Katie Aoki comes from behind to win the Onondarka Medal Final (Flying Horse Photography) Los Angeles, Calif. - After three challenging rounds and a work off, Katie Aoki (Jan Hainze, trainer) led the victory gallop aboard her Truman in the prestigious Onondarka Medal Final at the LA National (Nov 6-10). “It was super exciting to win,” Katie shared. “I competed in the final last year and had kind of a tough time, so it was definitely something I have been working towards and...

Candi Aversenti and The Veldt Queen (Jane Jacobs of Jacobs Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The Veldt Queen, owned and ridden by Candi Aversenti, claimed the victory in the Five-Gaited Amateur Stake on Wednesday evening as the American Saddlebred Division, presented by James & Misdee Miller and Elisabeth Goth & Richard Shadwick, got underway at the Alltech National Horse Show. A staple of the National Horse Show in its Madison Square Garden days, the American Saddlebred Division made its...

Stephanie Sedlacko and Jennifer Alfano rode to the first place finish in the American Saddlebred Hunter Challenge (Brooke Jacobs) Lexington, Ky. - It's not every day that you see riders compete over their first hunter course during a national championship, but when four world champion American Saddlebred trainers take the reins of a hunter and grand prix and professional hunter riders take the reins of an American Saddlebred, it makes for a night of fun and excitement. It was a...

Kelley Farmer and Quotable (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Horse Park hosts numerous, top-of-the-line horse shows throughout the year, but only once a year is the Alltech Arena transformed into the beautiful home of the prestigious Alltech National Horse Show. The final destination on the indoor horse show circuit, the Alltech National Horse Show welcomes the nation's top hunter and jumper riders. Among them are Kelley Farmer and Scott Stewart. Both...

Elkton, Md. - The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International hosts top U.S. combinations this week in Elkton, Md., as competitors vie for national titles at the CCI2* and CCI3* levels. The prestigious competition celebrates its 25th anniversary as it hosts 114 entries at the international levels, with 95 setting their sights on USEF National Championships, October 17-20, 2013. Wednesday afternoon hosted the first Veterinary Inspection; the CCI3* will be contested by 45 competitors, while in the CCI2*,...

The 2013 IFSHA Friesian World and Grand National Championship Horse Show was held from October 2 through 6 in Lexington, Virginia. This annual celebration of the Friesian horse began on Monday the 30th of September when early arrivals made their way to the Virginia Horse Center and almost 60 of those came early to take advantage of the FHANA Keuring on the 1st, sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Friesian Horse Association. This was the 10th year that IFSHA has held a USEF Championship Finals Event...

Gladstone, N.J. - The 2013 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East officially got underway on Saturday at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Headquarters with competitors completing the first two phases of competition. In the morning, judges Ronnie Beard and Anne Kursinski tested riders on the flat in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena and in the afternoon competitors returned to demonstrate their skill over a gymnastics course. At the end of the first day of competition, Lillie Keenan...

Haleigh Landrigan and Acovibu (Shawn McMillen Photography) Upper Marlboro, Maryland - The ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals welcomed 29 competitors in today's competition. Since it's inception in 1994, the ARIAT National Adult Medal has given adult riders the opportunity to compete in a competitive equitation class over fences 3' in height. The classes are held at select shows across the country and riders collect points to qualify for the Finals. The top 10 from the first round...

Devon, PA - Under sunshine and stars spectators at Dressage at Devon were treated to impressive rides. FEI Freestyle Grand Prix Open Lars Petersen and Mariett (Hoof Print Images) Lars Petersen, an American-based former Danish Olympic rider, and Mariett (Come Back II x Zendi), a Danish bay mare, wowed the audience with an impressive 76.975 scoring ride in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. “The horse keeps getting better and stronger,” said Petersen. Dressage judge Axel Steiner said he...

McLain Ward & Rothchild (Beatrice Scudo) Barcelona, Spain – With Friday’s disappointment behind them, the U.S. Nations Cup Jumping team was determined to jump well at CSIO5* Barcelona on Saturday. The day wasn’t without its ups and downs, or its thrills and disappointments, but it ended with a hard fought U.S. win in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final Consolation Round. The U.S. team had the advantage of being the last in the order of go. McLain Ward (Brewster,...