Aurora, Colo. – The inaugural Regional Breeding Challenge Cups were recently awarded at the 2015 Arabian Horse Association (AHA), Arabian & Half-Arabian U.S. National Championship Horse Show. Bronze trophies were handed out based on an accumulation of points by horses showing at the U.S. Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. The AHA membership is divided into 18 geographical regions across North America. Regions 1 through 18 all had horses attending and representing their breeders at this...

Earlier this week, things weren’t looking good for Catalina Sherwood as she pursued her dream of riding at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, a unique national head-to-head competition for adult amateur and open riders of all levels being held November 5-8, 2015 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. After a long van ride from Tucson, Ariz., her eight-year-old RPSI mare Razmitaz wasn’t her usual self. “She wasn’t feeling well when she came off the...

Most competitors dread having to be the first rider to enter the arena in any class, let alone the first rider down the centerline on Day One of national championship competition First in the ring, Rachael Hicks & Fabio Bellini set the standard for the rest of the class and won the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Championship. Photo by Susan J. Stickle at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, a unique national head-to-head competition being for exhibitors of all levels held...

Molly Schiltgen and Leisl TF earned their first ribbon today from the 2015 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®. Photo by Susan J. Stickle Under glorious skies and with unseasonably warm temperatures the third edition of the annual US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® got underway Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Riders took advantage of a full day of open competition with Dressage in the Bluegrass classes to prepare for their Championship performances over the...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF Board of Directors recently approved a rule change, which expands the range of responsible parties for violations of the USEF's Drugs and Medications rules. Beginning December 1, 2015, the rule will include additional categories of individuals who are responsible and accountable parties, which are defined as Persons Responsible and Support Personnel. The Trainer will continue to be held accountable for violations; however, in addition to the Trainer, and in the...

Kent Farrington and Voyeur (Rebecca Walton/PhelpsSports.com) Lexington, Ky. - Top athletes need that special horse to help them stay at the pinnacle of the sport, and Kent Farrington found that mount in the very quirky Voyeur. Farrington has worked hard to develop all of Voyeur's qualities that make him special and turn him into a winner. Sunday afternoon at the CP National Horse Show, they once again proved why they are ranked as one of the best pairs in the world when they bested a...

McKayla Langmeier (RJ Walton/PhelpsSports.com) Lexington, Ky. - It is no secret that being drawn to go first in any major equitation championship is less than desirable. But when that rider is someone who knows her horse and knows her job, the results can be flawless. At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, 15-year-old McKayla Langmeier nailed the technical course presented by judges Chris Kappler and Ralph Caristo at the CP National Horse Show. Her performance left them in awe, and it made her the...

Three years ago, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) launched an innovative Developing Driver Program to provide supplemental training opportunities for American combined drivers who demonstrated a commitment to the goal of competing at the USEF/FEI level and who were in pursuit of competitive excellence. The eventual goal was to increase the number of drivers and their horses/ponies competing at high performance levels, therefore developing the drivers that could become be future...

Mimi Gochman Tops WIHS Pony Equitation Finals; Ali O'Brien and Jack Graham Win in Regional Championships Washington, D.C. – October 25, 2015 – The 57th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) came to a close on Sunday after another historic week of show jumping, hunter, equitation competition in the nation’s capital by celebrating pony and local champions at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. The Miles River Moonglow Perpetual Trophy, donated by Scott...

Harrie Smolders and Emerald (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. – Harrie Smolders (NED) and Emerald emerged victorious in the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington, presented by Events DC, for the President’s Cup, on Saturday night at the 2015 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). Competing for the coveted President of the United States Perpetual Cup as well as valuable Longines FEI World Cup qualifying points, the grand prix was the highlight...