On Monday, just days before the start of the first leg of the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters (WDM) in Palm Beach, the WDM organization announced the signing of a letter of intent to consider staging an event in Brazil in 2011. Camil Smeulders, Managing Director of WDM, announced the signing of the letter of intent with the company Haras Vale da Raposa operated by world renowned Brazilian architect Bennett Nisencwajg and his son, Heitor. WDM said it viewed the discussions as a major step in...

Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Keri Potter and Rockford I) The all-new Devoucoux Hunter Derby kicked off with a bang at the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit when one of the top hunter riders in the country, John French, piloted Victoria Komisar’s Over the Moon to the inaugural win in the $10,000 Devoucoux Derby on the West Coast. French of Gilroy, CA, had the highest score in both the first and second rounds of the popular 3'3" class that featured 29 starters on a course set by John Manning, which...

One of the leading hunter/equitation riders and trainers will be giving a Hunt Seat Clinic, sponsored by Palm Beach Riding Academy, in the International Arena on February 16 at 3:30 p.m. during the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week, which is the sixth week of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Smith and his wife, Emily, own and have operated Ashland Farms since 1992. They have trained and or shown to numerous championships at shows such as Devon, Capital Challenge,...

Photo by Ken Braddick (A frisky Satchmo with rider Isabell Werth during the vet check.) All 16 horses that were presented for veterinary inspection were passed Wednesday to start in the €100,000 (US$138,000) Exquis World Dressage Masters at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Three German combinations, three Dutch, six from the U.S., three from Canada and one pair from Denmark will perform in the €10,000 (US$14,000) Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe Grand Prix at 1 p.m. It is the only...

Steffen Peters and Ravel, Anky van Grunsven and Salinero and Isabell Werth and Satchmo joined 15 other horse-and-rider combinations Monday to prepare for the Exquis World Dressage Masters Palm Beach this week that kicks off the 2010 lineup of the globe's richest dressage competitions. Anky van Grunsven watched her first ever polo game Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Isabell Werth worked Satchmo at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center while her sister, Claudia, wheeled...

Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, a premiere horse show management company, would like to clarify that dogs will be permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010. Contrary to earlier speculation that dogs would not be permitted on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park this show season because of veterinary protocol relating to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, the Kentucky Horse Park's Special Events Department has declared that there will be no change in the dog policy, and that dogs will...

Kim Severson Takes Her Expertise South of the Border (Mike McNally) Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will continue to lead a joint development program with the FEI in Central and South America. The USEF made a commitment to supply coaches from the USA and Canada to FEI regional Groups IV and V for 2010 and 2011 after a very successful pilot year in 2009. The objective of this program is to increase the participation in regional games in the area going forward....

Steffen Peters and Ravel Won the 2009 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas (Shannon Brinkman/USEF Archive ) Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the seven horse/rider combinations that have been named to represent the United States at the Exquis World Dressage Masters in Wellington, FL February 4-6, 2010. The group of seven includes Steffen Peters and Ravel, the 2009 USEF Equestrian and Horse of the Year and the reigning FEI World Cup Champions and Leslie...

Photo by Diana DeRosa (Kelley Farmer and Early Applause) On February 14 and on February 20th equestrians will be either scoring points or cheering from the sidelines at two events showcased by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF). For the fourth annual Bowling for Equestrians on the 14th competitors will rack up dollars. This event benefits the AHJF’s Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) and takes place at Greenacres Bowl (6126 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres, FL) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. One week...

Breeders of the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA) have accomplished something likely never done before by a domestic studbook. In the $40,000 Jack Daniels Grand Prix at the Denver Stock Show in January, AHHA-bred horses earned three of the top four prizes. The winner, Lt. Kijie (Sandstone Laurinn/Jasmin/Carolus, breeder Sandstone Horse Sales), was followed by Southern Pride (South Pacific/Caretino, breeder Joan Irvine Smith and The Oaks) in third and Ceonta (Cassini/Celina/Corofino,...