The USEF Dressage Committee met on July 1-2, 2008 and discussed the USEF Dressage Performance Standards Proposal. This discussion included a review of compiled results of the online survey that was developed to gather feedback from USEF and USDF members. These results were recently shared with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Executive Board and show that a majority of the approximately 1,250 respondents expressed support for the idea of having competition performance standards for...

Three Przewalski horse foals kicked up their hooves, making a grand entrance at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park on Friday, August 8, 2008. The Wild Animal Park currently houses 17 of these critically endangered horses, including the new additions, born August 3, July 22 and July 19. Two more babies are expected soon. Foals are born after an 11-month pregnancy. Approximately 30 minutes after birth the babies must be on their legs and able to move with the herd. Since 1974, 138 Przewalski's...

Hong Kong, China – Coming into the Games, Peters was pinned as the best individual medal hope for the US in recent memory. Riding Akiko Yamazaki’s formerly undefeated Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) 10-year-old KWPN gelding Ravel, Peters put in a masterful performance in the horse’s first effort outside the US. Anky van Grunsven and Salinero won on the strength of their freestyle (82.4%), winning her third consecutive Individual gold medal for The Netherlands on a...

Hong Kong, China – A jump-off between the United States and Canada decided the Team Gold medal tonight at Sha Tin. Gold for the USA (Shannon Brinkman) Two countries, tied on a score of 20, after two rounds. The US won. In the Olympic rules, all team members return to the ring to jump-off. Canada began the evening a horse down because Mac Cone withdrew Ole. This meant that they did not get to drop a score. Under the watchful eye of Chef d'Equipe George Morris, McLain Ward led it off...

Lexington, KY— Though it was Morgan Moog’s first time competing at the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Medal, she and her horse Goodnight Moon topped the efforts of 184 other competitors to win the championship title. In the USEF Pony Medal Final, the riders compete in small, medium and large divisions based on pony size and are judged on their equitation and ability to ride the course correctly. From there, the top riders are asked to come back for another course over...

Lexington, KY— The final leg of the three-day Adequan/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2008 National Pony Jumper Individual Championship was fast-paced and highly competitive as 25 young riders came back on Saturday night to compete in head-to-head competition. Over a more challenging course with larger fences than the team competition the night before, it was 10-year-old Jessica Pyfer and Sosha who went triple clear to win the 2008 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Individual...

Lexington, KY— Last year, eleven-year-old Lillie Keenan made history by being the first young rider to sweep the small, medium and large divisions of the 2007 Wild Horsefeathers/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Pony Hunter Finals. Keenan almost repeated history again this year by winning the Medium and Large Pony divisions, securing her the Champion and Reserve title. Keenan bested 292 competitors with a top score of 1077 aboard Dogwood Hill’s German Warmblood gelding...

Hong Kong, China - The US show jumpers were all business when they returned to the main arena at Sha Tin tonight for the first round of the Nations Cup, the US riders finished on 12 faults, tied with Switzerland for the lead. Sapphire was Perfect for McLain Ward (Shannon Brinkman) Bookended by two members of the 2004 Gold medal winning team, Team USA’s performance was impressive, although somewhat unpredictable. McLain Ward and Sapphire started it off for the US but they had plenty of...

Hong Kong, China - Eventing rider Amy Tryon has been in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong recovering from cellulitis in her leg. The infection occurred after her fall from Poggio II on the cross country course at the 2008 Olympic Games. Tryon was hospitalized on August 13 because of pain and swelling in the prepatellar bursa of her right knee. Her condition has improved dramatically and she is in good spirits. She will remain in the hospital for a few more days as a precautionary...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Hong Kong, China – The dressage riders temporarily reclaimed the ring from the show jumpers tonight at Sha Tin and although Germany continued to rule… the Americans put in an impressive showing. Two US riders were in the fold and Steffen Peters and Ravel (who is owned by Aikiko Yamazaki) were first of the pair in the ring. Their test was brilliant, with no mistakes, Peters did a masterful job in the piaffe and passage and guided the...