www.flickr.com/photos/skodak (Rio de Janeiro) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 during its 121st Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid’s 32 in the final round of voting. IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated Rio de Janeiro on its election and praised the high quality of the bid, “I would like to congratulate the city of Rio de...

The rain that plagued the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday was nowhere to be found as the Juniors took to the dressage arena today for their first rides of the competition. Today’s rides would decide the Team medals, and all the riders arrived in top form. Taking home the Team Gold medal was the Ontario, Canada, team. The team, made up of Maura O’Sullivan and Pik Czar, Zachary Ball and Karajan, Megan Lane and Caravella, and Alexandra Dvorak and Fling, finished with a total of 196.433. Team Ontario...

Winners Again - This Time in St. Gallen (Courtesy of the FEI) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY - The US Show Jumpers continued their march across Europe with another amazing performance in St. Gallen, Switzerland in the third leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. Christine McCrea, Ashlee Bond, Laura Kraut and Richard Spooner stayed on the roll that began last week in Rome and continued with a jump-off for the win in Switzerland. “It doesn’t happen often back-to back to win in a top league like...

A century of sporting history will be celebrated when the much-anticipated first leg of the inaugural Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series takes place in La Baule, France, this weekend. It was in 1909 that the indoor London Olympia and outdoor San Sebastian shows first hosted military team jumping competitions and, 100 years on, the honor and distinction of representing one's country in the battle for team supremacy has lost none of its edge. The advent of new sponsors, the Dubai-based development...

The 2008 FEI General Assembly week got underway on Monday, November 17, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is set to run through Saturday, November 22. An impressive number of meetings are scheduled for the week, including the General Assembly on Thursday, November 21, as well as informative sessions and forums with guest speakers on the current issues facing the sport today. A Brief Glance at the Program Monday: Bureau Meeting I Tuesday: Regional Group Meetings Wednesday: Regional Group Meetings...

Lexington, KY— In the newly created 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Developing Horse Dressage Championship sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International, Guenter Seidel and U II had a strong showing Sunday to win the championship with a total score of 70.873. Similar to the Young Horse championship, the competitors faced high winds which made their rides difficult and a spooky environment for the horses. Seidel felt he was lucky to draw an...

The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show announces the publication of the 2008 prize list. Held from October 29-November 2, the Syracuse Invitational welcomes the National Horse Show to Syracuse along with top-ranked equestrians from across the U.S. and from around the world to compete in the War Memorial at the Oncenter Complex. Besides the highest level of competition, competitors and spectators alike enjoy shopping, entertainment and dining...

With only two more FEI World Cup™ qualifiers to run in the 2008 season, Australia’s Kevin McNab has sensationally swept into a huge lead in the FEI World Cup™ rankings, after scoring a one-two at his local qualifier at Warwick, Australia. A popular member of the local Queensland Eventing Committee, McNab, 30, now has 220 points, 60 clear of his nearest rival, Clark Montgomery (USA) with 160. McNab won at Warwick on Hufflepuff, his Melbourne runner-up, and finished second on Game Play. He is now...

A total of 42 Countries have qualified, either with team or individual, to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games, according to the qualification procedures of each discipline— FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, 22nd Edition , effective for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (Hong Kong). National Federations have until May 30 to confirm their participation. Jumping TEAM (16 NOCs will be qualified to take part with a team consisting of four riders and four horses or...

The 124th National Horse Show and Family Festival, held at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL, attracts the very best hunter and jumper athletes in the country. Top caliber competition at the National includes the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Championship Finals. Produced by the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, Inc. (SJHOF), Jumper Classic Series classes are held at only the most prestigious shows that meet particular standards and class specifications set forth...