Wellington, FL - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) announces that the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Hunter Classic Spectacular will be returned to its original format in the 2012 season. With input from riders and trainers, the decision was made to return the class back to a one-night event on Saturday during Week 6 of the 2012 FTI WEF. A Hunter Forum meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 22, at 3:30 pm at The Wellington Club for riders and trainers to identify various ways to...

Richard Spooner and Lady Like. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - It was a fun night of competition with a highlight event, the $50,000 Vita Flex Match Races, at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Advancing through five rounds of races, it was Richard Spooner (USA) and Lady Like, owned by the C&S Partnership LLC who finished as the winners. In the final round, they topped Daniela Cordero of the Dominican Republic and T Cavalier. The FTI WEF's tenth week of competition, sponsored by...

Sweden’s Stefan Jansson in the clinic arena. (Photo courtesy of JRPR) Wellington, FL – Dressage trainer and rider Stefan Jansson spent his first trip to Florida mentoring Lusitano horses and their riders during a clinic at Carlene Blunt’s Country Club Stables in Boynton Beach, FL. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the clinic came on the heels of The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction, and was a fantastic learning experience for dressage riders who compete and train on Lusitanos....

Gary Lane and Olivier. (Photo by JRPR. ) Wellington, FL – Thanks to a nice top line, a great swing and a beautiful muscular build, Olivier, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood ridden by Gary Lane, rode away with The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II CDI. Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the award is presented to a horse with a successful performance during the show due to their fitness level. Lane, of Country...

A competitor on course in the Purina Mills Horseless Horseshow. (Photo by Sarah Owen.) Ocala, FL - The annual Purina Mills Weekend, which featured exciting classes, a $50,000 Purina Mills-sponsored Grand Prix, and a series of special events, wrapped up the fifth week of AA-rated competition at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Another round of beautiful weather provided picture-perfect conditions, and exhibitors were out in force to take advantage of an action-packed schedule, with several key...

Lincoln, NE - Olympian Carol Lavell has said, “For most Young Riders, obtaining financial support becomes the ultimate hurdle.” Through The Dressage Foundation's new 'Lessons in Fundraising and Giving' Program, riders will learn valuable tools that will help them throughout their equestrian careers. Program participants will learn how they can raise the financial support necessary to continue their education and career. Participants will hear from people who have “been there, done that” as well...

Andre Thieme and Uvalier. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - It seems the luck of the Irish was with German High-Performance rider Andre Thieme yesterday when he piloted his own Uvalier to a blazingly fast finish in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The win marks his third of the season and the second in five days for Thieme who, just last Sunday, rode Seth Vallhonrat's Coco 135 to an exciting victory in the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer...

McLain Ward and Rothchild. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - McLain Ward (USA) took the win today in the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic with Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farms. The class was the feature event on Friday at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which is in its tenth week of competition. The G&C Farm 1.45m Classic is part of an initiative to increase FEI ROLEX ranking classes at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Thanks to the support of G&C Farm, owned by Gustavo...

Elizabeth Benson and San Remo VDL. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The 4th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships, presented by Artisan Farms, were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the class saw an exciting win for 16-year-old Elizabeth Benson of Whitehouse Station, NJ, trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables....

Lexington, KY - U.S. Team Member Boyd Martin will be the special guest on the Eventing Radio Show's first LIVE call-in program on Monday, March 21st, 2011, from 7-8 p.m. EST. Boyd will take listeners' calls from around the world and around the sport of eventing. The number to call - 347-637-3238 - will also be posted on the Eventing Radio Show's website at www.eventingradio.com. Boyd said he is looking forward to this unique opportunity to take listeners questions about any issue in the sport...