A final assessment has been carried out on the all-weather footing at Greenwich Park, and given approval by the FEI. Debbie Jevans, LOCOG Director of Sport, who was present at the assessment, commented: “With support from the FEI, the contractors and our own team have done a great job to get the make-up of the surface right, and we now believe this will be a world class surface for the equestrian athletes in a stunning Olympic venue.” The surface was changed after last year’s...

It takes a lot of people to keep our U.S. show on the road, so the first Barn Notes will be fairly basic introductions of the Dressage staff: Barn Manager Dougie Hannum first travelled with the U.S. Team in 1966 as a show jumping groom and he hasn't missed much over the last four decades. The first team horse he looked after was called Ilan, he belonged to James Paxton but Frank Chapot rode him on the team and Dougie was part of the deal. He was around when a jumping horse named Sloopy had...

USEF CEO John Long with Craig Ferrell, M.D. (Riders4Helmets.) Lexington, KY U.S. Equestrian Team Physician and Chair of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Medical Council, Craig Ferrell M.D, will be attending the International Olympic Committee International Federations’ Medical Commission Chairpersons Meeting in Monaco April 6, 2011. The meeting is for international sport federation national chairmen, and is sponsored by the IOC. Dr. Ferrell intends to provide updates during the...

Lauren Barwick. (Photos courtesy Lindsay Y McCall.) Del Mar, CA - Canadian Para-Equestrian Team member Lauren Barwick dominated the Grade II division at the 2011 Dressage Affaire at the Del Mar Horsepark during the CPED13* Para-Equestrian Dressage competition, riding away with the blue ribbon on Off To Paris and the red on Ferdonia 2 in the Individual Test. Barwick also took home top honors in the Freestyle, riding Ferdonia 2 to first place with a high score of 75.167% and earning second on Off...

Elizabeth Benson and San Remo VDL. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The 4th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships, presented by Artisan Farms, were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the class saw an exciting win for 16-year-old Elizabeth Benson of Whitehouse Station, NJ, trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables....

Lucy Davis and Old Oak Farm's Hannah. (Flying Horse Photography©.) Thermal, CA — Horsepower Weekend at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA, shifted into high gear when Lucy Davis rode Old Oak Farm’s Hannah to the top placing in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. It was a perfect Friday afternoon of show jumping in the majestic Strongid C 2X Stadium. Under bright blue skies, while nearly five dozen horses tested the course, the berm surrounding the Oasis VIP...

Wellington, FL - March 5, 2011 - The $35,000 Hermès Puissance was the highlight event on Saturday night, and it was an exciting show of power and scope. Pablo Barrios (VEN) was the winner after he cleared the 7'3" puissance wall with G&C Quivola, owned by Gustavo Mirabal. The FTI WEF's eighth week of competition, sponsored by G&C Farm, concludes on Sunday, March 6. The Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic will be held on Sunday followed by the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty...

Grand Prix Ring at Horse Shows by the Bay. (Photo courtesy Horse Shows by the Bay.) Traverse City, MI - Flintfields Horse Park, home of the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, is pleased to report that plans are well underway for the new footing that is being installed this spring in the main competition arenas and warm ups. Footing that stays safe and consistent throughout the course of the competition, no matter the weather, is very important to management and Flintfields Horse Park...

Wellington, FL - Last week's Dressage Under the Stars was a crowd favorite, as four former dressage young riders competed to fantastic popular music in exciting dress. Riders last week were Mica Mabragana from Argentina, Kasi Barteau who did a rendition of the Lion King, winner of the evening Jocelyn Wylese, and Mary Lauthorio who made her horse into a rocket ship in honor of the final NASA spaceship launch. Neil Hirsh, owner of the Player's Club which hosts the evening remarked "It was...

Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. (Phelps Media Group. ) Wellington, FL - Preparations are under way at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL, as the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, the American leg of the world's premier dressage series, draws nearer. The Jim Brandon Center will welcome a group of the most successful international dressage riders and horses from North America and Europe on March 9-11, as they compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach...