When Germany’s Daniel Deusser watched Jens Fredricson jump off in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Mechelen, Belgium on Dec. 30, he wasn’t sure he could beat him.

“I saw him on the [television] screen and my alarm button was already on. I thought,’ Oh no! Now it’s going to be really hard work to beat that!’ said Deusser, who rode Cornet d’Amour.

“But I know my horse and he can do fantastic things. There was a long run to the double of verticals and I knew he could do one stride less to that, so I think that’s where we picked up the time,” he explained.  

When the Federation Equestre Internationale put out a press release about bidders for the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals, lots of readers did a double-take to see Omaha, Neb., listed as a contender. Omaha is seeking to host both the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in 2017.

Las Vegas has been officially confirmed as the host city for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping and Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in 2015. The finals are currently scheduled for April 15-19, at the University of Nevada’s Thomas & Mack Center.

Las Vegas has already hosted the FEI World Cup Finals five times—in 2000 and 2003 when it staged the jumping finals, and in 2005, 2007 and 2009, when the jumping and dressage finals were combined. Las Vegas was the first venue to host combined FEI World Cup Finals, in 2005.

Beezie Madden has a pair of team gold medals from the Olympic Games, team and individual silver medals from from the World Equestrian Games, and countless Nations Cup and grand prix wins to her credit. But she’s never won a major individual championship competition—until today.

Sorry I'm a bit late with my blog—I was so tired when I got home last night I went straight to bed! It was a very early morning yesterday. The U.S. horses had a practice jog at 6:30 and everyone looked great.

The second horse inspection was at 7:30 and I think everyone went through easily. After I rode Cylana, I headed over to my parents' hotel—the breakfast there is so good! Most importantly, it was my Dad's birthday yesterday!!!