Harrie Smolders & Regina Z (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - The evening CSI5* 1.50m class at Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard was won by the master of faster Harrie Smolders (NED) and his feisty mare Regina Z, who raced to the top of the class from early in the draw finishing in an unbeatable time of 38.19s. Second went to Constant van Paesschen (BEL) who is hitting form again this season having collected a 3rd this morning. This time the young star rode a...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States has high hopes of strong finishes in European CSIO5* Nations Cup competition this week, as they field teams in both Hickstead, England, and Gijon, Spain. In Friday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines at CSIO5* Hickstead, the U.S. sends a veteran team into competition. McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Margie Engle, and Beezie Madden look to showcase the form that earned them spots on the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Short List...

Laura Graves & Verdades (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Aachen, Germany - Four members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team competed for the U.S. at the CHIO Aachen on Saturday. Laura Graves, Adrienne Lyle, and Caroline Roffman rode in the CDIO5* Grand Prix Special, while Shelly Francis rode in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle. Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and Verdades led the U.S. effort with an eighth-place finish aboard Verdades in the Meggle-Prize...

Kathleen Raine and Breanna (Shannon Brinkman) Aachen, Germany - The U.S. riders continued to show strong form in CDI4* competition on Friday at CHIO Aachen as both riders landed in the top seven. The United States was represented by Kathleen Raine and Lisa Wilcox in the Lindt-Prize where 10 entries from seven countries performed the FEI Grand Prix Special. Raine (Murrietta, Calif.) and Jennifer Mason, Kathleen Raine, and David Wightman's 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, Breanna, earned a score...

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca (Provided by Ebeling) Lexington, Ky. - Jan Ebeling has withdrawn Beth Meyer, Ann Romney, and Amy Ebeling’s Rafalca from the CDI4* Aachen and contention for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team. Ebeling (Moorpark, Calif.) decided that the welfare of the 17-year-old Oldenburg mare was paramount and that it would be in the best interest of World Cup and 2012 Olympic Games veteran to retire from competition. “With mixed emotions, we...

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince (The Book LLC) Lake Placid, N.Y. - Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, and Quointreau Un Prince won the $100,000 Woodlea Farms Adirondack Grand Prix Saturday to culminate the inaugural Adirondack Horse Show, Presented by Sea Shore Stables. Chapot was one of four entries from the starting field of 19 to reach the jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-jump, first-round course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. Julie Welles went first over the...

Angel Karolyi and Indiana 127 (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta - The 'North American' Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with an extraordinary showdown in the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby. It was déjà vu from the 'National' Tournament in June, as Angel Karolyi of Venezuela and Quentin Judge of the USA battled it out in an exciting derby jump-off. Judge took the win four weeks ago and was hoping to repeat his victory with...

Brandie Holloway benefitted from daughter Hunter's use of her horse for the Gladstone Program with George Morris (Carrie Wirth) Parker, Colo. - Colorado Horse Park's Week IV of Summer in the Rockies got underway Sednesday and the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena was rocking with show jumping action. The show is a sell-out for the next few weeks, with large numbers of competitors choosing to enjoy the undeniably ideal Colorado weather and the wonderful amenities of the Colorado...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the riders for the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team at CSIO5* Aachen. Robert Ridland will serve as Chef d'Equipe in Aachen. The following riders will compose the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team at Aachen CSIO5* in Aachen, Germany, July 15-20 (listed in alphabetical order): Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) Margie Engle (Wellington, Fla.) Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) Lauren Hough(Wellington,...

Richard Spooner riding Tuxedo (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Clagary, Alberta - Competition kicked off in the Chinook Ring Friday morning with the $8,000 Francis Family Cup 1.45m where Richard Spooner (USA) got his third win in a row this week. Held in a faults converted format, the competition saw 30 entries jumping a course set by Manuel Esparza of Mexico. About halfway through the order, Spooner and Tuxedo cleared the course in a time of 66.44 seconds that would hold on for the win. The...