Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just ask Miami University of Ohio freshman, Tom Schoen, the 2010 recipient of the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship. Schoen rides on the Miami University Equestrian Team (MUET), representing his Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) teammates in the Walk Trot division, under coaches Heather Pinnick and Lori Cramer. Remarkably, the English Education major was not a rider before college. But it’s clear after listening to him talk about his passion for...

Randi Muster (Isabelle Caccamise and her medium pony, Better Than Good, won the title in the Medal Finals. ) Lexington, KY - August 15, 2010 - A mist of Show Sheen, check. A dab of hoof polish, check. A last pat for good luck, check. On Sunday, the clock began to wind down on the six-days of excitement that was the 2010 USEF Pony Finals National Championships. Still, as riders gathered for the final contest, The Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal, attention to detail was not lost. Over 190...

Lexington, KY - August 14, 2010 - Saturday was yet another hot and humid day at the Kentucky Horse Park as junior riders competed in day five of 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The Large Pony Hunter over fences class started out this morning’s competition with 102 entries to compete over Bobby Murphy’s course in the Walnut Arena. Riders competed in reverse order of the point standings after the model and under saddle phases. During the class,...

Randi Muster (Meredith "Maddy" Darst and Elation.) Lexington, KY - August 13, 2010 - The third day of competition got underway Thursday in the Walnut Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park during the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The event began with the model and under saddle phases for the Medium Pony Hunter division and was followed by the over fences phase for the Small Pony Hunter division to determine the Overall Small Pony Hunter Grand Champion....

Photo by Emily Daily (Karen O'Connor and Mandiba after their victory.) The standings shifted radically beneath Karen O'Connor's feet Sunday afternoon during the show jumping phase of the Adequan United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup CIC***W division at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT. Aboard Joan Goswell's Mandiba, the pair stood strong and posted a double-clear round in the stadium to decisively retain victory. "For me, today was great," O'Connor said. "I rode him early...

It's not like Rachel Boggus has time on her hands. In addition to riding and showing three horses across all the divisions, the amateur rider who trains with Michael Dennehy also is completing the last year of her anesthesiology residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center. "I don't have a lot of free time," Rachel admitted. "When I do, I am riding and showing. It's really hard for me to stay away and sometimes that means very long days with very little sleep, but I wouldn't have it...

Photo by Jon Kassel (Kelly Farmer and Listen) Showplace Productions produced a beautiful derby day at Tapestry Farm in Bristol, WI, this weekend following the completion of its Showplace Summertime Horse Show. Tapestry Farm owners Clay and Donna Struve welcomed many of the country's top horses and riders to their scenic farm for a day full of exceptional competition and hospitality for all to benefit the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Horseman's Assistance Fund. Professional...

The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic Grand Prix Weekend began with an exhilarating jump-off round in Friday night’s Welcome Stake and ended with an awe-inspiring performance in Sunday’s Cleveland Grand Prix. Along the way there were also canine exhibitions, carriage rides, family fun activities, Grand Prix festivities, the International Hunter Derby and many local champions in the multiple hunter/jumper divisions that competed from Wednesday, July 14, up through Sunday, July 18. The $10,000...

Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos) In honor of the Fourth of July holiday weekend and to wrap up four weeks of competition managed by Blenheim EquiSports, the $25,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix presented by the St. Regis Monarch Beach, invited 19 horse-and-rider duos onto the Michel Vaillancourt-designed course at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Vaillancourt remarked, “I think today’s course dimensions are very worthy of this class. It is...

A dramatic win by Darragh Kenny of Ireland in the $75,000 Hermès Grand Prix CSI 2* for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy highlighted the 41st Annual Lake Placid Horse Show. Only five entries from the starting field of 24 succeeded in completing the 16-jump, first-round course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr., of Germany without penalty. They returned for the nine-jump jump-off at the North Elba Showgrounds. First to go was Callan Solem of Chester Springs, PA, who set the mark to beat by...