Ashley Holzer and Breaking Dawn at the Veterinary Inspection (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - The second event of the 2012 Global Dressage Festival (GDF), the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, and National Show took place on Thursday with six levels of competition at the Stadium of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Christopher Hickey had the high score of the day on Balissa HTF with a 77.500% in the USEF First...

Tulsa, OK - On Friday, October 21, the 45th Annual Arabian National Championship Show begins at the Tulsa Expo Square in Tulsa, OK. The show runs for nine days, through Saturday evening, October 29. It’s the fourth year for this major national equine event in Tulsa, OK. Arabian and Half-Arabian horses hailing from most of the 48 states and Canada will fill the barns, warm-up arenas and wash racks for the next few weeks, while their owners, trainers and grooms enjoy Oklahoma’s warm...

The Canadian National Championship Arabian Horse Show was moved this year after well over twenty years in Regina, Saskatchewan. The new location in Brandon, Manitoba is further to travel for some and closer for some others. Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba (after Winnipeg) but its population is just 40,000 compared with Regina’s 180,000. The change in population and “big city” atmosphere between the two locations is obvious immediately. The location for the show...

If Sunday was about anticipation and preparation, Monday was a day characterized by enjoyment of the show atmosphere and execution of competition strategy in pursuit of the roses. Trainers on the rail offered last minute advice to their amateurs, while others reviewed their game plan for classes. Opportunities for optimal caffeination for peak performance were readily available. Shortly before the first class at 7.30, members of the Brandon city council, including the mayor, were on hand to...

Christina Kelly and Camirage. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - Friday night during week 12 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured the $30,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Zone Team Competition Final. The horses and riders were divided into sections of high, medium and low heights to jump, with each section awarding $10,000. In the highs, Charlie Jacobs, Gabrielle Bausano, Christina Kelly and Karen Polle jumped to victory. In the mediums, Katherine Steenberg, Madeline Cox,...

Kent Farrington and Top Gun. (ESI Photography© . ) Ocala, FL - The 30th Anniversary of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit could go down as the most memorable one ever. The eight-week Circuit was blessed with beautiful weather, stellar competition and record-breaking entries in both the Grand Prix and Devoucoux Hunter Prix, proving that qualifying for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final has captured the hearts and minds of equestrians from...

Lucy Davis and Nemo. (Flying Horse Photography.) Thermal, CA - The 20th Anniversary of the HITS Desert Circuit was a success from start to finish, with beautiful weather, great competition and record entries for the first time since 2007. The fifth season at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA, was a world-class show jumping experience for trainers, owners, riders and spectators, alike. All four of the FEI World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix took place before sold-out VIP and general...

Kent Farrington and Top Gun. (ESI Photography.) Ocala, FL - Sunday’s $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, was not only the season finale to the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, but also the 36th Grand Prix of the 2011 HITS Show Season, which marked the virtual mid-way point for the qualifying period for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Kent Farrington felt the need for speed, when he and Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun captured the win, to conclude...

McLain Ward and Pjotter van de Zonnehoeve. (Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - Saturday night at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured an exciting victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve in the $78,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI 2* Grand Prix. The class was held on a beautiful Florida evening under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Riders representing 12 different countries made up the international field this evening, showing over a course...

Ocala, FL - What do you get when you mix beautiful weather, talented horsemen, first-class facilities, exciting events and fabulous prize money? The answer is simple: HITS Ocala. The Ocala Winter Festival marked the second AA rated week of show jumping in the 'Sunshine State'. The two Grand Prix and weekly Devoucoux Hunter Prix saw record-breaking entries this week. In Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Kent Farrington of Chicago, IL, emerged as the...