Indio, CA – With only two World Cup qualifiers left for the West Coast League, Nicole Simpson stakes a new claim in the top spot, positioning herself 15 points ahead of second ranked rider Joie Gatlin. Simpson now boasts an impressive 81 points to Gatlin’s 66. Last week’s first-ranked Richard Spooner is in third place following this latest qualifier, with 65 points. These top contenders are among nearly 30 West Coast riders vying for the three World Cup spots the League is...

Vejer de la Frontera, Spain – A team of four FEI Nations Cup debutantes represented the U.S. at the CSIO3* Victoria Nations Cup at Week 4 of the Sunshine Tour in the province of Cádiz, Spain. The U.S. was one of 20 countries fielding teams for the Nations Cup competition, and finished in a tie for 11th place out of the competitive group. “It was all of our U.S. athletes’ first Nations Cup and they did very well,” said Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski....

Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB, Canada – It was a picture perfect day for the biggest event of the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental CSI 5* Tournament, and it was a storybook ending for Peter Lutz (USA) and Robin de Ponthual, who scored their biggest victory together in the $375,000 CP Grand Prix. Second place went to Charlie Jacobs (USA) with Cassinja S, while Andrew Ramsay (USA) and California 62 were third. This marked the final day of the...

Matt Mills riding Mia Little Whiz (Kirkbride Photography) Scottsdale, Ariz . – The first of two remaining qualifying opportunities in the United States, the Sun Circuit FEI Concours de Reining International (CRI3***) offered another day of action-packed Reining. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation, the United States Equestrian Federation and USA Reining, and offering a valuable and vital qualifying opportunity for US Riders to advance to the Official Team Selection...

GCT Estoril (GCT Press Office) Estoril, Protugal - There was joy and heartbreak tonight as Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann seized his first Grand Prix win as Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz narrowly missed out on a home victory. After one of the toughest Grand Prix of the season so far, in sizzling temperatures in Estoril, von Eckermann and Gotha came out on top with Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos the only other combination to jump three clear rounds. The local crowd went wild with excitement...

Wayne, IL - Champions were crowned in four divisions Saturday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the Developing Horse Grand Prix, Five-Year-Old , Four-Year-Old and 13 & Under equitation competition wrapped up. In the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship supported by Hilda Gurney and Carol Lavell, Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU proved unbeatable as they cruised to victory by a decisive margin. Claiming the 2012 Five-Year-Old title was Lientje Schueler and Regalo, while...

Wellington, FL - March 19, 2016 - It was a day of firsts for Italy's Lorenzo de Luca as the 28-year-old rider guided Ensor de Litrange LXII to victory in the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix Lorenzo de Luca and Ensor de Litrange LXII. Copyright Sportfot. CSI 3* on Saturday during week ten of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). It was the rider's first grand prix win at the Winter Equestrian Festival on a new horse that he was competing in its very first FEI competition. It...

Waco, Texas. - For the first time this season, South Carolina is the nation’s No. 1 collegiate equestrian team according to the latest national team rankings from the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, as determined by the NCEA Selection Committee and announced on Tuesday. Following a pair of Baylor losses and a South Carolina win against Auburn, the Gamecocks move into the No. 1 spot for the first time this year. Georgia, which defeated Texas A&M on Saturday, moves to No. 2....

Brianne Goutal and Nice De Prissey (Rebecca Walton) North Salem, NY - On a perfect day in front of a sold-out crowd of over 4,000, 25-year-old Brianne Goutal added her name to the historical list of riders who have won the $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W, Presented by Suncast. Thirty-six entries gathered at Old Salem Farm for the international jumping competition, but it was Goutal and her talented mount Nice De Prissey that scored the winning honors after executing a quick and accurate...

Conor Swail Aboard Simba De La Roque (Curtis Wallis) New Albany, Ohio – The luck of the Irish strikes again as an Irishman wins the $125,000 New Albany Classic for the second year in a row. This year, Conor Swail and his 9-year-old chestnut gelding Simba De La Roque emerged from an eight rider jump-off to win the Authentic Cup at the 18th annual New Albany Classic held at the Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio. Swail held on despite a thrilling challenge from Beezie Madden, who is currently...