Gulfport, MS A very positive-minded 23-year-old Sarah Mechlin of Cincinnati, OH, partnered with Yes Indeed took the top spot over 50 competitors in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the fourth week of the Gulf Coast Winter Classics. Fifty equine athletes were being braided before dawn and began lunging at 5:30 Friday morning in preparation for their first big test, the official presentation and jog before the panel of judges- Mike Rosser, Ray Francis, Betsy Perry, Tucker...

Last night was awesome. The standard of riding demonstrated by the US riders was unbelievable. McLain, Mario, Margie and Beezie gave a riding lesson in how to ride effectively and efficiently to everyone that was watching. Beezie also showed some great stickability when Coral Reef Via Volo channeled her inner-pony and decided to be a little uncooperative as she took her tour of the ring prior to the buzzer sounding. However, when she went back in for her second round all antics were left...

The timing was finally right for the U.S. Team to put their strongest team forward for the Nations Cup at CSIO Wellington. The team scored a huge win, with professional performances from all four riders. Sapphire returned with foot-perfect form for McLain Ward, jumping two clear rounds to lead the U.S. effort. The packed house couldn’t get enough and the Team USA cheering section went wild when she touched down over the last fence both times. Sapphire wasn’t the only one to notch...

The US Team Celebrates (Sport Fot) Wellington, FL – Four of the United States’ classiest veterans represented the United States in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm and did not disappoint a packed house of fans. They dominated the field of eight teams to win on a score of eight faults over Canada on 16. Three teams tied for third: Great Britain, Australia and Ireland, all on 37 faults. Under the lights in the International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club,...

Wellington, FL - The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5* presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach is now just five days away. The American edition of the world's premier dressage series will begin on March 9th with the FEI Horse Inspection, followed by two days of world class competition. Five top European dressage horses arrived in Miami from Amsterdam on March 3. They are expected to move from quarantine to the competition venue, the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm...

Boston, MA - More than $95,000 was earned at the 2011 AMHA/WMF Stallion Service Auction, which took place as part of the AMHA Annual Convention in February. The event took place at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston with Bill Carrington serving as auctioneer and David "Tuffy" Owens reading the pedigrees. The overall top-winning bid went to Dan Kelley of Victory Lane Morgans for his bid of $10,000 for the cover of the November/December issue of The Morgan Horse magazine. Bill and Sammi Hazen...

Boyd Martin on Rock on Rose. (Photo by Mike McNally) Lexington, KY - Welcome to the first of many features profiling various people in equestrian sport - athletes, trainers and more. The profiles will be published regularly in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Week in Review e-newsletter. Is there someone you would like to know more about? Email “10 Questions With” editor Stephanie Doyle at [email protected] . Then, stay tuned to USEF’s Facebook page ( www.facebook....

I am currently sitting in the sun outside the USEF merchandise booth, which is in a prime viewing location. The international Ring is directly in front of us and the warm-up is directly behind. Yesterday as we were setting up I snuck up the stairs a few times to watch some of the rounds in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8. The class was won by Mario Deslaurier and Jane Clark’s lovely grey gelding Vicomte D. Mario looked fantastic as did McLain, Beezie and Margie who did not jump their...

Sandy Ferrell and Moshi. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is well into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The sun was shinning along with strong gusts of wind as the Green Conformation Hunters made their way into the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning. Sandy Ferrell was aboard the new entry from Stephanie Riggio, Moshi, for the championship...

Mario Deslauriers and Victomte D. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - USA's Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D were victorious in Thursday afternoon's $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 following a competitive class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during international CSIO week at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The FTI WEF's eighth week of competition, sponsored by G&C Farm, continues through Sunday, March 6. Friday will feature the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup...