Combined driver Chester Weber continued his goal of qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by winning the FEI division for four-in-hand horses at the Sunshine State FEI Combined Driving Event held at the Florida Horse Park. Weber, who was recently named a 2008 Equestrian of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation, was pleased with his weekend, which included a first place in the dressage, FEI horse team and the marathon course. While Team Weber dominated the...

Georgina Bloomberg piloted Street of Diamonds into the winner's circle after a two-year drought at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) when the pair won the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup Series IX Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Georgina and Street of Diamonds, owned by Gotham Enterprizes, were among only six combinations to go clear from the highest number of starters so far in 2009 FTI WEF and the second highest number in the 20-year history of the...

When Bridget Imparato, a USEF judge and steward was faced with her son, Michael, being a high school junior, her sights started to focus on college riding opportunities. The difficulties of navigating through the recruiting process led her to start of an exciting new website, www.EquestrianCollegeRecruiter.com . This website has become a one-stop location to get college equestrian riding questions answered. High school athletes can post an academic and riding resume along with photos and...

A group of fuzzy and adorable Miniature horses became instant fan favorites when they marched in the 75th Annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. Lennie Bertrand, of Bertrand’s Miniature Horse Ranch, brought 21 Miniature horses to march in the parade much to the delight of the 400,000 plus spectators who came out to enjoy Chicago’s favorite tradition. Bertrand said it was his 11th year to bring his Miniature horses to the parade, and he had friends...

Lexington, KY - With the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on the horizon, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has hired Peter Tischer to serve as the Developing Driver Four-in-Hand coach for 2009. A former international driver and member of the German driving team, Tischer drove internationally until 2006. He drove competitively for more than 20 years, from single ponies to four-in-hand horses. Tischer offers a broad perspective and a wealth of expertise to the US driving...

Mark Leone, George Morris, Mason Phelps and Susie Schoellkopf have signed on again as judges for the 2009 Equestrian Idol Musical Talent Show to benefit The EQUUS Foundation, Inc. New this year, the event will be held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Friday (not Saturday) evening, February 6, 2009, in Wellington, FL. Featuring musical performances by talented equestrians, including returning performers, Heather Caristo, Hillary Dobbs, Patricia Griffith, Casey Hodges, Brian...

Majestic Gaits KWPN Elite Dutch Warmblood mare Torette R (Silvano x Flemmingh) became Grand Champion of the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Great American United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Breeders Championship Show in Saugerties, NY. Torette R also became the USDF New England series Bred Mare Champion. Kathy Hickerson, the owner of Torette R and Majestic Gaits bought the mare from VDL Stud in Holland after she was #4 National Mare in Holland. Hickerson said, "This was very...

Scores of Iberian horses, along with their riders, handlers and owners, assembled at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX, October 13-18 for the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association’s (IALHA) 2008 National Championship Horse Show. Last week’s competition drew nearly 150 Andalusian, Lusitano and Half-Andalusian horses, and included hundreds of participants from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Affectionately known as the Horse of Kings, the versatile...

A crowd favorite at the 2008 Road to the Horse, Tommy Garland will return in 2009 applying his CPR method in his quest to win this prestigious competition. Garland's method is all about confidence, patience and respect when working with and training horses. Garland is considered one of the best trainers and showmen in the world of Arabians and Half-Arabians and was named the Western Pleasure Trainer of the Year in 2002 by the Arabian Professionals and Amateur Horseman's Association. When he...

Already an active supporter of horse shows from the local to national levels and spanning from hunter/jumper and dressage to reining and Western pleasure, SmartPak™ announced that they have partnered with HITS for their upcoming winter circuits. The partnership spans both coasts with a sponsorship of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida and a sponsorship of the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA, two of the biggest horse show circuits in the United States. In preparation for the eight-week...