Co Cork, Ireland – With some challenges and a new Olympic format to contend with, The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team persevered this weekend during the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Ireland at the Millstreet International Horse Trials, finishing fifth. Personal bests, injuries, and stellar cross-country efforts made their presence known among the U.S. team, but Buck Davidson, Hallie Coon, and Liz Halliday-Sharp rose to the occasion when the going got tough. “It was really good to test the...

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Badminton, England – Land Rover/USEF Eventing Grant recipient Lauren Kieffer and Veronica became the first American combination to finish in the top-10 of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday in more than a decade. 2007 was the last time a U.S. combination broke the top-10 barrier, when Kim Severson (Charlottesville, Va.) and Winsome Adante finished third. Placing ninth overall, Kieffer (The Plains, Va.) and the...

Lexington, Ky. - The conditions could not have been more perfect for a day of brilliant cross-country action, and the riders and horses did not disappoint. Defending champion Michael Jung of Germany and fisherRocana FST showed the depth of their partnership to take over the top spot after adding only 0.4 penalties to his dressage score to lead with 27.5. Breathing down his neck is Australia's Chris Burton and Nobilis 18 (27.9) and Oliver Townend of Great Britain on Cooley Master Class (28....

Mill Spring, N.C. - The Tryon International Equestrian Center, home of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG), hosted the WEG Driving Test Event this past weekend. The CAI3* competition, held from April 20-22, saw single pony, pair pony, single horse, and four-in-hand horse combinations compete at the top-notch venue. The precursor to the WEG allowed athletes and support staff to familiarize themselves with the venue and various facilities. A marathon obstacle at the WEG Driving...

Lexington, Ky. – On Tuesday, July 25, the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors unanimously approved recommended guidelines for the USEF horse welfare and safety penalties. These guidelines are not mandatory but rather meant to advise the USEF Hearing Committee in the types and ranges of penalties to render in horse welfare and safety cases. At their meeting this past January, the Board of Directors requested a review and evaluation of the penalties issued in welfare-related...

Team Gold at FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO4* Langley (Photo Credit: Rebecca Berry @rebecca_d_berry) Langley, British Columbia – In the third and final leg of the FEI Nations Cup North America, Central America, and Caribbean League, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team bested home team Canada and rivals Mexico and Ireland to secure their qualification for the FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona, Spain, September 28 – October 1. The Canadian team claimed silver on 14 faults,...

Lexington, Ky. - Phillip Dutton’s mount, Mr. Medicott, has not competed in a four-star eventing competition since 2014. However, with the six-time Olympian in the driver’s seat, Mr. Medicott made his return a great one, as the combination placed fourth in the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three Day-Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE). As the top-placing American, Dutton picked up his fifth Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship for the Roger Haller Trophy. Germany’s Michael...

McLain Ward and HH Azur (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Whether there is truth to superstitions, many athletes have them and equestrian athletes are no exception. The U.S. athletes at the FEI World Cup™? Finals have various ideas about getting luck on their side. Read on to find out whose superstitions involve boots, back numbers, and more: Kasey Perry-Glass, dressage “I don’t have superstitions. I try to work on my preparation throughout the day so I don’t get as stressed,...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Para-equestrian dressage competition continued on Monday at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with day two of Team tests. Riding as an Individual in the Grade Ia Team test, Roxanne Trunnell gave a strong performance to score 69.348%. Competing in Grade Ia for the U.S. Team was Margaret McIntosh, who scored 68.087%. Currently ranked 11th in the team standings, the U.S. Team will see its final representative, Rebecca Hart, Tuesday in the Grade II Team test, while Angela Peavy...

Calgary, Alta. – The United States’ McLain Ward and HH Azur went head-to-head against Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Ursula XII in a nail-biting jump-off at the CP International Grand Prix presented by Rolex on Sunday. Because the defending champions went triple-clear, Ward and HH Azur needed to complete the jump-off under 41.19 seconds. Unfortunately, they had a rail at fence two, a Rolex vertical, to end on four faults for second place. Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca and...