Nina Montross and Caprifol. (Al Cook.) Despite a two-month layoff from riding, Nina Montross of Bedford, NY, and Caprifol impressively captured the $10,000 North American League Children's Jumper Finals at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Tuesday. The talented 14-year-old high school freshman was on an equestrian hiatus in order to attend Westminster School in Simsbury, CT. "I was nervous because I had not ridden in two months," said Montross. "But I was really excited...

Madison Goetzmann and Sirius Black . (Al Cook) Madison Goetzmann, of Skaneateles, NY, piloted Sirius Black, owned by Christina Gellos, to victory in the $10,000 North American League Children's Hunter Finals at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Monday. Lily Blavin of Scottsdale, AZ, and Pringle were the Reserve Champions. The competition was fierce. Goetzmann was worried about Blavin, who came to the NAL Finals as the year-end division leader. "I was thinking ever before...

The seventeenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend we attended the second Western Dressage classes held here in the Inland Northwest. We rode the NAWD tests through Level 4. The tests are wonderful and the dressage spectators were very interested in how the WD tests are both similar and different from the USEF tests ridden in the USDF shows. The judge was super and even though the day was very long for her, very positive about the work saying "I enjoyed judging...

Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

Victory in the final leg at Boekelo (NED) clinched the overall win for Germany in the first FEI Nations Cup Eventing (left to right): Michael Jung, Bettina Hoy, Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke with Chef d'Equipe Hans Melzer (Jon Stroud/FEI) The German team produced yet another first-rate performance to win at Boekelo (NED), the final leg of the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, and rounded off what has been an outstanding year for the country’s senior riders with a comfortable...

Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals Presentation. (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - Meg O'Mara of Rumson, NJ, bested a field of 257 junior riders to win the prestigious Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals, presented by Randolph College, at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Sunday. It was an emotional time for O'Mara. The announcer just finished naming Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, the Reserve Champion. When she realized that the Championship title was...

Dana Scott USEF Champion and KM Whatever RV Dana Scott of Wilton, CT, captured the gold medal riding KM Whatever RV in the $7,500 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday evening. The 17- year-old rider was nearly perfect finishing with a score of only two faults. "I got a little lucky," said Scott. "Everyone here has a really fantastic horse, everyone here has a fabulous team behind them and everyone...

Boekelo, The Netherlands - Every member of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team that entered the show jumping arena at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* Sunday leapt up the leaderboard and helped the U.S. team improve to 6th place in the final Nations Cup standings. Leading the way for the Americans were Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison. Holling (Ocala, FL) and Constance Ann Holling's Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding were just shy of a double clear round. They jumped flawlessly, but came in just...

Boekelo, The Netherlands - They had some adverse conditions to deal with Saturday, but the members of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team were able to maintain their place in the standings after navigating a soggy cross country course at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. Leading the Nations Cup team were Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner's Cambalda. The pair jumped clean over the course while adding 10 time faults and rising in the standings to 52nd overall. "It was quite muddy and heavy by the...

Presentation: L to R: Cliff Haines, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker, For the Laughter, Meredith Darst, Tim Bolton, Mindy Darst and Jorge Delara. (Al Cook) For the Laughter, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA and shown by Meredith Darst, was awarded the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by the Bedard Family, at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday afternoon. There were cheers and tears at the presentation as Dr. Parker was overcome with emotion over the...