New Zealand eventers start as hot favourites to take the crown at the prestigious Burghley International Horse Trials in the UK tomorrow evening (Thursday NZ time). Equestrian Sports New Zealand eventing high performance leader Erik Duvander says he couldn't be happier with the preparation of his riders for one of the top events on the global eventing calendar and the next round of the rich HSBC FEI Classics Series....

With just days to go to the start of the 50th anniversary of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials we take a look at the field. Arguably the toughest eventing competition in the world, Burghley is one of the bench mark events leading into next year’s Olympic Games. ...

AEA Burong is offering the first 50 callers 50% off the cost of a service to either one of their beautiful stallions standing at stud. AEA METALLIC - The best moving PSG stallion in the country AEA TUSCHINSKI – Sixth in the 6 year old class at DWTS 2011...

Glen Haven Park held their inaugural Grand Prix Show in Kilcoy on 27 - 28 August and right from the start it was obvious the event was going to be a top class act! On offer for competitors were the Barastoc Young Horse Finals, The Ian and Di McCauley Grand Prix and Garrards Mini Prix along with two other arenas. Arena two went up to 1.20m with junior classes and CRT Woodford Country Store sponsoring the third ring, which was dedicated to the Pony Club fraternity. Horsezone were proud sponsors of the Open 90cm class and also donated Horsezone jackets to two Best Presented competitors....

The East Moreton Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society held the Queensland Championship Show at Woodford on Sunday 28 August, in conjunction with their annual Futurities, Maturity, Hack Challenges, Super Horse and Youth Challenges, which were held on the Saturday. ...

A tenth horse has died in NSW from Hendra virus at a property north of Ballina, on the North Coast. “The property has been quarantined and the dead horse has been buried on the property,” NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ian Roth said. “The horse was noticeably ill on Saturday and was showing neurological changes, including weakness and loss of balance. “The horse deteriorated rapidly during the day and was found dead on Sunday morning. ...

Twenty-three-year-old Carola Diener (GER) became the new world champion at the 15th FEI World Pair Driving Championships at Conty, France. She performed a superb dressage test, drove a wonderful marathon and was near-perfect in the obstacle driving competition The silver medal went to home representative Stéphane Chouzenoux; Tom Engbers from The Netherlands won individual bronze. ...

France and Sweden qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games as a result of their placings in the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 team competition. France finished in silver medal position on a score of 151.10 and Sweden placed fourth (199.20). Germany, the leading nation at the Championships, had already achieved Olympic qualification. Bronze medallists Great Britain are automatically qualified as next year’s Olympic Games host nation. ...

29 August 2011 marked the one-year countdown to next year’s Paralympic Games. A record number of 4,200 athletes from 150 countries are set to convene in London (GBR) between 29 August and 9 September 2012 and compete in 503 events in 21 sports. ...

Burren-Dah Stud, located at 740 Montpelier Drive, The Oaks NSW, is currently holding an online auction of quality Arabians. Live auctioning will be conducted at the stud on Saturday 3 September 1.00pm, coinciding with the online auction listings. There will be a viewing of horses on Friday 2 September from 9.00am and on Saturday 3 September from 10.00am to 12.00 noon. ...