Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2011, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 13, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. This year - a change from years past - both a national and international horse will win. The...

Lexington, KY- Four American horses and three riders are set to take on a huge, and hugely competitive field at the Boekelo CCI3* in The Netherlands. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for Boekelo is comprised of Boyd Martin’s pair Remington XXV (owned by Henley House Stables, LLC) and Otis Barbotiere (owned by The Otis Barbotiere Syndicate), Michael Pollard on his own, his wife Nathalie’s and his father-in-law Carl Bouckaert’s DV8 and Tamra Smith on Leigh Mesher’s Mar de...

Joe Yoder and Misdee Wrigley-Miller at the 2011 FEI World Driving Championship. Photo: Marie de Ronde. Lexington, KY - At the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championship in Conty, France, American Joe Yoder drove to sixth place Friday in the dressage and the American team - all three drivers making their International Championship debut - sits in fifth place heading into Saturday's marathon. Led by Chef d'Equipe Chester Weber and Coach Michael Freund, the U.S. is being...

McLain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve won the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show (Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG). Lexington, KY - It was a late night at the Kentucky Horse Park as riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium to compete in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. McLain Ward proved to be the best of the best, dominating the jump-off with the only two double clear efforts aboard Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve and Vocas to place...

Dressage At the CDI Milton in Canada, David Marcus came in seventh and eighth in the Prix St. Georges. He rode Don Kontes to a 64.035% for seventh and Chevri's Capital to a 63.860% for eighth. Marcus had strong finishes once again at Intermediaire I, finishing in third with Chevri's Capital with a score of 70.000% and sixth with Don Kontes with a score of 68.026%. Don Kontes came back once more for Marcus in the Intermediaire I Freestyle to score a 68.050% for a sixth place finish....

Ireland won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup™ series in a nail-biting thriller at La Baule in France today. On an afternoon when the form-book was turned on its head, Robert Splaine's side of Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Billy Twomey (Romanov), Cian O'Connor (Larkhill Cruiser) and Cameron Hanley (VDL Southwind) produced superb jumping to finish with a two-fault advantage over the runners-up from Belgium, while the mighty German side had to settle for third spot in...

Mario Deslauriers and Cella. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL Week 11 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with a victory for Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Cella in the $30,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale. Deslauriers and Cella, owned by Jane F. Clark, were the only pair to master the course with double clear rounds for the win. Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week and concluded the...

Beezie Madden and Danny Boy. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - The final round of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was held on Thursday afternoon with a victory for Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner's Danny Boy at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is sponsored by FTI Consulting Inc. The week's feature events will include the final Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the feature event of the...

Steffen Peters and Ravel at the FEI 5* horse inspection. (Marie Cobb/Susan J. Stickle.) Wellington, FL - The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5* presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach got off to an auspicious start on Wednesday, March 9, as all 15 horses were presented to the FEI Ground Jury and passed the mandatory inspection. They will go on to compete in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle over the next two days. The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach is...

Beezie Madden and Prima. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden scored her second win this week at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby. She and Prima, owned by Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC, were the fastest over a challenging derby course on the grass field at The Stadium. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's sixth week concluded today and was sponsored by Fidelity Investments. The 2011 WEF will continue...