Lexington, Ky. - The US National Pony Jumper Championships got underway Thursday evening in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The riders and their ponies competed in the Welcome Class, which serves as Phase I of the Individual Championship. In the class, competitors with clean rounds or equal faults remain equal. Eleven of the 34 combinations went clear over Marc Donovan’s solid course, setting the stage for what will likely be an exciting championship. Competition continues...

Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, Ky. - Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter took home the title in the Small Regular Hunter Pony Championship in the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans at the Kentucky Horse Park. The pair garnered a total score of 1033.29 through two days of competition. National titles are determined in the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans following three phases of competition, with...

Dublin, Ireland - The United States has had a remarkable few weeks of show jumping success in Europe and Canada, as they have garnered Championship, Grand Prix, and Nations Cup successes at prestigious international competitions in Ontario, Canada, Mannheim, Germany, and Hickstead, England. Following on the heels of a victory in the 100th Nations Cup of Germany, the U.S. jumped to Team Bronze at the Pan American Games in Caledon, Ont. The following week, they impressed at Hickstead with a...

Verden, Germany - The FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses will be held this weekend in the historic equestrian town of Verden, Germany, August 6-9. Host to many elite equestrian events, Verden has organized this prestigious competition for 16 out of the 18 years it has been held, to the accolades of the equestrian community. This year the turnout is again very strong with 42 entries from 19 nations competing in the five-year-old division and 36 young horses from 14...

Ermelo, The Netherlands – The United States contingent of six individuals, two pas de deux, and one squad are set to compete at the inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors in Ermelo, The Netherlands August 6-9. The small, quaint town in central Holland will host a total of 21 nations including 37 individual females, 18 individual males, 11 pas de deux, and 12 squads, all competing for the coveted title of World Champion. U.S. Junior World Vaulting Championship Contingent...

Lexington, Ky. - The first championship titles of the US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans were claimed Wednesday as the Large Regular Hunter Ponies and the Small Green Hunter Ponies completed their final phases of competition in the 2015 US Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park. Taylor St. Jacques and Glynhafan Red Kestral earned top overall honors in the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship, while Devin Seek and Woodlands Polar Bear received the Small Green Hunter...

Calamari and With Applause (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The first day of the 2015 US Pony Finals kicked off with the Model and Under Saddle phases of the Large Regular Hunter Pony and the Small Green Hunter Pony competition. Morgan Ward and Enjoy the Laughter hold the lead in the Large Regular Hunter Pony Championship, and Sophia Calamari and With Applause sit in first in the Small Green Hunter Pony Championship. National titles are determined in the US Hunter Pony Championship...

Riesenbeck, Germany – The U.S. driving contingent had a strong showing at CAIO4* Riesenbeck on July 30-August 1. Chester Weber finished fourth in a large field for the Four-in-Hand World Cup division, while the U.S. Pair Horse Team finished fifth, with each member having solid performances. Weber (Ocala, Fla.) began his weekend by driving his and Jane Clark’s KWPN geldings to second place in the dressage phase with a score of 42.94. On marathon day, he and his team were 12th in the...

Elizabeth Traband and Huh (Cathrin Cammett Photo) Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2015 winner of the $1,000 Junior Hunter Finals competitor grant, Elizabeth Traband of Centre Hall, Pa. Traband competed at the US Junior Hunter Championships East Coast in the 3’3” Junior Hunter division with her own horse, Huh. The grant is awarded annually to the applicant who constructs the best essay detailing how his/her competitive...

Lexington, Ky. - The stage is set for the 2015 US Pony Finals to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. From August 4-9, over 800 ponies from across the country will compete with their youth riders in hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. Through Saturday, competition for the US Hunter Pony Championships presented by Sallee Horse Vans will take place. Riders will vie for championships in Small, Medium, and Large Regular Hunter and Green Hunter divisions. The Hunter Pony...