CULPEPER, VA (October 4, 2010)--Kate Conover and Rock Steady were the top pair in Saturday's $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic during the Culpeper Finals at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Rock Steady is 10 years old and was imported from Europe by Emil Spadone in July. Since coming into the country, the horse has certainly lived up to his name in the show ring, and he put the icing on the cake with a win in Saturday's feature class for hunter riders. "He is so much fun to ride,"...

Disappointment is hard to swallow. I think we are still choking on it after our dreams for a medal in eventing went on the skids when Mandiba slammed on the brakes in the show jumping at a black gate. Becky Holder made the difficult decision to withdraw Courageous Comet while sitting in a very good spot for a medal but Comet will be back to fight another day and Becky and Aubrey really do look after him so well. We were all devastated, especially after Karen had the round of the day on the...

U.S. Team Supporters Look On at the Games. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - Week One of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games proved to be an exciting and action-packed experience for the thousands of fans who witnessed the international competition firsthand. The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, welcomed visitors beginning Saturday, September 25. ENDURANCE The 100-mile endurance race was the first competition to award medals. More than 110 horses from 30 nations...

The U.S. Event Team and Team GBR at the Land Rover Test Drive (Glen Davis) Lexington, KY - Today was a day for horsing around at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In a light hearted competition, the U.K. based Team GBR beat the local favorites from the U.S. as they took top-honors in today’s Land Rover Test Drive Challenge. The two teams swapped their customary single horsepower for an entirely different kind of horsepower, behind the wheel of identical 375 hp Land Rover LR4...

Mister Montana Nic and Craig Schmersal (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - The Adequan U.S. Reining Team has passed all of five of their team members in this morning's jog at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). The Reining World Championships presented by John Deere will start on Saturday, September 25, at 9 a.m. with part 1 of the team competition and the first round of the Individual Qualifying Competition. The Adequan U.S. Reining Team consists of the following reiners and...

In a joint statement, Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA, and the United States Hunter Jumper Association have announced that Shelby French, currently the director of Sweet Briar’s riding program, has been appointed chief executive officer of the USHJA effective May 5, 2011. French will be replacing former USHJA Executive Director Susan Dotson, who recently relocated to Atlanta. Merrilee "Mimi" Wroten, who has served as associate director at Sweet Briar since 1999 and instructor since 1996,...

LEXINGTON, KY—Sept.13, 2010—11 days to go— The leader of world-class sport utility vehicles partners with the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition as the World Games 2010 Foundation announces Land Rover as the Official Luxury Automotive Sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The 2010 Games will feature eight world championships in equestrian sport and are being held for the first time in the United States from September 25-October 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in...

U.S. Team Wins Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows (Photo by Mike Sturk) Lexington, KY – The U.S. Show Jumping team has been picking up victories across Europe and ventured to the far reaches of Western Canada to keep the streak alive. Four of the nation’s best riders delivered on a huge stage when the U.S. squad romped to victory at the Spruce Meadows Masters to win the Nations Cup in legitimate company. Leopoldo Palacios, the Venezuelan course designer, created a challenging track that produced...

Bridgehampton, NY - Karen Polle of New York, NY, won the SHALANNO Style of Riding Award at the 35th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. The SHALANNO Style of Riding Award is presented to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation as modeled by Olympic medalists Joe Fargis, Conrad Homfeld and George Morris. The award recipient must have the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman. Polle was selected by the jumper judges at the...

When elite equestrians compete for world titles this month, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will be working behind the scenes and before the cameras to ensure the health of equine athletes. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, held September 25-October 10 in Lexington, KY, is anticipated as the largest sporting event to take place in the United States this year. As the nation’s leading organization dedicated to equine health care, the AAEP and its members will...