News

Will Coleman now scheduled to ride Diabolo at the Paris Olympics

Details: July 24, 2024; By Staff Writers

VERSAILLES, France--US Equestrian announced a change to the Eventing team for Paris.

Will Coleman on Diablo Allen MacMillan Will Coleman on Diabolo at Kentucky 3-Fay Event (Photo by Allen MacMillan)U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello has confirmed U.S. Eventing Team rider Will Coleman will now compete direct reserve selection, Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Aljano 2) owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Hailey Burlock & Erin Jarboe.

Diabolo will replace Coleman’s initially selected mount, Off The Record.

Diabolo will now join the three-member team ridden by Coleman, along with Boyd Martin on Fedarman B and Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake.

Diabolo finished first in the competitive CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, finishing on his dressage score as one of only two to ever achieve that honor.

Coleman had very lightly competed Diabolo in 22023, electing instead to get to know the horse at home before entering an Event.

“We bought the horse last year and I can’t thank the people enough who came together to acquire him for me,” he said of the Diabolo Group LLC. “I think we’re only just getting started and I really hope that we can just continue to bring him to his full potential.”

Phoebe Fisher, Beverly Alcock and James Wyatt chosen for Temple Gwathmy young rider trip to Ireland

Details: July 22, 2024; By Staff Writers

The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation announced the three participants in this year's developing rider training trip to Ireland in an article by Betsy Burke Parker.

Following are excerpts from Parker's articles.

Phoebe Fisher on Go TakeCharge in a training flat race a Winterthur TodMarks Phoebe Fisher on Go Take Charge in a training flat race a Winterthur (Photo by Tod Marks)Past participants such as Dr. Jacob Crotts, a 2014 program participant, current leading international jockey Taylor Kingsley, 2022, and Skylar McKenna, Chloe Hannum, Virginia Korrell and Elizabeth Scully from the 2019 trip have gone on to contribute to the success of steeplechasing.

There is a long, detailed application process over a few months used to choose the participants.

This year's trip, from July 20-27, includes Phoebe Fisher, Beverly Alcock and James Wyatt, all three with ties to the U.S. jump racing world.

The trips include visits to the top training yards and racecourses in Ireland.

PHOEBE FISHER of Unionville, Pa., is the daughter of Rush and Phoebe Fisher, her uncle is Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher, and her grandfather is Dr. John Fisher.

Olympic equestrian starting times on Peacock, and a few replay times on USA

Details: July 21, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

PARIS, France--The equestrian disciplines at the Olympics begin on Saturday, July 27 and continue daily through Tuesday, Aug. 6.

NBC will be providing around-the-clock and unprecedented coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with streaming available for all sports on the NBC streaming platform Peacock.

The equestrian events will all be live streamed on Peacock, which is available only on computers, etc., but is available for a small fee. Some can also be seen as replays on USA.

Equestrian sport will air live on regular cable TV during several blocks of air time on channels like E! News, USA, and NBC.

EVENTING

Saturday, July 27, dressage part 1, 3:30 am Peacock and USA Dressage,part 2, 8 am Peacock

Sunday, July 28, cross country 4:30 am Peacock 7:00 pm replay on USA

Monday, July 29, jumping 5:00 am Peacock 9:00 pm replay on USA

DRESSAGE

Tuesday, July 30, Grand Prix, team & individual 5:00 am Peacock

Wednesday, July 31, Grand Prix, team & individual 4:00 am Peacock

Saturday, Aug. 3, Grand Prix Special, team final 4:00 am Peacock

Sunday, Aug. 4, Grand Prix Special, individual final 4:00 am Peacock

JUMPING

Thursday, Aug. 1, team qualifier, 5:00 am Peacock

Friday, Aug. 2, team final, 8:00 am Peacock 11:15 replay NBC 9:00 pm replay USA

Monday, Aug. 5, individual qualifier, 8:00 am Peacock

Tuesday, Aug. 6, individual final, 4:00 am Peacock 10:15 replay NBC

Fair Hill Races discussed with DNR Community; meeting raised concerns over absence of races to state officials

Details: July 19, 2024; By Staff Writers

This article reprinted from Cecil Wig

By ERIK HALBERG
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FAIR HILL, Md. — A Memorial and Labor Day staple for almost 85 years, the Fair Hill Races were last held in the spring of 2019, which has led to
speculation and concern that the storied races were gone for good.

Fair Hill turf course 1 Community members, spearheaded by Cecil County Councilmember Al Miller and the Fair Hill Foundation, attended a meeting organized by the
Maryland State Department of Natural Resources this past Tuesday at the Fair Hill Tea Barn to discuss the Races’ absence and seek information
from DNR officials.

“As the permanent private partner with the State of Maryland raising funds to ensure the Special Event Zone becomes a fully functioning, internationally recognized equestrian facility for eventing, showing, racing and training, we are committed to helping in any way we can and
were pleased by the opportunity to participate in this meeting,” said Fair Hill Foundation President Charles Fenwick, Jr. in a statement following
the meeting.

Letter to the Editor on Fair Hill Turf track meeting

Details: July 18, 2024; By Staff Writers

Another excellent letter about the meeting on the Fair Hill Turf track.

Fair Hill turf course 1 It points out that the largest percentage of the people in attendance were either flat horse trainers or owners or people that wanted racing resumed at the Fair hill track.

One person in the group I was in pointed out that the Memorial Day races were family friendly and cost effective, while the Maryland 5* was very expensive.

Actually, professionals could restore the track to use in a matter of weeks, but the DNR refuses to listen.

Anyone with more to add, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Many people have asked me about the Fair Hill meeting.

Letter to The Horse on the Disastrous Fair Hill Turf Track Meeting

Details: July 17, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

Follows an excellent summary of the Fair Hill turf track meeting - anyone else having comments or a summary of the meeting please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Fair Hill turf course 1 This a summary of the downstairs meeting done by by Mary Smith.

Our moderator had no concept of what a steeplechase was!

Kathy Neilson, a steeplechase icon, asked for her $700,000 back that was donated in her fathers name to keep racing at Fair Hill.

For those with interest in the Fair Hill meeting today concerning no races for the last 5 years at the "Special Event Zone" located At Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area, Mary K Smith did an excellant summary!

It was packed and not well organized.

I don't think they figured there would be that many people who would show up on a Tuesday morning with little notice or advertising.

I heard someone say there were 132 vehicles.

Some people obviously rode together.

Letter to the Editor

Details: July 17, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Many thanks for today’s article on the Fair Hill Turf meeting.

Did send an email to Mr. Josh Kurtz a few weeks ago about yesterday meeting which offered a solution .

As of today, have never heard from Mr.Kurtz.

There are groups that provide guidance for surface management for turf , dirt and synthetic surfaces .

Through proven scientific soil and turf methods there are ways that will provide solutions.

We look forward in working with everyone to bring back Fair Hill to the turf course it was and provide an equine economic driver for Maryland's horse industry.

Sincerely,

An interested stakeholder

Fair Hill meeting on the turf track just another bureaucratic foul-up

Details: July 16, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--The meeting in the tea barn at Fair Hill, supposedly called to get input on how to keep the "Fair Hill Special Event Zone" a world class venue, was just another exhibition of government bureaucracy and incompetence.

Fair Hill turf course 1 Fair Hill turf trackJust for starters, anyone attempting to hold a meeting in a room the size of the tea barn should definitely have a microphone.

Josh Kurtz, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources opened the meeting "to bring people together so that we can move forward."

Kurtz said the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is doing "a fantastic job of managing" the Fair Hill venue.

If managing a track that no horse has been on for five years is a fantastic job, well,that's bureaucracy at its finest.

The meeting did bring together close to 200 people, all angry and upset that the turf track is unusable.

The meeting was divided into three groups - two upstairs and one downstairs, each to have 10 minutes to discuss first, the strengths of the venue, then 10 minutes on the weaknesses and then 10 minutes on opportunities.

Kate Shoemaker, number three FEI World Ranked, leads the U.S. Para-Dressage team for the Paris Olympics

Details: July 13, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINTON, Ky.==US Equestrian announced the riders and horses selected to represent the United States as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Para-equestrian competition will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and continue through Saturday, Sept. 7, hosted at the equestrian grounds of Versailles.

Para Olympic team “Heading into the Paralympic Games with the highest-ever scoring team in U.S. history in the run-up to Paris 2024 is beyond our wildest imagination. It’s a very proud moment for the U.S. with all the work that has been invested into this program over the past several years. It’s our collective goal to honor this historical occurrence with pride and produce results that make our country proud,” said Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline.

The U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline, alongside Team Leader Laureen Johnson.

Temecula, Calif., to host the 2028 equestrian Olympics

Details: July 11, 2024; By Staff Writers

This is almost ridiculously far in the future as we haven't even gotten to this summer's Paris Olympics, the it has been announced that the equestrian events in the 2028 Olympics are being moved to Temecula, Calif.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--The Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) has announced plans to move equestrian and para equestrian competitions to an existing purpose-built facility in Temecula, Southern California, emphasizing sustainability, legacy, and fiscal responsibility in their decision.

Equestrian Center in emecula Equestrian Center in TemeculaThe relocation of equestrian and para equestrian events, which were previously assigned to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, will achieve significant cost savings by eliminating the need to construct an expensive, entirely temporary venue.

"The plan to relocate equestrian competitions to the existing Equestrian Center in Temecula is a positive development for the sport and the equestrian community," FEI President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ingmar De Vos said.

"The FEI has worked closely with the Organizing Committee to evaluate and choose a venue capable of hosting all equestrian and para equestrian events with the aim of managing the overall costs and complexity."

“Importantly, the venue can also accommodate Eventing competitions which was a condition of the IOC Executive Board to include this discipline in the program of the LA28 Olympic Games. The reasoning behind the venue change also fits well equestrian sport’s sustainability ideals and aims, and for creating lasting legacies for the local community. With this important announcement we can now start working with LA28 on the field of play design and organization of the equestrian competitions.”

Devon Fall Classic doubles the prize money in the Speed Stake to $10,000

Details: July 9, 2024; By Staff Writers

DEVON, Pa.--The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair just announced that it has doubled the prize money in the Devon Fall Classic's Friday evening's Speed Stake from$5,000 to $10,000.

Devon Fall Classic generic jumper A competitor at the Devon Fall Classic
Exciting news for those exhibitors who look forward to competing in the all-jumper show every fall.

As this is an all jumpers show, the Fall Classic offers many classes for all levels of competitors, whereas the spring Horse Show and Country Fair only has FEI rated classes for the most elite riders.

The prize list will be out soon, so get your entries in early to enjoy showing in the famous Dixon Oval in front of the always enthusiastic Devon spectators.

For exhibitor information, entries, tickets, and other event details, visit the show's website at http://www.devonhorseshow.com/fall-classic.

Six-seat boxes are $375 for all four days, including parking. Individual seats range from $8 (Thursday and Sunday) to $20 (Friday and Saturday), and tickets are available at the gate, online, or by calling the ticket office at 610-688-2554.

The 11th Annual Devon Fall Classic, an all-jumper show, will be held Sept. 12 -15.

Farrington, Kraut and Ward selected as the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics

Details: July 6, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky--US Equestrian announced the riders and horses selected to represent the U.S. Olympic Jumping Team as a part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, to be held in Versailles, France, from July 27 – Aug. 9.

Olympic team The jumping competition will begin on Aug. 1 and continue through Aug. 6 at the equestrian grounds of Versailles.

“We are very lucky to have three of the most experienced athletes in the sport riding horses that are in top form heading into the Games. Additionally, we have a strong alternate athlete horse combination in Karl and Caracole who have shown great recent form," said Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland. "Now that selection is complete, we are 100% laser-focused on Paris."

The U.S. Olympic Jumping Team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland alongside Team Leader Lizzy Chesson, and supported by team veterinarian Heather Sherman, team equine physiotherapist Janus Marquis, team human physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and team farrier Chuck Jones.

The following have been selected to the U.S. Olympic Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Kent Farrington Wellington, Fla, on Greya, a 2014 Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contessa) owned by Kent Farrington LLC.

Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., on Baloutinue, a 2010 Hanoverian (Balou du Rouet x Utika) gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm.

McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., on Ilex, a 2013 KWPN (Baltic VDL x Calendula) gelding owned by Bonne Chance Farm and McLain Ward.

The following has been selected as the alternate rider and horse.

Karl Cook of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on Caracole de la Roque, a 2012 Selle Français (Zandor Z x Pocahontas d’Amaury) mare owned by Signe Ostby.

There will be 20 teams in the first jumping competition on Aug. 1, and the top10 teams will compete in the final on Aug. 2.

In both competitions, there will be teams of three with no drop score.

The first individual is on Aug. 5 with the final on Aug. 6.

Inexpensive technology available that could prevent catastrophic breakdowns in race horses

Details: July 1, 2024; By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Thoroughbred racing may well disappear unless someway is found to eliminate catastrophic breakdowns.

Jeff SederAmazingly ,the technology to achieve that exists and only needs what in racing economy is a very small amount of venture capital to bring it into use.

Racing stables annually buy a few top yearlings for over $1million, and an investment of just $900,000 would develop a hand-held, battery powered machine that would detect structural fatigue in bones that could be repaired with just a few weeks of rest.

A machine that does just that is already in use at Santa Anita racetrack, and with its use catastrophic breakdowns have been dramatically reduced, but that machinery is cumbersome and very expensive.

The technology that Jeff Seder invented would result in a hand held, battery operated machine that would scan a leg in minutes and would only cost about $1,200 to buy.

A veterinarian could buy it and use it on his patients for for just a very small charge.

A racetrack could buy it and for no charge scan every horse entered in every race.

Nations Cup team for Falsterbo, Sweden

Details: June 30, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Sweden CSIO5* hosted at the Falsterbo Horse Show from July 6-14.

Falsterbo Nations Cup team The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Erin Keating.

The following riders have been selected to represent the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

• Mimi Gochman of Palm Beach, Fla.
• Spencer Smith of Wellington, Fla.
• Adrienne Sternlicht of Wellington, Fla.
• Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla.

Competition Information

Competition for the U.S. Jumping Team will begin on Thursday, July 11, with the Grand Prix Qualifier at 12:30 p.m.. 6:30 a.m. Eastern, followed by the featured FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Sweden CSIO5* beginning at 2:00 p.m., 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Friday, July 12.

The Grand Prix of Falsterbo CSIO5* will start at 2:00 p.m. , 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, July 14, to conclude the week-long competition.

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Eventing team for Aachen

Details: June 28, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the updated riders and horses selected to represent the U.S. Eventing Team at the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S in Aachen, Germany, held from July 1-7.

Aachen Eventing team The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello and Team Leader Gemma Stobbs.

The following have been selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

James Alliston of San Ramon, Calif., on Karma, a 2014 Oldenburg mare (Escudo II x Lavita) owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer and cared for by Sophie Hulme and Sophie Tice

Hallie Coon of Ocala, Fla., on Cute Girl, a 2014 Holsteiner mare (Coventry x Clearway) owned by Hallie Coon & Helen Coon and cared for by Helen Elston

Elisabeth Halliday of Lexington, Ky., on Shanroe Cooley, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Dallas x Condios) owned by Ocala Horse Properties and cared for by Jordan Crabo

Alyssa Phillips on Ft. Worth, Texas on Oskar, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Coriando x Marlo) owned by Julie & Alyssa Phillips and cared for by Alyssa Dobrotin

Competition Information

CHIO Aachen is one of the most prestigious multi-discipline events in the world, hosted annually in Aachen, Germany.

The CCIO4*-S will begin with dressage on the morning of July 5 at 8:30 a.m., 2:30 am Eastern, followed by stadium later in the afternoon in the main grass arena at 5:50 p.m., 11:50 Eastern.

Cross-country will start at 10:00 a.m., 4 am Eastern, on Saturday, July 6, to determine the final team standings.

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Laura Kraut and McLain Ward lead the Nations Cup team for Aachen

Details: June 27, 2024; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to compete at the prestigious CHIO Aachen, hosted in Aachen, Germany, from June 28-July 7.

Aachen Nations Cup team CHIO Aachen will serve as the final team observation event for the U.S. Jumping Team ahead of team selection for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson.

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

• Natalie Dean of Palo Alto, Calif.
• Katie Dinan of Wellington, Fla.
• Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
• McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y.

Competition Information

Competition at CHIO Aachen begins on Tuesday, July 2, and will feature the Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5* at 7:10 p.m., 1:10 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, July 4, under the lights in the main stadium.

The week long competition concludes with the historic Grand Prix of Aachen CSIO5*, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, on Sunday, July 7, with the first round starting at 1:05 p.m., 7:05 a.m. Eastern.

Tune in live on ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV with a ClipMyHorse.TV Premium Membership.

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Find out more information at the Aachen Horse Show website.