Seventeen-year-old Spencer Smith headed into the 2014 fall season looking to produce strong results in the U.S.’s most prestigious equitation finals. The Wellington, Fla., native did just that as he earned the 2014 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals victory at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and finished fifth in the ASPCA Maclay Final at the National Horse Show to earn the Wilson Dennehy Equitation Trophy. Additionally, he competed in the finals at the Platinum Performance/USEF Show...

Jason Berry guides Upswing to success in the Hunter ring (ESI Photography) Culpeper, Va. - Earlier this year, Upswing was imported as a dressage prospect at three-day eventer Phillip Dutton’s barn. Quickly proving that piaffes and passage weren't his calling, Upswing left them in the dust for an over-fences career. Pamela Deslauriers purchased the eight-year old Mechkenburg gelding and handed the reins to Jason Berry (Verona, Virginia) less than three months ago. “He has come...

Final preparations are underway as 370 horses are about to descend upon the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Ca. for what is expected to be a record-breaking dressage competition at the 47th Annual California Dressage Society (CDS) Annual Championship Show, September 25 - 28, 2014. With an increase of more than 100 horses from last year, organizers predict that this will be the largest West Coast championship show in history, with nearly 1500 rides scheduled in six rings of non-stop...

Lorraine Prowse at the 2012 AHA Sport Horse Nationals (Don Stine) Aurora, Colo. - The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is excited to announce the relocation of Sport Horse Nationals to the Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex in Raleigh, NC for the 2015 national show. In keeping with the policy of AHA, an on-site visit made by AHA’s Sport Horse Commission Chair, William Pennington, Sport Horse Commissioner, Gary Hooghkirk, National Event Coordinator, Susan Laessig and AHA’s Executive...

This article orginally appeared at www.useventing.com . Allentown, N.J. - New Jersey-native Doug Payne led from start to finish in the CIC3* at jersey Fresh riding Crown Talisman, whom he owns in partnership with Larry and Amelia Ross. Payne recently relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina with his new wife, eventer Jessica Hampf, and made the trek back to his home state in hopes of a solid run in preparation for the Pau CCI4* in France. “Coming away from the event, I think it’s about...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation Board of Directors has voted unanimously to appoint Chris Welton as Chief Executive Officer effective June 1, 2014. Welton will replace John Long who announced his decision to retire from the position a year ago. Welton possesses a broad background in sport development and management and has acquired a deep understanding of and experience with the Olympic movement. After practicing law in Atlanta for six years, in 1991 Welton was named...

Shelburne, Vt - Lots of Morgan fun and excitement took place at the 2014 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Annual Convention. This annual gathering of Morgan members and enthusiasts took place February 20-22 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Some of the highlights of the three-day convention included a tour of the North Carolina State vet school followed by a visit to Tara Farm, and popular seminars included a three-part marketing seminar with Doug Emerson, "The Profitable Horseman," and "What...

Well fall is under way and I am trying to clear a little writer’s block. The last shows of the year are winding down. We are headed for the last ones in our area the last two weekends of the month. Fall is time to evaluate progress and prepare for next season. Some of us set goals for training, some for clinics, some for next year’s show season. We look at our feeding programs, exercise programs, breeding programs and whatever else we are running. I always find myself thinking ahead...

Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano jump their way to a win in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Culpeper (ESI Photography) Culpeper, VA – Top prize in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis at HITS Culpeper came down to a speed duel on Sunday afternoon. Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas topped a five-horse jump-off with MTM Farms’ MTM Centano by fractions of a second. She returned first over the short course and crossed the timers clear in 42.60...

Thousand Oaks, CA - The Horse Radio Network provides the equestrian world with an entertaining and impressive line-up of radio shows for multiple disciplines. Executive Director of the Horse Radio Network, Glenn the Geek, makes it his goal to provide informative yet enjoyable radio shows for everyone in the equestrian industry. On April 25, 2013 the Dressage Radio Show, featuring regular hosts Reese Koffler-Stanfield and Philip Parks, handed the reins over to United States Para-Equestrian...