Reisenbeck, Germany- The U.S. produced the strong start they were looking to make on Thursday at the FEI Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships, with two of the three American entries performing their dressage tests. Chester Weber led the charge for the U.S. driving a spectacular test scoring 33.41 to hold the lead after day one. Weber (Ocala, FL) has long been known for his ability to produce a winning dressage test and did not disappoint today in Germany. Driving his own Para and Boy W as...

Rachel Porter and Rio reach for the win Zionsville, IN - Equitation took center stage Thursday in the Main Hunter Arena at the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show held at Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN. After a series of thunderstorms dumped much-needed rain Wednesday night, the hunter classes were postponed until Friday but there was still plenty of action with the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal, the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National...

Walking up the steps from the mixed zone to the athlete seating takes 20 seconds. I have done it 29 times, after each ride. 29 times without a medal. Each time - the climb becomes more painful. We are trying, we are working, we are willing - we just aren’t winning. It is immensely frustrating. Our horses look great, our riders are well-coached, you can feel and hear their frustration when they make mistakes. My heart breaks for them when they don’t make mistakes and their best still...

The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised! In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much...

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson takes over lead in HSBC Rankings. Image: (Kit Houghton/FEI) Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has taken over as world number one in the HSBC Rankings after the London 2012 Olympic Eventing competition in Greenwich Park. Nicholson, captain of New Zealand’s bronze medal-winning team at London 2012, is now 46 points clear of William Fox-Pitt (GBR) who had led the HSBC Rankings since April. London 2012 is Andrew Nicholson’s sixth Olympic Games. New Zealand’s...

Lexington, KY- The U.S. will be represented by two horses this week at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses held August 1-5, 2012 in Verden, Germany. Sanceo, ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery, and Florentinus V, ridden by Jennifer Hoffman, will both compete in the six-year-old championship. Both horses were deemed sound and fit to compete at today’s Horse Inspection and begin competition Friday in the Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter—Schulze. Friday’s test will...

Laura Chapot and Umberto on course in the $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – HITS-on-the-Hudson has been dubbed The Chapot Show as Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey won her third Grand Prix in a row when she produced the only double-clear ride in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Last Sunday during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, Chapot won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by...

Shade and Katie Lambert-Boone. Traverse City, MI - Amid bright blue skies and perfect summer weather, thousands of participants from all over North America kicked off the Horse Shows By the Bay Series. Taking advantage of perfect conditions, the first day of professional hunter competition showcased an uncanny day of "Trifectas." In a rare feat, all four professional hunter divisions--First Year Green Working Hunter, Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter, Green Conformation Hunter and...

Official Inn of The Jumper Classic The Exeter Inn, Exeter, New Hampshire Hampton Falls, NH - The New England area's largest equestrian show jumping event, The Jumper Classic - featuring the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix - comes to the Hampton Falls, NH area during the week of August 8-12, 2012. For this occasion several conveniently-located inns and hotels are offering special packages for fans. With just two months to go before hundreds of horses and thousands of spectators...

Jaclyn Pepper is on of four young riders selected for the 2012 Olympic Dream Program(Laura Price) Lincoln, NE –Four young riders have been selected for the 2012 Olympic Dream Program that annually sends young riders to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. The program is administered and funded annually by The Dressage Foundation (TDF). An independent selection committee, after reviewing dozens of applications, chose Nicole DelGiorno (NJ), Catherine Chamberlain (AZ), Jaclyn...