Tampa, FL - The Tournament of Champions got off to a start with the Pre-Green Hunters [yesterday] morning in the Main Hunter Ring, with top riders and horses vying for the honors throughout the afternoon. It was Amanda Steege and Mary Euphemia who stole the show on the second day of the Tournament of Champions. Steege flawlessly piloted Winter Wonder to the Reserve Championship in the Pre-Green Hunters coming just shy of the championship honors behind Euphemia. Euphemia also took home the...

Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29's Cantano. (Horse in Sport.) San Juan Capistrano, CA – The $40,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix welcomed 27 horse and rider participants onto the International Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Designed with the larger purse in mind, the Richard Jeffery course proved challenging as only four riders piloted their mounts without fault to secure a spot in the jump-off. Although Hap Hansen and his mount Archie Bunker set the second round stage by...

Danielle Fleegle with Waterloo and his trainer, Adrian Griner. (Photo courtesy Danielle Fleegle.) Westminster, MD - Danielle Fleegle knew something was wrong. She just had to figure out what that “something” was. Eventually, she did. And a horse named Waterloo went from nearly put down – twice – to a star. In 2010, the horse once known primarily for his bucking, won a PHR Silver Stirrup Award and became the CBLM Training Level Champion and GAIG Reserve Training Level Champion. “I’m so glad that...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL – Before a sold-out crowd, the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center continued to play host to World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5* presented by the International Polo Club. After Thursday’s Grand Prix and Friday afternoon’s Grand Prix Special, eight of the top riders from across the United States and Europe rode their freestyles on a cool Florida evening. And, by the luck of the draw – the best was saved for last. Steffen Peters and Ravel...

Gunners Special Nite (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - The city of Lexington was largely defined by the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, so it proved a fitting setting to crown the 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year. And the winner couldn't be more all-American. The only multiple Gold medal-winning horse for Team USA, Gunners Special Nite, a six-year-old American Quarter Horse brought the sport of reining to the forefront of the American equestrian community. People...

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister Lead the U.S. effort in Boekelo (Stockimageservices.com) Eventing The Dansko Fair Hill International kicked off the last chapter of the 2010 eventing season, with the USEF National CCI2* and CCI3* Eventing Championships. In the CCI2* Clark Montgomery took a strong lead from the beginning, with Loughan Glen he was first after dressage on a score of 45.3 and in fourth with Universe on a score of 49.2. Montgomery was foot-perfect over the Derek DiGrazia designed...

Mario Deslauriers and Urico. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The Jumping World Championships presented by Rolex at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games kicked off today with the speed competition. More than 120 horses would jump through Conrad Homfeld's beautifully designed course before the day was done. This first round of the jumping was the speed competition, so all the riders were aiming to have fast and clear rounds. Coming off a brilliant Team Gold medal win...

Craig Schmersal and Mister Montana Nic (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The Adequan U.S. Reining Team started off competition today for the United States athletes at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Today's competition in the Reining World Championships presented by John Deere was part 1 and 2 of the Team Competition and the first round of the Individual Qualifying Competition. Tim McQuay of Tioga, TX, and Hollywoodstinseltown, owned by David and Bonnie...

Shawn McMillen (Hunt Tosh and Lone Star.) Lexington, KY - Hunt Tosh waited in anticipation after his final round. He'd dominated the first round and after a powerful second round he thought there was a chance the night could be his, but it wasn't until the scores went up that he knew he'd become the winner of the second annual 2010 $100,000 The Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. It was August 21, the night everyone had been anxiously waiting for, and there were only...

Meagan Davis and Bentley (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – The second Saturday of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions proved to be one of the busiest days of the six day championship. Three different USEF National Championships took place in the Dick and Jane Brown Dressage Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters. The National Young Rider Dressage Championship kicked it off and three superstar Young Riders swept into the top three places after the first half...