Randi Muster (The 2010 USEF Pony Finals begins at the Kentucky Horse Park.) Lexington, KY - August 10, 2010 - The 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships got underway today with the Green Pony model and under saddle for each section of Large, Medium and Small Green ponies. With the large number of entries that qualified over the last year of competition turning out, each pony size was divided into multiple sections. The heat index was over 100 degrees for...

Cesar Parra and Olympia (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – In his first opportunity to ride for a US National Championship, Cesar Parra capitalized on the chance and took home top honors at the USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship at the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions. A Colombian native, Parra began riding under the US flag in 2009, since then he has reaped the reward. “I wanted to go for it,” said Parra after his ride. “These are very good riders,...

SportFot (Ben Asselin earned the Junior Rider Gold medal at the NAJYRC.) LEXINGTON, KY - AUGUST 1, 2010 - On the final day of competition at the 2010 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, the jumpers ruled as the USHJA Jumper Championships brought to a close the five-day international event. The Juniors took to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Main Stadium first for the final two rounds of the five-round contest, and when the dust cleared in was Ben...

Photo by Jon Kassel (Kelly Farmer and Listen) Showplace Productions produced a beautiful derby day at Tapestry Farm in Bristol, WI, this weekend following the completion of its Showplace Summertime Horse Show. Tapestry Farm owners Clay and Donna Struve welcomed many of the country's top horses and riders to their scenic farm for a day full of exceptional competition and hospitality for all to benefit the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Horseman's Assistance Fund. Professional...

July 16, 2010 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today its team members for competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, which begins with the Opening Ceremony on Aug. 14. The U.S. Team will include 82athletes competing in 18 sports, the maximum number of qualified U.S. athletes. The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event held in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee that will take place every four years...

K.C. Montgomery (Shawn Flarida RC Fancy Step) Oklahoma City, OK – The 2010 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championships, which also served as the USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan US Reining Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, featured fierce competition with a national title and a ticket to the World Equestrian Games on the line. The Oklahoma State Fairgrounds main coliseum was rocking on Saturday night and when the dust settled Shawn Flarida held on to his lead and had the best two...

Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Shakira do Jacare and owner Sarah Owen during the retirement ceremony.) Shakira do Jacare, the brilliant 14-year-old Brazilian-bred chestnut mare owned by Sarah Owen and Muny Sunk Stables officially retired from the sport of show jumping in an emotional ceremony during the 2010 Atlanta Summer Classics. Dubbed the “Queen of Speed” by her competitors, Shakira’s presence alone at many a grand prix was enough to rattle the nerves of most seasoned jumpers. However,...

Wayne, IL-June 27, 2010- It was another beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center where the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials are occurring for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Riders and their top mounts entered the arena in front of spectators, their peers and international judges. The three judges included Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR). Saturday was the individual competition, which will be counted alongside Friday’s team tests,...

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation welcomed internationally renowned dressage rider and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Developing Dressage Coach Debbie McDonald to Hamilton Farm for the second of three Developing Dressage Clinics this past weekend, June 12-13, 2010. Aiding the development of this nation's up-and-coming dressage riders, the two-day clinic led by McDonald provided important guidance and insight to the nine riders who were invited to participate based upon...

The wind tried to take center stage during the High Prairie Spring Classic, but nothing could unseat Bjorn Ikast, who continued to take the High Prairie jumper division by storm. A virtual fixture at the Colorado Horse Park, Ikast brought back a stunning six horses to the jump-off in the $10,000 Riders Choice High Prairie Grand Prix on Saturday. “I am very pleased to have eight grand prix horses to ride now,” Ikast said. “They are all going very well. It’s great!” Of the 16 horse-and-rider...