The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, is proud to name its top point-earning amateurs for 2008. Natacha Lesburgueres of Louisville, KY, earned 532 points, becoming the adult amateur winner, while Collier McLeod of Augusta, GA, earned 522.5 points for the youth amateur top spot. The AHA Amateur Achievement Award program began in 2002 and has since tracked the points that individual riders, handlers and drivers earn each year. In 2008 the program was adjusted to recognize adults and...

Caitlin Houlihan and Little Joe (Janice Hischer, owner and trainer) took home the championship ribbon from the first Riding for Reading class in Arizona, and earned some money for her school’s library along the way. Collman Equestrian Productions held the class as part of the Scottsdale Fall Preview (October 16-19). Earlier in the day, Houlihan won the Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on her own Double O Seven. The Riding for Reading class marked her first time showing on the flat. "I wanted...

Stadium Jumping, Inc., the nation's oldest and most respected producer of quality equestrian competitions, announced that they will host one of only two United States qualifying events for the 2008 FEI Children's International Jumping Final. This important event for riders 12 to 14 years of age will be held September 17-21, 2008, during the Wachovia Securities American Gold Cup at the Metro Parks Polo Field in Moreland Hills, OH. A similar event for West Coast riders will be held at the Oaks...

Kreuth, Germany – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show welcomed ancillary competition today with the $500 added Limited Open, $3,500 added Intermediate Non Pro and $5,000 added Intermediate Open. In a field of 27 Limited Open riders, the winner came from Italy: Mirjam Giraudini riding her stallion ARC Doc Red Oak. They scored a 215.5 for the win. Giraudini has been a tremendously successful all around competitor for many years, earning multiple AQHA...

Oklahoma City, OK – Two of the nation’s top NRHA Processionals are coming to Colorado for the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Regional Clinic Series May 21-22. NRHA Professionals Randy Paul and Tracer Gilson will once again share their expertise to benefit Reiners of all ages and experience levels at Skyline Ranch in Carbondale, CO. NRHA Professional Randy Paul reached one of the industry’s great milestones by becoming a Million Dollar Rider in 2008. Paul has had a long and...

Lexington, KY - The selection committee had a difficult task choosing just one Chef d’Equipe from the many poignant nominations received at this year’s NAJYRC. The perpetual trophy named in honor of long time USDF Region 1 Chef d’Equipe, Patsy Albers was awarded to two deserving chefs; Jeremy Steinberg from Region 6 and Roz Kinstler from Region 2, both who have demonstrated an outstanding level of dedication, enthusiasm and team spirit. Roz Kinstler has been Chef d’Equipe for the Region 2...

At the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Horse Show, the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USJA International Hunter Derby presented by Dietrich Insurance featuring Walsh Harness & Saddlery was won by New Yorker Patricia Griffith on North Country, owned by Laura King-Kaplan. The class of more than forty entries produced flawless performance after flawless performance, but Griffin was the star of the day aboard North Country, an eight-year-old bay Warmblood. The course, designed by Skip...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is proud to name DA Al Capone+// (Ebony Masterpiece x Rabaska) owned by Cheryl Van Deusen of New Smyrna Beach, FL, as its 2007 Distance Horse of the Year. “Alvin” is an 11-year-old purebred Arabian gelding that was chosen for his excellence in endurance. Alvin’s most recent accomplishment was his selection as one of four horses to represent the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Team at the European Endurance Championships in Portugal. As the winner...

Besides delighting my readers with scintillating stories (we writers like to use words like "scintillating" because we think it makes us sound writerly), my main purpose for being at Sport Horse Nationals here in beautiful, damp Kentucky is to help out (in other words, provide slave labor for) my good friend and mentor, Patience Prine-Carr. This means that I get a lot of mane pulling and braiding practice every day. While it's good for me to get the practice, it's frustrating because...

Devon, PA - As the sun began to set on the Dixon Oval Saturday evening, the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic lit up the ring. The first round consisted of 10 obstacles, a water jump, and a double with a variety of other challenging obstacles that must be completed in a time allowance of 48 seconds. The winner of the event, sponsored by Turner Investments would win the Second Marie Cramp Hill Memorial Challenge Trophy and a hefty $4,500. As the rounds got underway many...