Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude. (ESI Photography© .) Ocala, FL - The gift of warm weather, bright blue skies and outstanding competition have been the theme of this year's HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Last week's Ocala Masters marked the mid-way point of the six-week, AA-rated Circuit, and with just three more weeks of competition remaining, the Circuit is shaping up to be the one of the best yet. Each week the Grand Prix and Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers for the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million...

Ocala, FL - What do you get when you mix beautiful weather, talented horsemen, first-class facilities, exciting events and fabulous prize money? The answer is simple: HITS Ocala. The Ocala Winter Festival marked the second AA rated week of show jumping in the 'Sunshine State'. The two Grand Prix and weekly Devoucoux Hunter Prix saw record-breaking entries this week. In Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Kent Farrington of Chicago, IL, emerged as the...

Tracy Fenney and MTM La Costa. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - In a weekend that saw a record number of entries in several divisions, including two record-setting highs for Grand Prix entries, Sunday’s $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix was the icing on the cake. An outstanding 70 pairs started on a course designed by Tim Hott of Tennessee, as a mix of Professionals, Amateurs and Juniors were awarded the top ribbons. Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, TX, brought her Sunday best when she took home the...

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, the first time outside of Europe, where nearly one-million equine enthusiasts from around the world are expected to attend. It will be the largest sporting event held in North America, with more than 800 athletes and 900 horses from 60 countries expected to compete in eight FEI disciplines. Many horsemen consider the Games to be more important than the Olympics. In an effort to have...

"Let the Games Begin!" Australian Entertainer, Horseman and award winning Poet, Guy McLean, will perform at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games "Equine Village." In celebration of the games, McLean released an incredible 32-verse poem, "Let the Games Begin," especially dedicated to Dr. and Mrs. Lyons of Alltech, the State of Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Park. McLean will be appearing in an interview on the 2010 Radio Show, part of the Horse Radio Network, and to recite his poem to music...

When Randy Weaver was diagnosed with colon cancer, priorities were adjusted. Randy moved reconnecting with horses up on his list. A light that had shined in his life long ago was now important to illuminate again. He’d shown horses in his youth. He knew then about Louisville. What do you do when you’re faced with cancer? If you fight and win that battle, as Randy did, do you resume as normal? I imagine you examine your entirety, life as a whole, and reflect on the things that have brought you...

The 10 year old Zackary Duckworth, nicknamed in the second week of AEGT auditions the Zack “Attack,” prevailed this evening’s competition by a tenth of a point on the applause meter at the White Horse Fashion Cuisine in Wellington , Zack sung an acapella compilation of his favorite Nirvana songs in the Finale round to win the audience’s approval over two other dynamite performances. The other top acts for the Finale tonight included Salsa Dancers Fernando and Tasha...

The American Horse Council (AHC) has asked the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use stimulus funding for trails. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law on February 17 appropriates over $1.7 billion for the NPS, USFS, and BLM that can be used for the maintenance and construction of trails and other infrastructure improvements on public lands. The AHC recently wrote to NPS Acting Director Dan Wenk, Chief of...

Congress has recessed for the Thanksgiving holidays and will return the week of December 3. At that time, the Senate will again take up the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419). The Senate has been considering the bill for several weeks but has been unable to reach agreement on how it will proceed. Democrats and Republicans differ on how many amendments should be allowed to be offered. Nearly 200 amendments have been filed that various Senators wish to offer when the Senate returns to the bill after the...

A three-time Grand National Champion American Shetland Pony was recently donated to the Arabian Nights dinner show in Orlando, proving that the Shetland Pony can be a star going from the show ring to show business. The pony was donated by the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and will join more than 60 other horses at Arabian Nights, becoming the first-ever ambassador of the Shetland Pony breed to appear at the attraction. Tap Dance Kid, known as Dancer, was the 2008 American Shetland Pony...