Wellington, FL - February 14, 2011 - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is bigger and better than ever in 2011, with more prize money and more opportunities for the world's best horses and riders to excel in the specialties of their sport. The World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Hunter Classic Spectacular will be held for the 15th straight year at the FTI WEF beginning on February 18. The Spectacular first debuted in 1997 as an expansion of the popular World Championship Hunter Rider...

Burbank, CA - Riders who dream of competing at the Pan American Games will begin their quest at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI 1*/Y/J in Burbank, CA, February 24-27, 2011. As the first official qualifying competition on the West Coast, horses and riders will compete in front of FEI judges Jayne Ayers ("I" USA), Natalie Lamping ("I" USA), and Lorraine MacDonald ("I" CAN). In addition, this competition will serve as an early-season qualifier for the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of...

Wellington, FL - February 14, 2011 - The fifth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has concluded at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, and another week of fantastic competition was held. The FTI WEF hosts the best that the sports of show jumping, hunters and equitation have to offer in 12 rings of competition. $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm An exciting jump-off topped off a fantastic class on Saturday evening in the $150,000 FEI World...

Hayley Barnhill and Casallo. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - Today's competition was the wrap-up of week 5 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3. Numbers were soaring today as competitors and spectators alike came to enjoy the sunshine and the horses. Among those competitors were the older section of Large Junior Hunters. Casallo was awarded the championship honor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters. Hayley Barnhill was aboard the John...

Nick Skelton and Big Star. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - The fifth week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with the $25,00 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic, and it was Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, who proved victorious over a field of 65 entries. Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, designed today's courses and set a first-round track that 11 combinations would clear....

Laura Kraut and Cedric. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 12, 2011 - An exciting jump-off topped off a fantastic class this evening in the $150,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm, as Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric added another grand prix victory to their tally at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Following their win in the $78,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix last Sunday, Kraut and Cedric bested an all-star field tonight with a picture perfect...

Grace Stuntz and Fitzhugh. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 12, 2011 - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued today and the hunter divisions were popular and competitive. Among the lucky riders who got to show in the afternoon when the sun was shining, were the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3'3" Hunters, presented by Illustrated Properties. Grace Stuntz was aboard her own mount Fitzhugh for the tricolor win this evening. Week 5 marks the second week this season that Stuntz and...

Brooke Coleman of Texas A&M University and Striptease. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 11, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) hosted the second annual Collegiate Equitation Championship today at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Riders from 16 universities around the country gathered to compete in a head-to-head, bracket-style format. It was Brooke Coleman from Texas A&M University who claimed victory in the championship. Invitations were...

Wellington, FL - February 11, 2011 - The prize list for the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm, is now available online at www.stadiumjumping.com . This year's event will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. The American Invitational, the "Super Bowl of Show Jumping," has long been recognized as the crown jewel of American show jumping, and year in and year out, has been one of its toughest tests. The gates at...

Wellington, Florida - February 12, 2011 - In only its second year the FTI Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments® has galloped out of the gates to become one of the largest fundraising events in Palm Beach County with a goal of one million dollars to benefit 32 Palm Beach charities at an exciting Pro-Am show jumping family event on Saturday Feb. 19th, 2011. To be held at the prestigious Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida which has recently...