Ali Tritschler and Dreamland rode to the top of the $5,000 NEHJA Pony Hunter Classic Finals leader board at the Fieldstone Summer Showcase II. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - It was a bittersweet victory for pony ring veterans Ali Tritschler and Dreamland, as they claimed their final win in the $5,000 NEHJA Pony Hunter Classic Final Tuesday at the Fieldstone Show Park. Tritschler piloted Dreamland to the first place finish with two impressive rounds over fences. They nabbed...

Scott Steward and Garfield (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, KY - It really was déjà vu all over again for Scott Stewart. For the third consecutive year, Stewart claimed victory in the Classic Hunter Round of the $160,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. This time, his winning mount was Rose Hill Farm's Garfield, and their scores of 90, 92 and 92 for a 286 total was unmatched after a field of 89 horses contested Friday's course in the Kentucky Horse...

Lexington, KY - The 2013 US Hunter Pony Championship presented by Sallee Horse Vans came to a conclusion Saturday as Grand Hunter Pony, Large Regular Pony Hunter, and Under Saddle Champions were crowned. For a final time the judging panel of Chance Arakelian, William Sparks, and Jeff Wirthman assessed the top ponies from throughout the United States in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Walnut Arena. Sassafras Creek was named the 2013 Grand Hunter Pony Champion, while Westside earned the Large...

McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z on their way to victory in the $15,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on August 8 at the Vermont Summer Festival. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, CT, left the veterans in the dust as the 13-year-old collected the top prize in the $15,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby held Thursday, August 8, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The win marked the second in a row for Langmeier and Czar-Z having also won last week’s $5,000...

Amanda Thomas and Bonfire swept the Pre-Green 3'3" Hunter division over fences for the first day of Equifest (Ashley N. Williams/Phelps Media Group) Wayne, IL - The Lamplight Equestrian Center grounds were immaculate as exhibitors gathered for Equifest I. Blue skies and a light breeze welcomed riders to the hunter ring as they took on the first day of courses. Of the competitors, Amanda Thomas rode four horses to the top of the rankings. Aboard Kapalua in the Performance 3'6" Hunter...

Frank Owens pilots MTM Twenties Girl over an oxer in the $25,000 Bohicket Marina Grand Prix (Classic Company) Johns Island, SC - The $25,000 Bohicket Marina Grand Prix welcomed 17 horse and rider teams last night over a course designed by Allen Rheinheimer that proved to be quite challenging. Rheinheimer put the riders and horses to the test and it resulted in a victory for MTM Twenties Girl, owned by DS Holdings, LLC and ridden by Frank Owens of San Antonio, Texas. "It rode a lot harder than...

Kenya and Caitlyn Shiels topped the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Walgreens (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - July 15, 2013 - Caitlyn Shiels gave Kenya a pep talk before heading to the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring for the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Walgreens. After collecting a bountiful array of ribbons during Horse Shows by the Bay Series II, Kenya had one more important outing on Sunday afternoon, July 14. "I told him, 'Today is...

Show season keeps moving forward and the scores keep coming in. At the last WSH show, the high score rider, Linda Coates-Markle, received a whopping 76% on NAWD Level 3 Test 1 (that is the western equivalent of USDF First Level) riding her Quarter Horse mare. Once again, this last weekend, shows featuring Western Dressage classes were held all over the country and WD riders on both sides of the nation received the highest Phyllis Ray and Starr in the warm-up (Darcia Drapeau) scores recorded at...

A couple weeks ago a friend and I attended a WSH Dressage Show halfway across the state to ride the NAWD tests. The weather was gorgeous, the drive uneventful, the horses well behaved. The show was at a beautiful facility, with a qualified judge I trust to evaluate our western dressage horses. My stallion was perfectly behaved even in the warm-up area with the little ponies and their tiny children. Sounds like a perfect horse show weekend huh? It was, but for one thing. I was confused! For the...

Houston, TX – In the saddle is a natural place to be for Keely McIntosh, a vibrant young woman with a passion for horses, equestrian sports, and a full life ahead of her. Keely has ridden since before she could walk and competed in Pony Club before she could read. Older girls had to read her the written Pony Club ratings tests, and her family jokes that Keely learned her letters from the dressage arena. By age 6, Keely was showing in the Hunter ring in Welsh Pony classes. Her riding...