Piber Köflach, Austria – The U.S. Driving Team of Donna Crookston, Sterling Graburn, and Suzy Stafford, along with individual Leslie Berndl, made a valiant effort at the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, which proved to be a true championship test. The strong international field consisted of 75 combinations from 23 countries, and after four days of competition, the U.S. team finished 14th. Sterling Graburn and Mannkato (Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com) Graburn (Paris,...

Benjamin Meredith and Anabelle 28 (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - Following an intense jump-off race during Thursday's $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, it was Benjamin Meredith who bested the field of horses and riders to celebrate the win aboard Shader Sporthorses LLC's Anabelle 28. "She did a fantastic job tonight," Meredith said. "I was very impressed. I started riding her again at the end of Florida this season so it's only been about five months. This is...

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,...