Molly Sorge

Show jumper McLain Ward has decided to retire the great mare Sapphire.

Khalid Al Eid and Abdullah Al Sharbatly, two Saudi Arabian show jumpers, faced Fédération Equestre Internationale tribunals for doping offenses on April 18-19.

One of the hardest things for young professionals in any discipline to master is the art of actually generating income. “It's difficult when you first start out because you’re not sure what to charge [for training or lessons],” said up-and-coming dressage trainer J.J. Tate, 34. “You’re kind of amazed that someone's going to pay you to do what you love, so you're tempted to give half of it away, but you do need to make a living at it.”

's-Hertogenbosch—April 22

Perhaps sometime in the next few days, Rich Fellers will have a few moments to spend quietly with Flexible, the horse he describes as his best friend and a pet. They’ll stand quietly and reminisce as good friends do about the fans stomping their feet, the thrilling dash to the finish line, and the glare of the spotlight as they galloped around gloriously.

For it’s finally happened. For the first time in 25 years, a U.S. rider has won the Rolex FEI World Cup Final.

's-Hertogenbosch—April 20

Rich Fellers didn’t quite hold onto his lead in the World Cup Finals today in Round 2, which is run in a grand prix class format. But he’s still tied for second in the overall standings.

's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands–April 19

Age and wisdom can trump youth and vigor. Flexible proved that cliché more than true today in the speed leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final.

Wellington, Fla.—March 24

Now, Reed Kessler can wash her socks.

When the sun came up on March 21, the first day of the U.S. Equestrian Federation selection trials for the U.S. show jumping team for the London Olympic Games, Kessler had rolled on a special pair of socks over her breeches and slipped them into her boots. They’re boot socks emblazoned with the U.S. flag, and she’d been given them last year when she was on the USEF Young Rider tour in Europe.

Wellington, Fla.—March 23

Tori Colvin got her mother, Brigid, quite a nice birthday present. To celebrate the day, the 14-year-old won her first major equitation class, the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Exhibition.

Tori has multiple prestigious hunter titles to her name, and she’s already won her first grand prix. So, the equitation ring is next for her to conquer. And now that she’s added equitation guru Missy Clark to her list of trainers along with Scott Stewart and Ken Berkely, she’s well on her way.

Wellington, Fla.—March 22

“You had to dig deep tonight to get around. It was all about survival out there,” Mario Deslauriers said after posting the best score of 1 time fault in Round 3 of the U.S. Equestrian Federation selection trials for the U.S. team for the London Olympic Games.

Wellington, Fla.—March 22

Reed Kessler’s eyes get wide and her voice wavers a bit when she talks about the position she’s in. Kessler, who is just 17, is sitting on top of a field of heavy hitting horses and riders in the U.S. Equestrian Federation selection trials for the U.S. team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“This is without doubt the greatest moment in my riding career. It might be short lived, because things are going to get bigger and harder, but I’m enjoying it for now,” Kessler said.