The battle to earn berths in the FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2005 continues to rage in countries around the world as the date of the Final approaches. After a fierce qualifying season in the Canadian League, Leslie Reid of Langley, BC, won the Canadian League World Cup Dressage final qualifier, earning the right to represent Canada in the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, which will be held along with the FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final in Las Vegas, NV, April 20-24, 2005. Seven riders took...

The 2005 WIHS Equitation and WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, to be held during the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), October 25-30, 2005 at the MCI Center in downtown Washington, DC, will accept 30 riders in the WIHS Equitation Finals and 25 riders in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals. Qualifying is based on points accumulated in WIHS Equitation qualifying classes held at shows starting on or after September 1, 2004, through shows starting on before August 31, 2005. Letters of invitation...

Lexington, KY – George Morris, who was appointed to the Search Committee for the new U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe based on his credentials as a leading U.S. Show Jumping rider, trainer and coach, has resigned from the Committee effective January 24, 2005. The remaining members of the Search Committee are Karen O'Connor, Eric Straus, Chairman, Norman Dello Joio, Anne Kursinski, Jessica Ransehousen, and Robert Ridland. “After careful consideration I have decided to...

Los Angeles, CA —As the 2004 season comes to a close, West Coast League riders step out of their saddles for a moment to reflect on five rounds of World Cup qualifiers that have determined their standings at the halfway mark. Separated by only a few points, Richard Spooner, Joie Gatlin and Gabriella Salick maintain an incredibly close race for the three World Cup slots afforded to the League. A tenth place finish atop Hilton Flight (Bay Irish Sport Horse gelding; Errigal...

Margie Engle Takes Home the Syracuse Cup In the end, it was just one rail that kept Beezie Madden from her first Syracuse Cup win at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY, November 3-7. In the Syracuse Cup’s unique three-phase competition, it was Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, riding Nobility and Animagus that claimed the title for 2004. Engle went faultless through all three phases. Second was Laura Kraut and Madden was third. Seven riders in all qualified to compete....

Reminder: Salicylates (Aspirin) The 2004 FEI General Assembly agreed to change the threshold for salicylates in line with the proposals submitted by the Veterinary Committee. The previous thresholds for salicylates were 750 ug/ml in urine and 6.5 ug/ml in plasma. Experiences in testing have indicated that abuse of salicylates was possible by administration of low doses without exceeding the threshold. An extensive study on 650 samples for the salicylate content and a subsequent bio-statistical...

Lindsey Mohr, 15, of Long Valley, NJ, dominated the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals on October 18 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. Riding Lion King, Mohr led both rounds with scores of an 87 and an 88. “This is one of the toughest competitions,” said Mohr. “Everyone has a great eye and there is always a great match between horse and rider.” Thirty-one horses qualified to compete at the Farm Show Complex, and through the use of the numerical...

Lexington, KY – Frank Chapot, the six-time Olympic show jumping rider who has been chef d’equipe of the Unites States Show Jumping Team since 1980, has decided to retire. Under his leadership, the team has won nine Olympic medals and nine Pan American Games medals, which includes the first-ever team gold medals at the 1984 Olympics and at the World Championships in 1986, as well as the Silver Team medal at both the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta,...

Many of the west's top horses and riders will converge on the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, September 22-26, 2004, for a week of top hunter/jumper competition. The $40,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles will run on Saturday evening, September 25, and a capacity crowd is expected for this American Grandprix Association event and qualifier for the 2005 World Cup Finals. The World Cup Finals will be held in Las Vegas, NV, next spring. Richard Spooner, who has an early lead in the World Cup standings,...

The 29th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show’s feature event, the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix, will be broadcast on Fox Sports New York at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 25. In the Grand Prix, Darragh Kerins of Ireland, along with his horse Nabucco, rode to victory. Kerins was one of three entries from a starting field of 26 to qualify for the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 14-jump, first-round course designed by Olympic veteran Conrad Homfeld. Kerins...