The Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix has been the talk of the town this winter as the excitement amongst the world's top riders is on the rise in anticipation of qualifying for this unprecedented event. Over the course of the HITS Winter Circuits, 159 top Grand Prix riders took advantage of 35 HITS Pfizer Million Qualifiers as they vied for $1.5 million in prize money and one of 40 coveted slots on the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings List. The Winter Circuits in Thermal and Ocala produced 45...

Photo by Shawn McMillen (Wilhelm Genn and Chantal) Wilhelm Genn does it again! German-born Genn is basking in victory as he and his 11-year-old gelding horse, Chantal, took home the blue ribbon in the $30,000 Grand Prix Presented by Houston Area Audi Dealers at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. Saturday night's competition was tough. The Stadium was packed with cheering fans who not only enjoyed the beautiful ride of Chantal, but the other winners, including second-place winner Tracy Fenney on...

Photo by ESI Photography (Jennifer Alfano and Fantabulous on course in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby at HITS Ocala. ) The 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit was certainly a successful tour for HITS Ocala Veteran Callan Solem. The accomplished equestrian found victory in the Grand Prix ring several times during the eight-week horse show circuit at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, including a win in the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Allison, owned by Quiet...

Robin Groves collects her prizes (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL - With impending storms looming, the fourth and final day of the Live Oak International presented by US Trust featured a difficult cones phase and clear rounds were hard to find. But the best drivers in the US prevailed and two USEF National Champions were crowned based on their incredible three phase performances. A massive storm held off until the final few drivers, and then the weather deteriorated quickly. Chester Weber and...

Arriving in Florida is always an adventure. Despite running laps between Lexington and Wellington this year, this was my first trip to Ocala, which of course means flying into Orlando. Which of course meant that I was the only person on my flight and in the airport without Disney World on the brain. Ocala and Lexington are locked in a fierce battle for bragging rights over which one really is the horse capital of the world. There are farms of every possible variety when you drive around this...

On Tuesday, March 23, the Greenwich Council's Planning Committee voted in favor of the planning application submitted by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the temporary use of land at Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Blackheath Circus Field for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events. “The FEI is thrilled by the decision of the Greenwich Council's Planning Committee in regard to the planning application...

Longtime Saddlebred trainer and instructor Irvin Kaelin passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at his St. Matthews home in Louisville, KY. At age 12, Kaelin won the Kentucky Equitation Championship, and a few years later began training and showing horses for the Howell Family at their Indian Hills Stable in Louisville, KY. Upon graduation from St. Xavier High School, Irvin purchased the Indian Hills Riding Academy from the Howells, and eventually instructed his 12-year-old daughter, Ava, to...

Although the weather threatened to put a damper on the weekend, it held off just enough to allow the first Gold Coast show of the season (February 19-21), held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, to be the fun event exhibitors knew it would be. There was a great mix of familiar faces and new ones to make the show a big success with a record number of entries. One group of new faces came from Hayden Show Jumping and Riding School of Laguna Hills, riding under the tutelage of Mickey Hayden and...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), a century-old breed association and registry headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park, seeks a leader to supervise its staff and work closely with directors. The successful candidate will have a passion for horses, as well as management experience that includes development of budgets, financial oversight, and strategic planning. Equine industry experience and/or non-profit experience a plus. Located "center stage" at the site of the 2010 Alltech...

McLain Ward and Sapphire at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming the horse/rider combination of Sapphire/McLain Ward to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY, September 25 – October 10, 2010. Per the USEF Selection Procedure for the Show Jumping Team, the Selectors have the discretion to recommend up to six...