Lexington, Ky. - The 2014 US Pony Finals are ready to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. From August 5-10, over 700 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 competitions are...

Kevin Babington jumps to his second grand prix win at HITS Saugerties VI (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - Kevin Babington and Shorapur were on the brink of their second grand prix win in a row at HITS Saugerties as they approached the fifth fence of Sunday’s jump-off. They were on track to best 15 contenders when Babington’s martingale got caught on his rein. “Once I got my tack sorted out we had already added three strides,” said Babington. “I knew her...

Danielle Torano and Herault (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, Vt. - Danielle Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, riding Herault won the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior-Amateur Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, August 3, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The Torano family has had a banner weekend at the Vermont Summer Festival, with Danielle’s husband Jimmy Torano winning Saturday’s $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix. Torano also...

This article was originally published at www.useventing.com . Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch take the top prize for the second year in a row (Brant Gamma photo). Laine Ashker downplayed her chances of a winning the Advanced at Millbrook Horse Trials for the second year in a row all weekend, but she and Anthony Patch remained cool under pressure and rode a beautiful show jump round to defend her title in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. With less then two points separating Ashker from...

Isabel Coleman and Pistol (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Summer Classic concluded with another day of perfect weather as riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the NAL/WIHS Adult and Children's Jumper Classics, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation. Isabel Coleman proved that age is just a number when she sped to victory in the Children's Jumper Classic aboard 22-year-old Pistol, and Sydney Crenshaw had the fastest jump-off of the day with Camera...

Luciana Diniz & Lady Lindenhof (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - Before a buzzing VIP lounge and packed stands, the final CSI5* class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard - the Prix VDL Groep - was won by one of the most popular riders on the Tour, Luciana Diniz (POR), with her golden mare Lady Lindenhof. Second went to the experienced combination of Marc Houtzager (NED) with Sterrehof’s Uppity and third to Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) with Cocoshynsky....

Westport, Conn. - Thanks to Ariat International and the dedication of three volunteers in the Champions Equine Service program, three well-deserving charities devoted to horse welfare and the horse-human bond are receiving grants. Individuals who volunteer a minimum of 24 hours in a year for an equine charity on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network are recognized as Champions and automatically entered into a drawing where the winners have the opportunity to select their charities to...

Sofia Roberts and Brownland's Mr. Mack (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows have seen large numbers of entries all summer, but this weekend those numbers skyrocketed in the pony divisions. The 2014 US Pony Finals competition kicks off at the Kentucky Horse Park in just two days, and hundreds of ponies and young riders took advantage of the opportunity to prepare for the prestigious Pony Finals at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Among them were two Pony...

Alfano and Jersey Boy won the Handy Round and the Overall in the International Hunter Derby (ChicagoEquestrian) Wayne, Ill. - Chicago is a great place to show in the summer and the weather did not disappoint today for Equifest II’s Derby Day at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Sunny skies and a nice breeze made for a pleasant day for riders and spectators. The feature classes were the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $5,000 National Hunter Derby. Lamplight Equestrian Center...

Lisa Wilcox and Denzello (Peter Martin-Turner/Spidge Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photography) Hickstead, United Kingdom - The U.S. closed out Grand Prix competition at CDIO3* Hickstead with strong finishes in the Freestyle on Sunday. Lisa Wilcox and Denzello demonstrated why they were named to the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team with a third-place finish on Sunday. While Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Wellnetta earned seventh-place honors. Wilcox...