Three-time Olympic medalist Joe Fargis of Middleburg, VA, emerged the victor in Sunday’s $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Fargis triumphed with his longtime partner Edgar, posting the fastest time by over three seconds in a four-horse jump-off. Laurie Bucci of Quebec, Canada, riding Catesko took second place. Third place went to Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, MD, riding Gerona 92. Gavin Moylan of The Plains, VA, finished in fourth place aboard Othello. Grand Prix course designer...

The judges for the 33rd Annual Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) Grand National Championship Show were selected at the spring meeting of the Paso Fino Horse Association’s Board of Directors held April 23, in Atlanta, GA. The five judges selected are Dr. Jose Laracuente of Miramara, FL; Nicanor Miranda of Miami, FL, Angela Ochoa of Bogota, Colombia; Dr. Miguel Pastrana of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; and Karen Cabic of Palmyra, NY. The 2005 Grand National Championship Show will be held September...

Through the week of May 1, 2005 the USEF will be sending weekly e-mails to competition management contacts containing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and updates regarding the new competition licensing procedure. The information contained in these e-mails will also be available in the USEF Week In Review. After May 1, 2005, the updates will continue in the Week In Review only. If you would like to sign up for the Week In Review, go to www.usef.org and click on the “Sign Up Now” banner on the...

Diana DeRosa (Meredith Beerbaum and Shutterfly, champions of the 2005 FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final) Las Vegas, Nevada – There were many times during the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals when one had to take a reality check and pinch themselves just to be certain they weren’t at the NBA play-offs instead of an equestrian event. Anyone who loves sport, whether they have ever been interested in horses or not, would have enjoyed the pure entertainment value of this week’s...

Diana DeRosa (Kim Frey and Marlou during the first round of jumping at the 2005 World Cup.) Las Vegas, NV – Amidst the fabulous Las Vegas spectacle of fireworks, a laser show, jumbo-tron videos and even an opening musical act, it was shaping up to be a German jump-fest on April 21 until Belgium’s Ludo Philipaerts, on the grey stallion Parco, and Kimberly Frey of the U.S, on her consistent Dutch mare Marlou, showed up to throw down a challenge late in the evening. The first to go...

Diana DeRosa (Debbie McDonald riding Brentina during the Grand Prix portion of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final) Las Vegas, NV —As some predicted long before Thursday’s qualifying Grand Prix, the Dutch made a fantastic showing during the first leg of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, April 21, proving their powerhouse precision is not to be underestimated. Edward Gal finished first on Geldnet Lingh with a total of 78.625. Ironically Gal’s score surpassed that of his...

Diana DeRosa (Show jumper Gabriella Salick riding Sandstone Laurin during warm up.) Las Vegas, NV – In a city where glitz and glam are the standard, our United States riders are preparing to shine with the best of them at the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals in Show Jumping and Dressage. Now that official warm-ups and open training have concluded for both disciplines, our skilled equestrians are depending on two final touches before the competition begins—a good night’s rest, and luck of the draw for...

Courtesy University of South Carolina (University of South Carolina's equestrian team after winning the NCAA National Championship.) Winning the Hunt Seat Division with 40 points, the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Equestrian team clinched its first national title in varsity equestrian on April 16. Overall, South Carolina tallied 60 points to second place University of Georgia’s 51 points (the two-time defending champion). Texas A & M University finished third, and...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce a new educational opportunity, made possible with funding support from The Dressage Foundation. The Continuing Education Program for Judges and USDF ‘L’ Graduates, developed by the USDF Judges Committee, has been designed to meet the growing need for continuing education. The goal of this program is to provide for, and continually improve, the training of individuals currently licensed as judges and those aspiring to become...

The Kentucky Horse Park, site of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, will soon be graced with a bronze sculpture of Bruce Davidson and Eagle Lion jumping into the well-known water obstacle, the Head of the Lake. A final casting of the sculpture, created by artist Jean Clagett, will be on display at this year’s event and a raffle for the casting will be held at the United States Eventing Association (USEA) booth to benefit the project—-1,000 tickets at $50 each will be available. The sculpture...