combinations had advanced to the jump-off over the technically demanding...

Kelsey Kimbler receives the 2010 USEF Youth Sportsman's Award from David O'Connor. Photo by Geoff Bugbee/USEF Archives. Lexington, KY - The search is underway for nominees for the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman's Award. Now in its sixth year, the award recognizes young equestrians who exhibit exceptional leadership potential, serve as a positive role models for their peers, demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the...

Leipzig, Germany - The EY Cup, held in conjunction with the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final, came to a close in Leipzig this morning with the final round of the CSI2*. The six Americans riders that have been contesting the competition all week looked to complete their time in Germany on a high note. With each competitor limited to riding one horse, there was all to play for over Frank Rothenberger’s 1.45m course. Twenty-nine combinations would start the first round with six returning to the...

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos (Shannon Brinkman) Elkton, MD – Mother Nature wouldn’t quit but smart riding prevailed at the 2009 Dansko Fair Hill International as Boyd Martin flew to the lead in the USEF National CCI*** Championship with Neville Bardos. Newly an American citizen after changing citizenship from Australia earlier in the year, Martin and the nine-year-old Australian Thoroughbred literally skipped over the muddy ground making Derek DiGrazia’s course look easy....

Courtney King-Dye (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The first round of team competition got underway for the team portion of the dressage competition and Courtney King-Dye, from New Milford, CT, was the lone American to perform her Grand Prix test today based on the advantageous draw of the US team. The US team drew 11th of 11 teams so King-Dye and Mythilus were the second to last combination to go of the second rotation. They put in an excellent test with no mistakes, highlighted by...