Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), the manager of the Winter Equestrian Festival, has released the finalized dates for the competitions commencing on January 13 and running through April 4, 2010. As in the past two years, the Festival will feature 12 weeks of AA USEF competition showcasing some of the world's top Olympic riders and awarding major prize money at one of the premiere equestrian facilities in the world. Once again, the Festival will feature the Battle of the Sexes, the Nations Cup...

Spectators were treated to a spectacular display of harmony between athlete and rider with a one day equestrian vaulting demonstration competition during the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championsip Presented by Gotham North. Top Equestrian Vaulters from the US and Canada competed for honors with their Freestyle and Technical routines in the Van Lennep Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. This marks the first time that Equestrian Vaulting was included in the...

The United States contingent was a force to be reckoned with at the Exquis World Dressage Masters finale in Hickstead, Great Britain. The CDI*** and CDI***** events took place July 23-26, running concurrently with the Longines Royal International Horse Show. Thursday saw the start of grand prix action with the CDI*** Grand Prix taking center stage. The U.S.’s Catherine Haddad and Kenneth Dryby put in dominant performances, finishing first and second respectively. Haddad’s winning ways continued...

Marydell Farm is pleased to announce that its stallion Don Principe will now be trained and ridden by Olympian Courtney King-Dye. The 10-year-old Hanoverian by Donnerhall out of a Prince Thatch xx dam, SPS Papagena, has been trained and ridden by Jim Koford of Raleigh, NC, since his arrival in the USA at age six. Throughout their partnership, Don Principe and Koford gathered many honors along the way, including several championships, both regional and BLM, including a triple at the 2008 BLM...

The North American Young Riders Endurance ride took place on Friday, July 24. It was run concurrently with the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) and for the first time all three North American countries were represented. Held in the rolling hills of Henryville, IN, riders competed against the clock for team and individual medals. Heavy rains left the ride’s 75-mile course a bit more treacherous, requiring riders to be extra cautious. The Individual Gold and Silver...

Far Hills, New Jersey - It wasn’t an Olympic stadium, but those in the stands and along the rails at the Garden State Horse Show were thrilled to see two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, McLain Ward, being driven around by a miniature horse, not much larger than a Great Dane. Handling the reins was 16 year-old Gary Johnson, one of the four Driver-Survivors representing sharingVillage Groups. Gary projected confidence as he cruised around the imposing Grand Prix jumps with Sammy, a 13-year old...

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., announced the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) as the Official Reining Breed Sponsor. Reining will be one of eight world championships contested at the Games, which will be held at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park on September 25-October 10, 2010. As the Official Reining Breed Sponsor, AQHA will assist with the promotion and coverage of reining during the 2010 Games, and will be featured in the Equine Village. In addition, reining will be...

The Kentucky State Fair's World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS) has announced that qualifying is finalized for Park and Pleasure entries at the 2009 WCHS. Qualifying points are not being used, and all entries that showed in the required number of classes and competitions have been accepted.The entries for the Western Country Pleasure Invitational have also been notified of their acceptance. WCHS is the richest and most prestigious competition in the world for American Saddlebreds, and has been...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce the dates for the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit, held at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. The horse show circuit will run for six weeks and will also include an off week. There will be four World Cup qualifiers during the circuit, and it will feature special classes for riders of all levels in equitation, hunters, and jumpers. An added bonus for exhibitors this year is special circuit pricing packages, which will help exhibitors make their showing plans....

The American Horse Council (AHC) has launched a new effort to collect information on access issues equestrians are experiencing on federal lands. The centerpiece of this effort is an online form equestrians can use to report their personal experiences regarding trails and federal lands that have been closed to them or other access issues. Americans who use horses and pack stock enjoy a unique experience when they ride on trails and public lands. It is an experience that ties them to the...