Thermal, CA – As the final days of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit approach, Chris Pratt of Lake View Terrace, California shifted things into high gear when he and Indigo Farms, LLC’s Cruise beat out 54 other starters to take the top prize in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Pratt’s victory is his first of the season after he and Cruise finished fourth in the $53,000 Chartis Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, last...

David McPherson and Silver Spring (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Top British riders David McPherson and Scott Brash each took home their winner's share on Thursday in a split class for round nine of the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Held in a 'California Split' due to the large number of entries, the class awarded two sets of placings, each with $32,000 distributed. McPherson and his own Silver Spring and Brash and Lady Harris...

Holly Bergay (USA) and Rubino Bellissimo (Lindsay McCall) Del Mar, CA - Kicking off the 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire Thursday morning were the Para-Equestrian Dressage Riders. Eleven horse and rider combinations entered the ring to showcase their Team Tests in front of FEI Ground Jury Hanneke Gerritsen 5* (NED), Marco Orsini 4* (FRA), and Ulf Wilken 5* (SWE). After traveling from Wellington, Florida in January, to Toronto, Canada, and then on to the Del Mar Horse Park, Canadian Lynne...

Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Jody Schloss, 39, of Toronto, Canada had another banner day at the Global Dressage Festival National Challenge on Wednesday. The Para-Equestrian rider received the highest score on Inspector Rebus receiving 72.500% in the FEI Para Test of Choice class at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Schloss rode her first horse at 11-years of age. She left the sport for a while, but then returned to riding as...

Wellington, FL - The deadline for riders to participate in the $35,000 WEF Wellington Dressage Nations' Cup CDIO3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm, is fast approaching. This prestigious event takes place April 12-15 at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival. The CDIO3* features world-class teams of dressage riders and horses from the United States and foreign nations competing in the FEI Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I and Intermediare Freestyle classes. US riders that...

Laura Kraut and Teirra (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The ninth week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival began with this morning's $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, and Laura Kraut (USA) rode Stars and Stripes' Teirra to victory. Richard Spooner (USA) and Billy Bianca, owned by Molly Ohrstrom, were second, while Ben Maher (GBR) and Rowan, owned by Miss Louise Flower, were third. Sponsored by the Bainbridge Companies, week nine will host the $200,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today the four competitions which will host the 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events. These events will play an important role in selecting the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. Following the USEF Selection Trials at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival March 21-24, 2012 - a Long List of athlete/horse combinations will be ranked. Any of these combinations wishing to continue in the Olympic...

Major Equestrian competitions attended by US athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check the USEF Week in Review on Monday for a report of any top finishes by US Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions within the USA and international FEI competitions in...

Jacob Arnold wins the FEI Single Horse Division at The Little Everglades Combined Driving Event. (PicsofYou.com) Dade City, FL – USEF 2011 Junior Equestrian of the Year, 19 year old Jacob Arnold wins the hotly contested FEI Single Horse Division for the second year in a row at the CAI-B Little Everglades International CDE held February 23-26, 2012. This year, driving Marie Quist’s Hackney Horse, Halstead’s Shale (Hal), Jacob’s win is an important finish in the second...

Alix Szepesi and William (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Alix Szepesi of Hamilton, MA took top honors at the Global Dressage Festival National Challenge on Tuesday. The FEI dressage trainer, who winters in Wellington, rode William to an impressive 77.432% in the USEF First Level Test 2-Open at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Susanne Dutt-Roth of Canada came close to receiving the highest score with a 77.000% in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1-Open on D2. The GDF...