LaBaule, France - A Dutch show jumper will be first into the ring as the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series gets underway in La Baule, France tomorrow afternoon. At the draw held this morning, the order of go was decided as follows: 1. The Netherlands 2. USA 3. Switzerland 4. Sweden 5. France 6. Germany 7. Belgium 8. Ireland 9. Great Britain. A number of nations have nominated five riders but Switzerland and Germany have sent just four so Steve Guerdat, Christina Liebherr, Jane Richard...

At the Kentucky International Equine Summit Olympic Gold medalist David O’Connor urged the disparate elements of America’s horse industry to work in concert to improvement promotion in the sport. He said that the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) gives America’s horse community a unique opportunity to reach a large segment of the public. The WEG is to be held in September in Lexington, Ky. He made his remarks on Tuesday at the Kentucky International Equine Summit, sponsored jointly...

The successful Heat and Humidity Workshop recently staged in Lausanne put the challenges facing horses and riders at this summer's Olympic Games in Hong Kong into ever-sharper focus and provided a wealth of information for veterinary officials and others involved in the world of equestrian sport. The speakers included officials from the Hong Kong Jockey Club which is providing the venue facilities, as well as veterinary expertise and the use of its top-class laboratory, the Equestrian Company...

The launch of the P.R.E. Mundial worldwide registry for the Pure Spanish Horse went off without a hitch this week, as the PREA staff of The Foundation in Albuquerque, NM, went into full swing to rush the first batch of cartas to their owners. Horses were registered who were born in five different countries—Germany, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico and the United States—making a truly worldwide beginning for the new registry. All hands were on deck with two of the directors of The...

WELLINGTON, FL—The CN Winter Equestrian Festival opened a 12-week run Wednesday to accolades from riders over the rebuilt Palm Beach International Equestrian Center that was a celebration of color with thousands of flowers decorating the show grounds. Labels of "world class," "unbelievable" and "amazing" were applied by exhibitors to the show grounds that were taken over by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP) just one month and one day before the start of WEF. Opening day saw 929 horses...

"Football and basketball fans have been doing this for years, and now horse sport fans can have online fantasy teams," said Mary Ross, founder of the Challenge of the Americas (COTA) Fantasy Team Challenge. "If you've ever dreamed about creating the perfect team of dressage riders or show jumpers, and including yourself or a stable pal in the mix, this is the opportunity. It's fun, exciting and for a good cause." The COTA Fantasy, a benefit for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF),...

Gunner has long been the horse the whole reining world loves. When he was shown, the cheering started as soon as his name was announced, long before he made it into the ring, and he never disappointed his fans. The trademark white leg and tail, floppy ears and explosive maneuvers made him a horse for the ages. In 2007, Gunner has come of age as a breeding horse, as well, becoming a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Sire. That’s a huge accomplishment, considering that his...

Harrisburg, PA - This past weekend, Karen Healey Stables came out in force for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. In the USEF/Pessoa Medal Finals, one of the oldest and most competitive equitation finals in the country, Karen Healey students Hannah Selleck, Tina DiLandri, and Shelby Wakeman finished second, third, and fourth, respectively. In addition to equitation success, Tina DiLandri was on the Zone 10 gold-medal winning team in the Prix de States junior jumper...

Kent Farrington may have had a different horse in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix this year but he still had the same magic touch conquering world renowned course designer Richard Jeffery's challenging course. A field of 30 riders entered the grand prix with seven riders advancing to the jump-off. The Ultimate Resort skinny jump with a roll back to the Fidelity Investments triple combination proved the most challenging elements of the course coming down consistently throughout...

Money makes the world go round, they say. It does indeed, and this certainly is true of the world of sport. From a leisurely activity practiced exclusively by amateurs, sport has now turned into a highly complex profession governed by its own business strategies and rules. Prize money, TV rights, sponsorship fees have never been higher, and there is no indication that the movement is about to slow down. Good things usually march hand in hand with less good ones. If the increase in finances...