McLain Ward and HH Azur © Spruce Meadows Media Services Calgary, AB, Canada – July 4, 2015 – The stars aligned for McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur to earn a major victory in Saturday’s $400,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows. There are not many major competitions left in the world that Ward has not won, but he will now have his name etched in history in one of the sport’s most prestigious events aboard a rising young star. For the momentous win, Ward...

Beezie Madden of USA riding Simon © Spruce Meadows Media Services Calgary, AB, Canada – June 26, 2015 – The ‘Canada One’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows continued on Friday, with two international competitions featured in the Meadows on the Green, and wins for USA’s Beezie Madden and Todd Minikus. Madden won the $34,000 Duncan Ross Cup 1.50m riding Abigail Wexner’s Simon. Minikus topped the $34,000 WestJet Cup 1.45m aboard Nancy Gooding’s Con Capilot. The...

Alison Wichman and Kix Littlestown, PA - June 21, 2015 - Alison Wichman has ridden a lot of great horses in her 62 years, but she says her 'Sunday horse' Kix is one of the best. The fiery Selle Francais gelding has an uncanny knack for sensing when it is time to step up to the plate for the Sunday jumper classics, and he did it again on Sunday morning at the Swan Lake Summer Kick-Off Classic, taking the victory in the $3,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S Adult Classic. "He seems to have a sense that...

Salzhausen, Germany – The last phase at the Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL saw a big show jumping course designed by Heiko Wahlers (GER) that determined the final placings on Sunday. In addition to the large track, time was tough to make with nine combinations having double clear show jumping rounds. USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen were among those combinations that delivered a double clear round on the final day. Despite the...

Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Hagen, Germany - The United States had successful showings from both teams and individuals today at the CDIO5* and CDIU25 Rotterdam in The Netherlands and the CDIOY Hagen in Germany. In Rotterdam, the CDIO5* team consisting of Shelly Francis and Patricia Stempel's Doktor, Charlotte Jorst and Kastel Denmark’s Kastel’s Nintendo, Arlene Page and her own Woodstock, and Kathleen Raine and Jennifer Mason, David Wightman and her own Breanna ended the...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of USEF Land Rover Competition Grants for The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI3* taking place July 23-26, 2015 in Kalispell, Mont. The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been awarded USEF Land Rover Competition Grants: Jennie Brannigan* (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Nina Gardner's Cambalda, a 2002 Thoroughbred Cross gelding John Michael Durr** (Castro Valley, Calif.) and Ruth Bley's...

Laura Graves and Verdades (SusanJStickle.com) Las Vegas, N.V. – In the highly anticipated Finale to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, Laura Graves and her own Verdades rose to the occasion scoring a 79.125 to place fourth. In their first World Cup Final appearance, Graves and Verdades showcased their continued brilliance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. With 18 starters from nine countries participating, the competition was stiff. Graves (Plymouth, Fla.) and the KWPN...

USA I Team stands atop the podium at the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - The USA I Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, maintained its day-one lead to claim victory in the 2015 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup with strong performances from all four team members. On Thursday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Small Tour combinations performed the FEI Intermediaire I Test, with Big Tour pairs riding the FEI Grand Prix Special Test. A total of...

Wellington, Fla. - The USA I Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, maintained its day-one lead to claim victory in the 2015 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup with strong performances from all four team members. On Thursday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Small Tour combinations performed the FEI Intermediaire I Test, with Big Tour pairs riding the FEI Grand Prix Special Test. A total of 23 Small Tour combinations went down the centerline and seven Big Tour competitors closed out...

Ocala, Fla. - Despite an uncertain forecast, droves of spectators packed two VIP tents and filled the grandstands for the return of the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix to the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm. With hopes for a battle of the best, onlookers received just that when Charlie Jayne, of Elgin, Illinois, aboard Chill R Z, owned by Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher, hustled his way to the win. Forty-six of the world’s top riders, including World Cup...