Exploding wine bottle, flooding hotel, horse inspection, surprise substitutions, interesting team running orders, lost & found luggage, and a Brazilian party in the Maracanã Stadium. Quite a couple of days. So where to start; perhaps with the job in hand. All the U.S. horses looked fit, well and beautifully turned out by the grooms and the horse inspection went without a hitch for the U.S. Running order declared (Boyd, Clark, Lauren & Philip) and the dressage horses having been...

I would describe today as a Between Day; somewhere between good and bad, and for my persona, somewhere varying between “sociably acceptable and bear with sore head and irritated butt”. There is a standing guideline within the British Military called the 1/3rd - 2/3rd Rule – of the time available, use 1/3rd for your own planning leaving 2/3rds for your subordinates. I think it works in reverse when preparing for the first arrival of horses, grooms, staff and OMG..they are...

McLain Ward and HH Azur claim the top prize in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier Bridgehampton, N.Y. - The 41st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show is excited to announce its inaugural Jump for Charity program. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Hampton Classic has a mission to support other charities in the community and has done so in the past for several local non-profit organizations and equestrian-related causes. This year the Classic hopes to give back even more and has...

Harold Chopping and Basje on their way to $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Culpeper, Va. - Riders and horses turned out for Friday’s $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix as a weekend of excitement kicked off at the Cavalier Classic, the third week of HITS Culpeper. Coming home with the victory was Southern Pines, North Carolina equestrian Harold Chopping aboard Basje, owned by Kendra Bullington. This win makes Chopping and Basje’s third blue ribbon in the Grand Prix...

Ali Wolff and Caya (Liz Crawley Photography) Mill Spring, N.C. - Ali Wolff (USA) and Caya dominated in today's $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake CSI4* at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), exemplifying speed and agility with a remarkable time of 61.42 seconds.Trailing not far behind Wolff and earning second place honors was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Famoso D Ive Z with a time of 62.81 seconds, also winners this week in the $35,000 Horseware® Ireland Opener...

Spencer Brittan and Unico won Sunday's $50,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City, presented by North Face Farm to wrap-up Week One of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - Week One of the first series of the 2016 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) concluded on Sunday with the $50,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City, presented by North Face Farm. Eighteen-year-old Spencer Brittan of Sweet Oak Farm and Unico earned the top prize as the only rider...

In the lead-up to the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation will feature a four-part series that highlights the athletes, horses, and their owners that make up the U.S. Team. The following is part two. Read part one . When Shane Brown went horse scouting in Texas for three clients last June, he did not realize he was bringing his 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships partner, Wind Er Up Wimp or “Denny”, back to Colorado with him. Even...

Kent Farrington and Gazelle (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB, Canada – USA’s Kent Farrington and Gazelle were the big winners in Saturday’s $375,000 Pan American Cup, presented by Rolex, in a fast and competitive seven-horse jump-off at Spruce Meadows. Conor Swail (IRL) and Grafton finished second, and Andrew Ramsay (USA) and California 62 placed third. The CIBC Cup was also featured on Saturday with a historic first international victory at Spruce Meadows for the...

Armando Hassey and S&L Zeppelin (Sportfot) Parker, Colo. - Armando Hassey, a local resident of Parker, CO, piloted S&L Zeppelin to back to back wins, kicking off the Summer in the Rockies Series (SIR) at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) this past week. The pair earned top honors in the $20,000 Open Welcome and the $30,000 Front Range Kubota Grand Prix. The duo made quick work of the $30,000 Front Range Kubota Grand Prix, finishing the course in 40.271 seconds for the win. Bjorn Ikast, also...

Andrew Ramsay and Winn Winn wrapped up the 2016 Kentucky Spring Classic with a win in the $50,000 Bluegrass Grand Prix. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Spring Classic, the second week of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows series, concluded on Sunday with Andrew Ramsay taking home the blue ribbon in the finale event, the $50,000 Bluegrass Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, aboard a mount aptly named Winn Winn. Ramsay has consistently finished with top...