Lars Petersen and Mariett (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, Fla. - Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett have become familiar faces in the winner's circle at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), and Thursday evening was no exception. Petersen topped the FEI Grand Prix 4* presented by The Dutta Corp. with Marcia Pepper's 16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare with a score of 70.960%. For his win in Thursday's class, Petersen was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage...

McLain Ward and Wings (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its fifth week of competition on Wednesday with a win for two-time U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward and his mount, Wings, in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 led the way through a large part of the class, but were bested by Ward and Wings at the very end and finished in second place. Week five of the FTI Consulting...

Josephina Nor Lantzman and Chello Z were the only pair to ride clear over Olaf Petersen Jr.’s first-round track to secure an early victory in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - As the dust settled from World Cup week at HITS Desert Horse Park, Josephina Nor Lantzman piloted her own Chello Z to the top of a 29-horse field in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The highlight for Nor Lantzman was that...

On their way to a win, Lisa Goldman and Centurion B on course in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Lisa Goldman proved that warm weather suits her this week at HITS Ocala. Just two days before bringing her horses to Florida, the temperatures at her home in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois plummeted to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunday, however, Goldman and her family-owned Centurion B basked in the southern sunshine while jumping to a win in...

Lexington, Ky. - The much-anticipated start of the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® became official today when the first horses trotted down arena centerlines at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. As the inaugural national head-to-head competition for Adult Amateur and Open riders from Training Level to Grand Prix, hundreds of exhibitors from coast to coast have gathered to share in what for many will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Today 16 non-championship "USDF...

Adult amateur rider Krista Nordgren (South Portland, ME) & "Schando" will be competing this weekend for a national title at the inaugural US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan. (Photo courtesy of Krista Nordgren) Lexington, Ky. - Final entries are in and horse vans have already begun arriving at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, the first national head-to-head competition of its kind showcasing riders and horses competing for...

Frances Land and Vienne (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Lexington, Ky. - The Chansonette Farm $15,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper class was the first jumper event of the day, where Frances Land of Alpharetta, GA, managed to best a five horse jump-off with Vieanne. Despite adding not one but two strides down the final line, the pair's quick pace and turns to the other obstacles proved uncatchable with a time of 35.428 seconds. The 19-year-old sophomore at Emory University commented, "For the jump-off I...

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - The $20,000 International Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class is always an exciting event at WIHS, especially with Barn Night and thousands of young fans cheering on the riders. In tonight’s class, Irish rider Shane Sweetnam jumped to victory dressed as a keg of beer riding Sweet Oak Farm's Solerina. The duo earned 960 points over the course and jumped clean over the Joker fence for an additional...

Kelsey Thatcher and ATHENA receive their awards (AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - October 19, 2013 - Kelsey Thatcher, of Bluffdale, UT, had an amazing day at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, winning the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and earning the division Championship with ATHENA, and also placing second and taking the Reserve Championship with EVERYTHING. Thatcher, who is trained by Alex and Maggie Jayne, was also named the horse show's Leading...

Emilie Rucci and I SPY A RAINBOW (AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - Emilie Rucci, of Pittstown, NJ, and I SPY A RAINBOW won the $4,000 North American League (NAL) Pony Jumper Finals today at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Out of eleven starters, only four made it to the jump-off. Spectators - including the top jumper riders - filled the best seats in the house and encouraged the smaller competitors with cheers and 'clicks' at moments where the ponies might have had a...