Las Vegas

Word comes this morning from USEF that Andreas Helgstrand and his stunning gray mare Blu Hors Matine, withdrew from the World Cup (Dressage) after Blu twisted her pastern. The injury isn't serious and the mare would have likely recovered in time to compete, but she still showed signs of lameness in the trot-out prior to the event.

The pair stunned (see the video we have posted in the video section) World Equestrian Games spectators with their performances in the Grand Prix Special and the Freestyle, earning a silver medal. Both tests were nearly flawless. With a few more months of maturity (Blu is only 9), the pair was a favorite to bring home the gold in the World Cup. More importantly, though, spectators were looking forward to watching Blu Hors and Hegelstrand perform.

The USEF announced its dressage and jumping squads for the upcoming Rolex World Cup in Las Vegas. The teams are a bit of the same-old, same-old--but that's okay considering how well some of these riders did in Aachen, Germany in September at the World Equestrian Games. Rumor has it that Catherine Haddad, who rides and shows in Germany, is all that and more, and if she gets a chance to show it could be the clincher for the U.S team.
Dressage:
(Rider/Residence /Horse/Age, Breed, Sex/Owner)

Steffen Peters/San Diego, CA/Floriano/17-year-old Westphalian gelding/Stephen and Laurelyn Browning