Lexington, Kentucky - Saddlebred trainer Michael Ray Benn, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2010. Benn had been a resident of Liberty for the past seven years and earned his living doing what he loved – training American Saddlebred Horses. He spent his younger years working with Don Hulse and Dale Pugh, and was the head trainer at Callaway Hills Stables in Columbia, Missouri for twelve years, before operating his own training barn in Springfield, Missouri. Most recently...

Mary McCormick (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Strong performances by both the Women's and Men's U.S. Vaulters entertained a near sold-out Alltech Arena during the second Individual phase of competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Thursday. Mary McCormick leads the U.S. effort, followed by Alicen Divita in ninth place and 2006 WEG Aachen Gold medalist Megan Benjamin in 11th place. The Vaulting Freestyle is perhaps the most appreciated phase of the...

Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team was on a mission today as four riders contested the Grade Ia and II Individual Championship Tests at the FEI World Para Dressage Championships. The scores for Jonathan Wentz and Laura Goldman proved to be doubly valuable as they not only determined their placings in the Individual Championship Test but also decided standings in the Team...

Chester Weber and his Four-in-Hand Team. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF. ) Lexington, KY - The final World Championship event in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games began today as part one of the Combined Driving Dressage took place. Thirteen drivers performed their tests today, 11 competing as part of the team competition and the United States' Casey Zubek and Bill Long competing as individuals. At the top of the leader board there is a tie for first place between Ijsbrand Chardon of...

I have begun my crash course in combined driving and I must say I’m enjoying it more than I anticipated. So far we have had the carriage presentation and one session of dressage and I’m finding all the technicalities and attention to detail rather interesting. Fun fact: it takes an average of 10 hours to prepare a carriage and harness for presentation. 10 hours! No more complaining about the 10 minute take cleaning job you do once a week. It’s going to be a very intense competition with the...

This has been a tough and maybe even heartbreaking WEG for Team USA in many disciplines. I think some are wondering if we perform better when we're not on home turf. The reining team was victorious (as they have been since reining’s debut at WEG in 2002). We didn’t have enough endurance riders finish (due to one thing or another—all normal occurrences in endurance) to have a team standing, the dressage team finished fourth, just out of the medals, as did the eventing team....

Upper Marlboro, MD —Oct. 6, 2010 – John French and Small Affair made a big impression at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. With breathtaking efforts during the two-round $15,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, the bay French-bred gelding soared to victory with a score of 182.99 for owners Iwasaki & Reilly. Although French has contested the class on many previous occasions—and placed second in 2009—this was the first time he claimed the WCHR Professional Challenge and the Little Book Trophy,...

Robin Brueckmann and Raison D'Etre (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Today provided riders competing as individuals on the Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team their first opportunity in the competition ring and it was a second test for some of the riders who competed in yesterday's Team test. The U.S. had six riders contest the Grade III and IV Individual Championship Tests at the FEI World Para Dressage Championships. Riding as an individual at her...

Laura Kraut and Cedric. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY – On a cool Kentucky fall evening, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games continued with the final of the Team World Jumping Championship presented by Rolex at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Hopes for U.S. medal were high as the home country was represented by four of the most experienced and successful riders in the world. Coming into the final in third place (with just over a point separating the top...

Chester Weber and his team. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - Drivers from nine countries presented 130 horses to the Ground Jury for the World Driving Championships at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Seven horses were held for re-inspection. Regrettably, Nordby Shadow's Sam Spade and Nordby Shadow's Rocky, presented by the United States' David Saunders were not accepted. Also not accepted were Lucky Boy presented by Deborah Laderoute (CAN), and Red-Run presented by...