In 2003, Virginia Tech placed the first sensors inside football helmets to measure head acceleration data that could characterize concussions. Nearly two decades later, the university’s Helmet Lab is on the cusp of adding equestrian sport to its arsenal of public safety information on helmet use and unveiling its STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) ratings system for helmets. At the Equestrian Symposium, held Aug. 11-12 in Blacksburg, Va., Drs. Steve Rowson, Stefan Duma,...

After your horse, your helmet is probably your closest partner when you’re riding or driving. Like your horse, it also requires care—and, eventually, a happy retirement! Whether your helmet is stylish, blingy, or classically elegant, it’s a crucial piece of safety equipment first and foremost, and it’s important to keep it in good condition. We asked the helmet experts at Charles Owen . Here’s what they advise: Keep it cool. Don’t store your helmet in direct...

Rio 2016 continue to mess up a perfectly functional transport system, U.S. Dressage rider hits another Personal Best, and the Jumping horses have started leaping. All is good in Rio. The transport (to be more precise the Drop Off / Pick Up) debacle would be comical if it wasn’t so disruptive to everything that we (and other Nations) have been doing for the last two weeks. To then be told that it was our fault and that we, the Teams, were disobeying the rules was insulting and insane....

I started this blog this morning with the aim of completing by the start of the jumping competition and extolling the virtues of the Glorious 12th. However it is now evening and the blog is only just being started due to the time consuming shenanigans of the Annoying 14th. It has been one of those days that Rio 2016 have perfected the art of creating; frustrating and unnecessary. Casting my mind back to the Glorious 12th, I still get goosebumps combined with deep reoccurring nervous tension...

Early nights all round for the dressage and eventing teams; and I bet there are a ton of people out there that wish they could turn in to their slumber pits early as well. Overnight equine arrivals plus the huge amount of work that the equestrian experts supporting the Rio 2016 Organising Committee have had to undertake, has ensured that there are many tired people out there. But these experts have done an excellent job getting the venue ready and whilst there remain frustrations and areas...

The Plains, Virginia -- February 12, 2016 -- The Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® has extended invitations world wide for nations to compete at Great Meadow this July when it hosts the first FEI Eventing Nations' Cup™ ever held outside Europe. Top riders will bring world-class horses and showcase their hard work and preparation at the picturesque Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, July 9-10. The event will be the final outing for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing...

Lexington, KY - May 15, 2015 - Over 40 world-class show jumping riders will join local Olympian Reed Kessler and her mom Teri, and Irishman-turned-Lexingtonian Willie Tynan, in the show ring at the inaugural Split Rock Jumping Tour May 22-24 in Lexington, Kentucky. Along with riding talent, 20 national sponsors will join forces with 10 generous Lexington businesses to help Derek Braun deliver the promise of an ‘unparalleled show jumping experience’ for riders, spectators, and...

Manuel Torres and Cinderella top the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix presented by Zoetis (©ESI Photography) Culpeper, Va. - The clock didn’t strike midnight on Cinderella and Manuel Torres at HITS Culpeper this weekend. The eight-year old Westphalian mare carried Torres (Leesburg, Virginia) to top honors in the $40,000 Grand Prix presented by Zoetis. With only a handful of grand prix in her repertoire, Cinderella picked up her second high-performance blue on Sunday. “She’s peaking...

Lexington, KY - Land Rover North America and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today that they will continue their longstanding partnership through 2016. Land Rover, the leader in world-class sport utility vehicles, will remain the official vehicle sponsor of the USEF as well as title sponsor of the Land Rover United States Eventing Team and the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Program for Eventing Riders. "The Land Rover brand is distinguished for combining...

Gramercy Park (Clip Clip Click) Lexington, KY - In 2011, the Peter Wetherill Cup debuted as an award to celebrate a current equine athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of a top-class show hunter. This prestigious perpetual trophy is presented annually at the Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular in Wellington, FL, to the owner of the World Championship Hunter Rider Program's Hunter of the Year. The elegant silver cup was donated by the USHJA Foundation in honor of late horseman Peter...