Early nights all round for the dressage and eventing teams; and I bet there are a ton of people out there that wish they could turn in to their slumber pits early as well. Overnight equine arrivals plus the huge amount of work that the equestrian experts supporting the Rio 2016 Organising Committee have had to undertake, has ensured that there are many tired people out there. But these experts have done an excellent job getting the venue ready and whilst there remain frustrations and areas...

This is stressful. Sitting in the Team tack room watching a procession of athletes destroying our supplies of snacks, drinks, and other culinary delights: Clearly they do not get fed at home and this is an enjoyable adventure for them. Ok, I get it, they and the grooms are who matter most but all the bottles and snacks were lined up in regimental rows and now a tornado has destroyed the illusion of order. Rewind. Monday morning (Europe time) Clan Dressage deployed to Rio; horses from Liege...

This may not be a photo likely to win any photographic competitions but it was taken at 2:30 a.m. from my bedroom. No, I am not some weird stalker or peeping tom but this is a photo of the merry bunch of selfish insomniacs that decided to have a very loud speaker (top right quarter of the photo) playing until about 3:30 a.m. Yes, I kinda wish I had something more persuasive to hand than a Canon camera… in fact a canon would have done very nicely. The eventing horses have settled in very...

Aaron Vale continued his winning streak at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival on Friday winning the $25,000 CWD Welcome Stake aboard Bonzini S. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) capped off on Friday with the $25,000 CWD Welcome Stake, which saw 34 horses and riders battle it out for the coveted prize money. Wednesday's 1.40m Jumpers winner, Aaron Vale, and Thinkslikeahorse's Bonzini S came out on top to secure...

Aachen, Germany – Members of the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team performed in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen Thursday, which served as their final Nations Cup competition prior to the Rio Olympic Games. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Lucy Davis, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward put in valiant efforts in a very competitive field to tie with France for the Silver medal on four faults. Germany won the Gold medal...

Meagan Nousz and Willow galloped to victory in the $25,000 Amalaya Investments Welcome Stake at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - Meagan Nusz and Willow began their partnership three years ago, but it was not until just three months ago that Nusz and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding really hit their stride. They showcased their winning relationship on Friday by clinching the first place prize in the $25,000 Amalaya Investments...

Richard Spooner and Cristallo, repeat winners of the CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby. (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB, Canada – One of the most challenging competitions at the Spruce Meadows Summer Series, the CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby always has plenty of drama for spectators. Today was no different as Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo won for the second year in a row and third time in their careers. Lisa Carlsen (CAN) and Worlds Judgement finished second, while Daniel Coyle (IRL) and...

McLain Ward and Best Buy on their way to a $15,000 KindredBio Jumper Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - Horses and riders descended upon Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson III to compete in Saturday’s $15,000 KindredBio Jumper Prix. McLain Ward, ranked the world’s number one rider in show jumping, returned to HITS-on-the-Hudson for the first time since his third-place finish in the 2015 Canadian Pacific $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo,...

Best Young Horse Arbor Hill with Handler Richard Taylor (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - For the second year in a row, Richard Taylor and Arbor Hill stood front and center in the Dixon Oval on the final day of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Owned by Kenneth Wheeler and handled by Taylor, Arbor Hill took home the Kenneth Wheeler Perpetual Trophy for Best Young Horse. Taylor and Arbor Hill (Redwine - Paisley), kicked off the day by winning the Three-Year-Old Other Than...

Erica Quinn and Need I Say (Flying Horse Photography) Mill Spring, N.C. - Erica Quinn of Mainesville, OH, and Need I Say captured their first career derby win together, topping the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Quinn and Need I Say received a final two round score of 369 to take the win. Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL, guided Point Being and Baltimore to second and third place respectively, earning total...