Lexington, Ky. - The first championship titles of the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans were claimed Wednesday as the Large Regular Hunter Ponies and the Small Green Hunter Ponies completed their final phases of competition in the 2016 US Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm at the Kentucky Horse Park. Mimi Gochman and Storyteller earned top overall honors in the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship, while Caroline Passarelli and So Enchanted received the...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Dressage competition got underway Wednesday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, as 29 of the total 60 competitors representing 19 countries took to the main arena under cloudy skies at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center to perform in the Grand Prix, the first test in the team competition. The U.S. team, going eighth in the order of the 11 nations, finished day one in fourth place after two superb performances from Allison Brock and Kasey Perry-Glass. Leading the...

Allison Brock and Rosevelt (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Dressage competition at the Rio Olympic Games got underway at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center Monday with the horse inspection. A total of 59 athlete-and-horse combinations representing 18 countries are set to compete in Wednesday’s Grand Prix, the first test in team competition. The U.S. has drawn eighth in the order of 11 teams and will be represented by Allison Brock, Laura Graves, Kasey...

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Cross-country, the heart of eventing competition, proved to be demanding for the 64 athlete-and-horse combinations who contested Pierre Michelet's technical course at the Olympic Equestrian Center at Deodoro on Monday. Only three entries finished double-clear, and only 26 crossed the finish without jumping penalties. U.S. veterans Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin rode brilliantly and stand fifth and sixth,...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl on their way to a $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - As the curtain closed on the HITS Saugerties Summer Series, thirty-five horses and riders turned out for Sunday’s $75,000 UlcerGuard Grand Prix for a shot at the money. The field consisted of Olympians and world-cup finalists, in addition to talented juniors and amateurs, but only one could claim the top title. Twelve advanced to the shortened course set by Mark McGowan...

Boyd Martin and Blackfoot Mystery (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The eventing horse inspection officially kicked off equestrian competition at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday. Over the next 14 days, 204 athlete-and-horse combinations in the three equestrian disciplines of eventing, dressage, and show jumping will compete for coveted Team and Individual medals at Rio’s Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center. The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team of Phillip...

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. The following is part four. Read parts one , two , and three . Nick Valentine considers Dun It At Dawn or “Dan” his once-in-a-lifetime horse. The most memorable rides occurred on the Quarter Horse stallion. For Valentine, Dan was incredibly easy to work alongside; he...

Piber Köflach, Austria – The U.S. Driving Team has settled in at the picturesque Austrian venue for the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, taking place August 3-7. Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Michael Freund and Team Coach Thorsten Zarembowicz, the team of Donna Crookston, Sterling Graburn, and Suzy Stafford, along with individual Leslie Berndl, aims for top performances. A total of 23 countries are represented in the championship, giving the U.S....

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the combinations that will represent the United States at the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships in Samorin, Slovakia, September 16-17, 2016. They will be led by U.S. Endurance Chef d’Equipe Mark Dial. The following athlete-and-horse combinations will represent the U.S. in the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championship (listed in alphabetical order): Thomas Hagis (Fries, Va.) and...

Jonathan McCrea and Special Lux. (Tom von Kap-herr) Bromont, Quebec - American rider Jonathan McCrea, on his mount Special Lux, won the first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League in Bromont, on July 31, 2016. Guilherme Jorge Surpasses Himself With a generous time allowed, the chronometer was not a key factor in the first round. Course designer Guilherme Jorge, on his way to the Rio Olympic Games, nevertheless gave the starting athletes a challenge, with such...