Lexington, KY – For the first time in 2009, the USEF is sending athletes to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. In its fifth year, the Australian Youth Olympic Festival showcases the world’s best in Youth Sports. More than 1500 athletes from 25 countries in 17 sports have arrived at the Olympic village at Homebush in Sydney, Australia. The US will be represented in Equestrian by four of our most promising show jumping riders from across the country. Taylor Land, 16 (Atlanta, GA), Mavis...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the United States Show Jumping Team for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF). This multi-sport international event follows the structure of Olympic Games as closely as possible and draws athletes from across the world. The competition will be held January 14-18, 2009 at the Sydney International Equestrian Center. Invited nations include Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United...

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) has announced the winners of its 2008 High-Point Program for Anglo-Arabians that compete in working hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, sport horse, conformation, endurance and competitive trail. All shows and rides, whether rated or unrated, counted towards these awards. Hunter/Jumper Champion: FF Irish Vodka/Collier McLeod Reserve: Diamond Jim Kelly/Beth Thomas Third: One More Round/Alexis Starer-Doughty Fourth: Foreign Policy/Kaylan...

The audience cheered even more enthusiastically when Will Simpson entered the arena aboard Archie Bunker to contest the $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix. The 2008 Olympic Gold medalist did not disappoint as he piloted Archie Bunker to one of just four clear rounds during the featured class at the LA National, November 12-16. Olaf Petersen, Jr., designed a challenging course for the 34 horse field that served as a West Coast League World Cup Qualifier. "This was a difficult course. This...

Hillary Dobbs, last year's Leading Open Jumper Rider, returned to defend her title at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) and retained it for the second consecutive year. The 19-year-old equestrian did this by taking the blue ribbon in the $20,000 Gambler's Choice aboard Marengo, her horse that won two classes last year. A rising star in the show jumping world and full time Harvard student, Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, and Palm Beach, FL, is the daughter of CNN reporter Lou Dobbs. Dobbs...

Lexington, KY – US Eventing Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor, Captain Mark Phillips and the USEF have renewed the contract for Mark Phillips to serve in this capacity through 2012. In his 16 years in tenure as the Chef d’Equipe and coach of the US Eventing Team, Capt. Phillips has never taken a team to an Olympic, World or Pan American Games without bringing home a medal. His tenure has been highlighted by a Team Gold medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and David O’Connor’s Individual...

Attention show jumping athletes! The October 31 application deadline is approaching for this exciting competition, which will take place in Sydney, Australia, January 14-18, 2009. Selection procedures, applications, and official standings can be found on the jumping page of the USEF website at www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=natjumping . Please note that this event is open to riders 15-20 years as of December 31, 2009 (i.e. born between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1994).

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams that competed in Beijing, China in August and September will come together again as they visit Washington, D.C. for the traditional White House visit on October 7. The White House visit, which will include more than 500 U.S. athletes, will begin at 9:40 a.m. on the South Lawn. The President has been an ardent supporter of the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams having hosted a send-off celebration at the White House prior...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that the Executive Committee has recently approved the Show Jumping Selection Procedures for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival which will be held January 14-18, 2009 at the Sydney International Equestrian Center. Athletes from across the world will be competing in this international competition. The Australian Youth Olympic Festival is a multi-sport event that follows the structure of Olympic Games as closely as...

Will Simpson and Carlsson vom Dach (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The US show jumpers looked happy to stretch their legs tonight in the first Individual Qualifier. The main arena was turned over from a dressage ring to Grand Prix course tonight at Sha Tin as the jumping horses finally got a chance to play. 73 horses went to task over a beautiful course designed by Leopoldo Palacios and Steve Stephens. The US was the only nation with three double clear rounds. McLain Ward was the...