McLain Ward and Miss Liberty 7 Wind Their Way to The Winners Circle McLain Ward showed the crowd that he deserves his many accolades, as he piloted Miss Liberty 7 to a perfectly planned and executed round to win the $10,000 Gem Twist Sprint Gambler's Choice at the 64th Pennsylvania National Horse Show. The Gambler's Choice competition is very different from the standard style of classes offered at horse shows. In the Gambler's Choice, the course designer places fences around the...

Chris Hickey and Cabana Boy (Photo by Mary Phelps ) Wayne, IL – Crowds hurried to the entrance of Lamplight Equestrian as the day started early with the first phase of the USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship presented by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International. Christopher Hickey and “Cabana Boy” did not disappoint, and were rewarded by judges Linda Zang, Hilda Gurney and Maryal Barnett for their efforts. This two-time Young Horse National...

The U.S. team at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany, is currently in fourth position in the standings after dressage. The U.S. drivers put down excellent performances in the past two dressage days and are only one point behind The Netherlands, who is in third position. Host nation and team title defender, Germany, ahead of Belgium, leads the standings. Germany’s Franz-Josef Lehmkuhl, who will end his active driving career after this event, won the Single...

Ailish Cunniffe is crowned Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Championship Final winner. (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY—By midday Sunday, the Kentucky Horse Park began to look vacant. Ponies were unbraided and cooled, loaded trailers rumbled toward home and the usually lively vendor row was filled with merchants striking their tents and packing their wares. After four days of fierce competition in the Pony Hunters and Jumpers, the whirlwind that is the 2009 USEF Pony Finals...

Maddy Darst (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY—There is a lot that goes into the makings of a champion pony. Just ask Ohio’s Meredith “Maddy” Darst. She would know. And to prove it, two of her mounts—Rock the Boat and Brownland’s Mr. Mac—jumped their way through the over fences phase of the 2009 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships to take the Medium Green Hunter Pony and the Small Green Hunter Pony champion...

Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister (Flashpoint Photography) Lexington, KY —The Young Riders in the dressage competition returned to the arena for the final time to perform their musical freestyles. The stadium was rocking as the 15 qualifying riders performed their choreographed routines for an exuberant audience during the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. The highest score thus far in the competition...

Nicole DelGiorno and Lamborghini Dane (Flashpoint Photography) Lexington, KY—The Junior dressage riders were back in the arena this morning for the Individual medal tests. Some gusty wind and impending storms made for some excitable horses, but the riders rose to the challenge and produced some lovely tests for the judges during the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships. In the end, less than one whole point separated first place from...

I am currently sitting in the O'Hare airport on the floor next to what appears to be the only functioning outlet in the place. All I can smell is latte. We had a botched breakfast plan yesterday so decided to go for coffee instead. I managed to spill not one but two cups of coffee on Martin Atock and on my backpack. Now if any of you know Martin, he doesn't like to be messy, he was then in the Venetian covered in Latte. He doesn't feel sorry for me that my bag smells funny but I do...

Hong Kong, China – The American Paralympians take to the center stage tomorrow at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Sha Tin at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. 28 countries will be represented, 11 of which are fielding teams. Leading off for the US in the first team spot will be Barbara Grassmyer riding her own wonderful mare, Mibis. Grassmyer, who is Grade III, will go down the centerline in Sha Tin’s main arena at 7.54 a.m. Grassmyer, who was born with Aperts Syndrome, has been forging a...

Lexington, KY - Following a routine drug test on August 19 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Mythilus, a US dressage horse, ridden by Courtney King-Dye, was found to have tested positive for Felbinac. Felbinac is considered a class A prohibited substance by the FEI. Felbinac is usually applied topically for the relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When Mythilus arrived in Hong Kong he was treated...