At exactly 8:08 p.m. on August 8, the official one-year-to-go countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games was launched. Eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture. In general, eight is an auspicious number for Buddhists. In front of 10,000 people gathered on Tianan’men Square, with the Forbidden City as a backdrop, a sumptuous ceremony took place where Chinese culture and traditions were clearly on show. The International Olympic Committee President handed out the official invitations to the...

For 2006 and 2007, the FEI has agreed to the proposal put forward jointly by the United States and Canada regarding qualifications for the Junior and Young Rider Championships. A horse and rider must achieve a qualifying score(s) as a combination as follows: Level--Qualifications CH*-J--CCI* or 2 CIC* CH*-YR--CCI**, 2 CIC**; or CH* and CIC** These qualifications will be implemented along with the individual Area Selection Procedures for riders wishing to qualify for an Area Junior or Young...

The first American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) regional champions were named from the Northeastern regions made up of USEF Regions 11 and 12 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, October 19-October 22. In the open divisions, Whimsicality and Michael Richardson won the Five-Gaited Regional Championship, I’m Sky High and Francis A. Garone won the three-gaited championship and Definitely Dianna and Kaye Bowles Durnell won the fine harness championship. In the amateur...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced its 2005 Individual Annual Award winners with Marty Mueller, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Groves and Ray Sheffield receiving top honors. The winners will be recognized at the 2005 American Saddlebred Annual Meeting during the American Saddlebred Ball and Annual Prize Giving on Saturday, February 19, at the Keeneland Race Course Entertainment Center. Seven individuals will be honored at the Ball with the Association’s most prestigious...

The United States Equestrian Federation today announced the Short List for the 2004 Olympic Dressage Team. The four horse/rider combinations and two substitutes are as follows: Rider Age Hometown Horse Age, Breed, Sex Debbie McDonald 49 Hailey, Idaho Brentina 1991, ch. M. Hanoverian (Brentano II - Liselotte) Robert Dover 48 Wellington, FL FBW Kennedy 1989 ch.g, Baden Wurttemberger, (Tiro - Katy) Guenter Seidel 43 Del Mar, CA Aragon 1992 gr.g. Bavarian (Abydos - La Sabrina) Guunter Seidel 43 Del...

Harrisburg, Pa. - The country’s top equitation riders converged at Pennsylvania National Horse Show for the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. A field of 223 athlete-and-horse combinations completed the first round, with 25 combinations called back by judges Tom Brennan, Emil Spadone, and Geoff Teall for the second round. A rare two work-offs took place before Grace Debney was named the champion. Grace Debney, 2021 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final Champion (Andrew...

Aachen, Germany – It was a historic week for U.S. Eventing as American athletes achieved their best results ever in the CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team of Will Coleman and Off The Record, Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, and Tamie Smith and Mai Baum took second place in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup—the highest result by a U.S. team at the prestigious event. Additionally, Coleman and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport...

Fair Hill, Md. - Fair Hill International celebrates 31 years of eventing this weekend with the start of The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event (FHI). Held at the picturesque Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Fair Hill, Md., the historic fall event draws top riders from across the country to contest The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L and CCI4*-L Eventing National Championships. In addition, the USEF Young Rider Eventing National Championship and USEF Young Horse Eventing...

Drebkau, Germany - The U.S. Driving Team had a strong showing at the FEI Driving World Championships for Pairs in Drebkau, Germany, on September 11-15, finishing eighth in a field of 16 nations. Hungary claimed the gold medal, with the Netherlands taking silver and Germany collecting bronze. Jacob Arnold (Krisztina Horváth/ Hoefnet.com ) The U.S. Driving Team of Jacob Arnold, James Miller, and Steve Wilson got off to a strong start, standing fourth after the dressage. After a solid...

Lexington, Ky. – It was a week to remember as champions were crowned in the Platinum Performance / United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Green Hunter Incentive Championships and International Hunter Derby. Noah and Sara Taylor Shine in the 3'6"/3'9" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship Sara Taylor and Noah Wowing the judges with their precision and handiness, Sara Taylor (Marshall, Va.) and Noah, Ingrid Avera’s nine-year-old Warmblood...