On October 22, the Junior Hunter divisions began competing at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), held at the Verizon Center through Sunday, October 25. Kelsey Thatcher took an early lead in the Older Junior Hunter divisions, winning the first class of the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division. Earlier in the day, Hasbrouck Donovan stole the show, earning two blue ribbons in the Younger Junior Hunter classes. The Older Junior Hunter divisions got under way late that morning, and it was...

It was another exciting day of competition at the 2009 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), as the schedule featured four jumper classes for amateur-owner, junior, and open jumpers on Thursday. The highlight class of the day was the $30,000 Open Jumper Time First Jump-off class, and Olympic Gold medalist McLain Ward of the United States took the top prize on Couletto K James. Andres Rodriguez of Venezuala and Da Vinci were victorious in the $20,000 Open Jumper Gambler's Choice Costume...

The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to announce the launch of the USEF Dressage Youth/Pony Pilot Program for Fall 2009.This program is designed to seek out, educate and assist the development of the young riders, and will be under the direction of Lendon Gray, appointed by the USEF Dressage High Performance Committee. “I am thrilled that USEF is going to help to develop the best equitation and riding skills in our younger riders,” Gray said. “It is so much easier to...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Foundation has announced the release of its new study assessing the opinions of AAEP members regarding priorities in equine health care research. The second study of its kind, the 2009 AAEP Membership Equine Research Study was conducted to assist the equine industry in directing its financial support of equine research projects. Study results indicate that the equine body systems of highest research priority are musculoskeletal,...

Congratulations to 12-year-old Katerina Barrett of Middletown, MD, who was announced October 17 as the 2009 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA)/Team Morgan "Win a Morgan Horse" Contest winner. Barrett will soon meet her new Morgan horse, CBMF Phoenix (DBA Street Talk x Treble's Wild Memories), graciously donated by Ann Hailey of Copper Beech Morgan Horse Farm in New Albany, OH. Barrett is a seventh grader who likes riding, playing soccer and the piano, and running. She takes lessons with...

Anna Collier and Julie Ann Boyer have each won international divisions at Galway Downs events in the last year, and on October 30-November 1, they’ll be facing off in the CCI** at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Boyer, 50, will be riding her Thoroughbred mare Rumor Hazit, with whom she was victorious in the CIC** at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials last March. Collier, 33, won the CCI** last October at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event on Uppercrust D....

Brazilian superstar Rodrigo Pessoa headed the winning line-up of international riders in Sunday's $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on the final day of the 64th Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Pessoa, Olympic Gold medalist and three-time World Cup winner, aboard Let's Fly, was the eighth rider on course and the first to navigate the course designed by Steve Stephens without a rail down. "I have been riding him for a little over a year and a half," said Pessoa. "I started him in the bigger...

The dual sportswoman, who combines careers as a three-day eventer and trainer with that of a professional race car driver and performance driving coach, won the Open Pre-Novice category of the British Eventing Horse Trials at Tweseldown riding her horse Donovan (Intrepid). The event marked a return to competition for Donovan who has missed the past four months due to a muscle injury. What was planned as a gentle return to action became a complete domination of the Open Pre-Novice category as...

Members of the American Shetland Pony Club, the American Miniature Horse Registry and the American Show Pony Registry (ASPC/AMHR/ASPR) will reap the rewards for a successful year and plan for 2010 at the small equine organization’s upcoming annual convention. Supporters of the versatile and popular small equine breeds will meet in Orlando, FL, November 5-7. The ASPC/AMHR/ASPR are non-profit organizations established to preserve and refine the bloodlines of small equines and promote the...

The 2009 Washington International Horse Show continued on Wednesday with the best horses and riders in the country competing in jumper championships. There were three jumper classes in total, and the first class victory went to Spencer Smith and Markies in the $10,000 Children's Jumper Championship. Alissa Kinsey guided Grisset to first place in the $10,000 Adult Jumper Championship. Opening up the Amateur-Owner Jumper competition, Susan Knoblauch and Carneval won the $2,500 Time First Jump-Off...