The Los Angeles National Preview, November 4-8, hosted the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association’s (LAHJA) Medal Finals for junior, senior, and pony riders. In addition, the West Coast Pony Finals, one of the largest gatherings of ponies outside of the USEF Pony Finals, is in its ninth year of championships for both hunter and jumper ponies. "Many West Coast riders can't make the trek to Kentucky for the National Championship, so we started this event in 2000. It has grown into one of...

John Williams and Sweepea Dean Lead CCI*** (Shannon Brinkman) Elkton, MD – Autumn seemed to bypass the 2009 Dansko Fair Hill International in favor of winter, as cold temperatures and steady rain gripped the USEF National Eventing CCI** and CCI*** Championships for the first day of dressage. John Williams’ faith in Sweepea Dean was finally rewarded with a breakout performance for the Olympic veteran with the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Their test showcased good lateral work...

The U.S. team at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany, is currently in fourth position in the standings after dressage. The U.S. drivers put down excellent performances in the past two dressage days and are only one point behind The Netherlands, who is in third position. Host nation and team title defender, Germany, ahead of Belgium, leads the standings. Germany’s Franz-Josef Lehmkuhl, who will end his active driving career after this event, won the Single...

Lexington, KY—The Mt. Eden Vaulters, of Saratoga, CA, finished the Kentucky Cup Vaulting on Sunday the way they started it on Thursday—by sweeping the first-placed awards. In the CVI2*, Megan Benjamin won the women’s division, Kenny Geisler won the men’s division and the Mt. Eden Sun Team won the team division. The Kentucky Cup is the vaulting test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held September 25 to October 10, 2010. The World Championships...

Gladstone, NJ – After a four day battle, the rain finally won at the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, and collectively the Ground Jury and the management decided that, in the best interest of the horses, the competition was suspended after the Young Riders rode first thing Sunday morning. This meant that Leslie Morse was crowned USEF National Grand Prix Champion for the fifth time. Morse GP Raymeister (SusanJStickle.com) and her beloved 15-year-old Swedish...

Lexington, KY – It was tight at the top of the leaderboard at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event but the first three places remained unchanged, as Lucinda Fredericks, Bettina Hoy and Buck Davidson each jumped immaculate clear show jumping rounds. Fredericks, who took over the lead from Hoy after the cross country, had all kinds of horse left in the brand new main arena at the Kentucky Horse Park and Headley Britannia bounded around Richard Jeffrey’s track, giving the pair their...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Ken Braddick) Wellington, FL – The inaugural Exquis World Dressage Masters debuted at the palm Beach International Equestrian Club on January 30. The brisk weather made for some frisky horses but the USA’s star from the 2008 Olympic Games shone brighter than ever. Steffen Peters, who traveled from San Diego, CA for the occasion with Aikiko Yamazaki’s Ravel put on a performance that was very much the best of the Grand Prix – and the highest score...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The dressage riders temporarily reclaimed the ring from the show jumpers tonight at Sha Tin and although Germany continued to rule… the Americans put in an impressive showing. Two US riders were in the fold and Steffen Peters and Ravel (who is owned by Aikiko Yamazaki) were first of the pair in the ring. Their test was brilliant, with no mistakes, Peters did a masterful job in the piaffe and passage and guided the...

Lexington, KY – Driver Chester Weber continued his stellar European campaign over the weekend with a convincing win at the German Fahrderby in Riesenbeck, Germany. The Fahrderby (Driving Derby) is a unique competition which consists of six separate phases. It began with each competitor driving a pair the first morning - a class that is equivalent to a show hunter class. Four drivers enter a standard driving arena and are directed by the judges to perform specific movements from letter to...

Region 5 Junior Dressage Team (Kenneth Braddick) By Joanie Morris Parker, CO - After all the dressage horses sailed through the first horse inspection on Tuesday, Wednesday brought the first championship day at the 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North. The junior dressage riders led the way and their division showcased stylish performances throughout the junior team test. Region 5 prevailed in a close battle that...