Wellington, FL - March 19, 2016 - It was a day of firsts for Italy's Lorenzo de Luca as the 28-year-old rider guided Ensor de Litrange LXII to victory in the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix Lorenzo de Luca and Ensor de Litrange LXII. Copyright Sportfot. CSI 3* on Saturday during week ten of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). It was the rider's first grand prix win at the Winter Equestrian Festival on a new horse that he was competing in its very first FEI competition. It...

Dortmund, Germany – For the second time, Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer will represent the United States at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Finals. Taking place March 4-6 in Dortmund, Germany, the sisters will compete in the pas-de-deux division against three teams for a chance at the title. Teams will perform in two freestyle competitions. The average score from both freestyle performances will determine the overall champion. Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer, winners of the Pas-de-Deux at the...

Sister Act - American sisters Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer secured a pas-de-deux victory at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2013/2014 leg at the Stuttgart German Masters. (Karl-Heinz Frieler/FEI) Stuttgart, Germany - The 2013 USEF Open Pas de Deux National Champions made a statement on the world stage this weekend by winning the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting qualifier at the Stuttgart German Masters on Sunday. The Pas de Deux qualifier series is new this year, and the Stuttgart leg was only the...

Wellington, FL - Yvonne Losos de Muniz of the Dominican Republic received one of the highest scores on Dondolo Las Marismas at the West Palm Beach National Show on Saturday. The pair won the Freestyle with 77.875% at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival. (GDF) "It was amazing! It felt like one of the best tests I have ever done with him," said Losos de Muniz. "It was so smooth and he was with me the whole way. I have not had such a good ride with him in a long time. It was...

www.flickr.com/photos/skodak (Rio de Janeiro) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 during its 121st Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid’s 32 in the final round of voting. IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated Rio de Janeiro on its election and praised the high quality of the bid, “I would like to congratulate the city of Rio de...

Valle de Bravo, Mexico – January 20, 2016 – The newly minted North American League Longines FEI World Cup qualifying season continues in 2016 in Mexico. With ten events complete, four remain before the Finals this March in Gothenburg. The first of those four is also the first ever FEI World Cup Qualifying event produced in Mexico. Welcome to Valle de Bravo CSI4*. Patricio Pasquel and Carnival. Photo by Anwar Esquivel/EqSol Setting Latin American records right from the start, 81...

Doda de Miranda and AD Amigo B (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its fourth week of competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, on Wednesday with a $34,000 1.45m speed class to kick things off in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Following a win in Sunday's $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with AD Argos to conclude week three, Brazil's Alvaro 'Doda' de...

McLain Ward and Dulien Van De Smeets fly to a win (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When McLain Ward climbed down from the tack of Dulien Van De Smeets after winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis, he didn’t look for congratulations, but marched straight to the mare’s owner, his godmother. Susie Heller stood clutching a winner’s trophy and was scooped up by Ward’s embrace. Every win is special, but this was divinely special. This week marked the...

Café de Colombia and Ashton Alexander (Captured Moments Photography) Del Mar, Calif. - Directly after wrapping up the final jumper classes on Sunday of the Showpark Summer Festival, the striped poles were set aside to welcome a prestigious annual event. Decorated flower boxes, walls, rolltops and such were carefully set on the gorgeous grand prix field in preparation for the 2014 US Junior Hunter National Championship, West Coast, on Monday morning. With three phases over two days, Monday...

Jordan MacPherson and Piccobello du val de Geer (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Sunday with a win for Jordan MacPherson (CAN) and Piccobello du val de Geer in the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in Association with Guido Klatte, also kicked off with its...