Barcelona, Spain - Friday at at CSIO5* Barcelona was dissapointing for the U.S. Nations Cup Team, but two members of that team did earn good finishes in individual competition. In the morning, Katie Dinan (Wellington, Florida) put aside studying for Harvard mid-terms to earn a fourth place finish in the Estrella Damm Trophy Speed class. She finished without a fault in 69.25s on Grant Road Partners LLC's Glory Days. Brazil's Alvaro de Miranda Neto won the class with a 66.42s ride abord...

Jimmy Torano and La Bonita putting on a show in the final round of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – Jimmy Torano of SW Ranches, Florida admits that he and Kathryn Haefner, who owns La Bonita, gambled on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, entering the five-year-old German-bred Warmblood mare in the highest stakes hunter class in the world. Lady Luck, however, was on their side at HITS Saugerties this week. Or, perhaps, La Bonita is...

As you know I occasionally receive a story from a Western Dressage rider and this week I would like to share with you the story behind a beautiful magazine cover photo that appeared recently in Paint Horse Journal and which featured coverage of Western Dressage. The photo was of Katrina Sanders and her Paint horse Pirate. Here is what Katrina shares with western dressage enthusiasts this week: “Thank you so much for offering to feature my photo in your blog! I am honored and so grateful...

Sizzle and Lissa Brazeal (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Lissa Brazeal and her eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sizzle took home championship honors in the Adult Amateur 36-50 Section A Hunter division during week nine of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Brazeal, of Delray Beach, FL, and Sizzle were leading the division after day one of competition when the pair placed third under saddle and second and first over fences. Day two, the pair secured victory with a second place...

Superman and John Ingram (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Superman and John Ingram clinched the championship title during day two of competition for the Hunt Limited Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ingram, of Nashville, TN, and his eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding were third and second over fences during day one of competition and secured their victory with two blue ribbon performances on day two in the under saddle...

Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm's Cedric set a blazing time of 42.53 seconds, riding to the victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. (SportFot/GCT) Lausanne, Switzerland - The GCT championship race intensified dramatically tonight with only five points between Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson after one of the most electrifying Grand Prix of the season. American rider Laura Kraut won the first-ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Switzerland on the...

Megan Benjamin and Blake Dahlgren won a bronze medal in the Pas de Deux Championship (www.barny-th.de) Le Mans, France - The final day of competition at the FEI World Vaulting Championship proved to be an exciting one as the medal winners were determined in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Deux, and Team Championships. Megan Benjamin (Saratoga, CA) and Blake Dahlgren (Santa Clarita, CA) had another stellar Free Test, with their performance earning them the Bronze medal and an...

Weber’s dressage score was a 36.86, a huge lead over the second place of 50.82 and the third place score of 53.25. (www.hippoevent.at) Altenfelden, Germany – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, showed off his outstanding dressage abilities during the 2012 Altenfelden International Driving Event, handily driving away with the top four-in-hand dressage score. Weber’s dressage score was a 36.86, a huge lead over the second place of 50.82...

Laura Kraut and Cedric earned the second place award in the €200.000 1.60m Longines Grand Prix Port of Rotterdam. (Erin Cowgill) Rotterdam, The Netherlands - The stakes were high on Sunday, June 24, as the Longines GrandPrix Port of Rotterdam got under way. For many of the competitors it was the final opportunity to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. The USA's Laura Kraut and Cedric stole the spotlight as their success continued from their victory earlier in the week in the € 23,000...

Poldy 10 and Barbara (Bebe) Davis earned the record breaking score of 75.987% twice in the FEI Pony Individual Test (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL – Barbara (Bebe) Davis, a 14-year-old dressage rider who competes in the FEI Pony Division, has wrapped up an amazing winter show season with her two ponies, Poldy 10 and Bohdjan. While she may not be old enough to drive a car, Davis was still able to pilot her equine partners into the winner’s circle time and time again while...