Lexington, Ky. – Laura Graves and Verdades have advanced to the number two spot in the FEI World Dressage Rankings after a successful showing at the 2017 World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in July. This equals the highest ranking ever by a U.S. dressage combination. Germany’s Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD remain world-ranked number one. Great Britain’s Carl Hester and Nip Tuck are ranked third. Previously, Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and the 2002 KWPN gelding, who defeated...

The FEI is to freeze the Rolex Rankings points for jumping riders on maternity leave, starting with the April Rankings issued on March 31 . Under the new system, female riders will now lose only 50% of their Rolex Rankings points during their absence from competition while on maternity leave. The new ruling means that former world number one Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum moves up from 31st on the March Rolex Rankings to 20th following the reinstatement of 50% of her points. The German rider, who...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the debut of the new Vaulting Individual Ranking List . More than two years in the making, and for the first time in history, the List provides an up-to-date ranking of the United States’ best vaulters at any given moment in time. “This is an exciting step forward for vaulting, which will enhance and encourage interest in the sport significantly,” said Sally Ike, Director of Vaulting...

Lexington, Ky. - Due to the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme disruption to business this has caused, US Equestrian (USEF) is extending the deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI) from those organizations interested in being considered for designation as a USEF Recognized Affiliate for the international discipline of Endurance. Through its announcement released Monday, March 16 2020, USEF opened the submission period which was originally established...

Kevin Babington and Mark Q jump at the 2014 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has approved the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, September 6, 2015, as a CSI5* event. Based on the prize money and the ranking, this class should be the highest-ranked class in the United States this year. The new FEI CSI5* designation...

Ashton Alexander & Cafe de Colombia (Captured Moments Photography) Lexington, Ky. – The best junior riders attended the 2014 US Junior Hunter National Championship West Coast July 21-22 in hopes of being crowned the Overall Grand Champion. Over two days of tough competition at the Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, Calif., riders competed in three phases: Classic Round, Under Saddle, and Handy Hunter. The Under Saddle phase counts for 20% of the rider's overall score, while both the...

Conor Swail and GAME READY (photo © AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - It was a thrilling finale on the last night of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show as many of the world's top riders competed in the $85,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix De Penn National. You could hear the crowd collectively hold its breath as each horse sped around the course, but it was Irish rider Conor Swail and GAME READY who pulled out all the stops to clinch the win. Twenty four competitors attempted course designer...

Gerco Schroder (GCT Press Office) Vienna, Austria - America's Laura Kraut held on to her Longines Global Champions Tour Ranking lead after an exhilarating event in Vienna, Austria. Sunday's Grand Prix result set up a cliffhanger finale at the 12th leg of the season in Doha, Qatar in November. Without her top-mount Cedric, Laura had her doubts about whether she would be able to retain the No1 spot on the ranking, but after a strong first round, Laura qualified through to the second round...

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...

The June 1st FEI Eventing HSBC Rankings saw two Americans rise from ranks in the mid twenties all the way up into the top five. Jumping from 23rd to 5th place was Phillip Dutton who has amassed 351 points this season. Making Dutton's 18 place jump seem paltry was Boyd Martin who moved from 24th into a ranking as the 3rd best rider in the world. The only two riders with greater point totals than Martin's 420 are New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson with 515 and Rolex Kentucky Three Day...