Part I We have a green light and Mission Control has pressed the big red, white and blue button. Afterburners have been ignited and phase one of the move to Rio is under way. Ok, so a bunch of Team clothing arrived after we had left, we do not know how we are going to get some 60 bags from USOC Team Processing in Houston to Rio, we are not entirely sure where our containers are in Rio, and the delivery of Coca Cola product to the Venue in Rio didn't go quite as smoothly as we had hoped....

The Canadian Team in the Opening Ceremony Led by a Member of the Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club (www.22gates.com) The Plains, Va. - History was made on Friday as the Land Rover Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan® officially began with a poignant opening ceremony kick-starting the first-ever North American FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ . Athletes from five nations paraded in the Fleming Arena showcasing the teams and individual competitors who will participate in the historic...

Taylor Land and Nepal (Flying Horse Photography) Mill Spring, N.C. - Taylor Land of Atlanta, GA, and Nepal collected a first place finish in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) today, completing the jump-off in 40.795 seconds for the win. Luis Larrazabal of Wellington, FL, finished in second place aboard Quintus Fabius, crossing through the timers in 41.623 seconds, while Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM, and Cezarro earned third with a time of 42.012...

Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate on their way to a $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - HITS Saugerties at HITS-on-the-Hudson is back in action as the first week of the series kicked off with the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome. The team to beat was Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, aboard Thornhill Kate, co-owned by Mary Chapot. A clear jump-off round had yet to be seen in the course designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil, until Chapot...

Compiegne, France – On Saturday, eight international teams began CDIO5* competition with the Grand Prix Test at Compiegne. After stellar performances from The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team of Allison Brock, Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, and Kasey Perry-Glass, the U.S. led the field on a total of 226.800. Day two of CDIO5* competition was to include the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle tests, but a deluge of rain caused the cancelation of the remaining Nations Cup competition . Based on...

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet (Lily Forado) Compiegne, France – On Saturday, eight international teams began CDIO5* competition with the Grand Prix Test at Compiegne. After stellar performances from The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team of Allison Brock, Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, and Kasey Perry-Glass, the U.S. led the field on a total of 226.800. Day two of CDIO5* competition was to include the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle tests, but a deluge of rain caused the...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl won the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3* at the Kentucky Spring Classic. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Spring Classic's main event, the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3*, was an unforgettable one as Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl pulled off their third FEI win for the week. The win was extra meaningful to Minikus as it honored his dear friend and horsewoman Mary Rena Murphy. "I've been coming to the...

Compiegne, France – Eight international teams took to the arena in Compiegne Saturday as day one of the CDIO5* got underway. Team medals will be awarded based on the results of today’s Grand Prix tests and Sunday’s Grand Prix Special and Freestyle tests. The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, took a commanding lead following strong performances from Allison Brock, Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, and Kasey Perry-Glass. They lead on a total of...

Harold Chopping and Basje on their way to a $30,000 HITS Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Culpeper, Va. - One Grand Prix victory was not enough for Southern Pines, North Carolina, equestrian Harold Chopping in the first week of the HITS Culpeper Show Series. Coming off a hot streak with a first and second place finish in the $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix on Friday, as well as a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Saturday, Chopping closed out the weekend in style by taking home the...

Harold Chopping and Basje on their way to a $25,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix win. (ESI Photography) Culpeper, Va. - Harold Chopping, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, made a statement to kick-off the HITS Culpeper Summer Series, finishing first and second in the $25,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix held on Friday. Chopping claimed the blue with Basje, owned by Kendra Bullington, and finished a close second with Contefino 6, owned by Caroline Russell Howe. Five returned for the jump-off in...