Megan Brincks

Read Sara Lieser's article on the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** after cross-country day.

Seacookie and William Fox-Pitt started the day with a confident double-clear round on exactly the optimum time. 

Parker and James Alliston looked focused and finished with time to spare.

Several riders chose not to run Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. 

Phillip Dutton, after riding around double clear on Fernhill Eagle, said he would scratch Mighty Nice. However, he later changed his mind and decided to run.  “Happy” was 24th after dressage with 57.0 penalty points. 

"[I] have reconsidered my decision [and] will run Mighty Nice [cross-country] after all," said Dutton on his Facebook page. "The weather has held out, the footing is perfect and he's fit and ready."

Rolex Kentucky CCI**** entry Jordan Linstedt did not start the event with her Tullibard’s Hawkwind. “Jack” sustained a minor injury while competing in the advanced division at the Twin Rivers Spring Three Day Event and Horse Trials (Calif.) on April 10-14.

The Obama administration’s proposed budget for 2014 included a proposal to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from spending money on inspections for horse slaughter plants.

Without inspections, the plants could not legally operate.

In 2007, a similar stipulation effectively shut down the last processing plants in the United States. However, that law expired in 2011, opening the door for plants to reopen. Currently, there are no horse slaughter plants open in the United States, although several companies are working toward gaining approval from the USDA to open.

Authorities in the Netherlands recalled 50,000 tons of meat marketed as beef that may contain horsemeat.

Two Dutch companies, Wiljo Import en Export B.V. and Vleesgroothandel Willy Selten B.V., supplied the meat to more than 500 companies across Europe, but they cannot trace the exact source of the meat. 

Oklahoma authorities seized 63 horses and many other animals from the home of Carolyn Vaughn, of Wewoka, Okla., on April 6. More than 20 additional horses were found dead on the property.

In addition to the horses, 26 dogs, 13 cattle, four goats, three llamas, three rabbits, two pigs, two chinchillas, a bearded dragon lizard and an African gray parrot were taken from Vaughn. Seminole County Sheriff’s deputy David Hanson estimated the leased property at 1-2 acres.

Peter Wylde, 2004 Olympic team gold medalist and 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games individual bronze medalist, announced plans to open a New York base for his show jumping training and riding operation, Mullenders & Wylde Horses LLC, at Winley Farm in Millbrook.

After living for 12 years in Germany, Wylde moved back to the United States in December to join Missy Clark’s team at North Run.

On April 2, Mark Bellissimo, managing partner and the largest shareholder of Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC, called for Mason Phelps to resign from his role as president of the National Horse Show and his seat on the U.S.

On March 29, Gov. Mary Fallin signed a law reversing Oklahoma’s ban on horse processing plants in the Sooner State.

Although several states have bans on horse slaughter (California, Illinois and Texas currently prohibit equine processing plants), it’s not banned in the United States as a whole. In 2007, funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections for horse slaughter plants ended, effectively shutting down the last remaining plants. However, that law expired in 2011 and has not been renewed.

A Santa Barbara County (Calif.) gelding tested positive for non-neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus-1, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced on March 25.