Blake Roberts & Dream Machine (Photo by ©Flashpoint Photography) New Market, TN—October 13, 2010- When it comes to happy endings none could compare to the finale of the 2010 Gallop in the Glen with a blaze of Smoky Mountain fall colors for the backdrop and the brilliant display of equine talents, such as local favorite Blake Roberts of Knoxville, TN riding Dream Machine to the overall victory in the $25,000 ICON Sporthorse Challenge Cup and David Jennings of Shaker Heights, OH with Marcus...

Rachel Perry and Major Fun, Champions, with HITS Acct. Exex. Lisa Engel (Photo by © ESI Photography) CULPEPER, VA (October 8, 2010) -- HITS Culpeper proudly recognized its 2010 SmartPak Circuit Champions. The HITS Culpeper show season began in April and featured six weeks of competition that culminated on Sunday, October 3, offering riders ample opportunities to accumulate points toward the coveted SmartPak Circuit Champion title. Prior to the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal...

U.S. Vaulting Team Wins Gold (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The equestrian sport of vaulting has a new Team Gold-medalist - the FACE Vaulters of the United States. In a move that will forever change the interest level of the sport in the U.S., a sold-out crowd witnessed as the first ever Team Gold was won on a freestyle score of 8.779 and a final composite of 8.029. Led by California's Devon Maitozo (35) of Woodside, CA, the team consisted of Blake Dahlgren (26) of Santa...

Mary McCormick, earlier in the week (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - The Alltech Arena was a sell-out house with old and new fans of the equestrian sport of vaulting as the men's and women's freestyle final was contested at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Saturday, October 9. The crowd was treated to the world's best vaulters who put on a fantastic show for a vocal and appreciative audience. The top 15 from each division were invited back to compete for a...

Laura Goldman and Carlingford JD (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - It was a chilly morning at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but the sun quickly warmed the air as the Grade III and Grade Ia Para-Equestrian athletes were ready to wow the crowds with their individual freestyle tests. This was the first group of freestyle tests for the Para-Dressage riders, with the individual and team tests having been performed earlier in the week. The Grade III riders were the first...

U.S. Vaulting Team During Freestyle (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Thousands of fans packed into Alltech Arena for the FEI World Vaulting Championships this evening, waiting to see if the crowd favorite - the U.S. Vaulting Team - could hold on to the lead in the Team Freestyle. Together, these U.S. vaulters have earned a world-class reputation for technical difficulty, impeccable form, and breathtaking artistry. The team, made up of Devon Maitozo (35) of Woodside, CA,...

Tucker Johnson and his Four-in-Hand Team (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Combined Driving Dressage came to an exciting conclusion today with the U.S. Team tied for the lead with The Netherlands on a score of 76.16. Following yesterday's performances that had Chester Weber tied for the lead with Isjbrand Chardon (NED) on a 35.97, today was another day of brilliantly executed tests. The always elegant and precise Boyd Exell of Australia and his young team were as good as...

Lexington, Kentucky - Saddlebred trainer Michael Ray Benn, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2010. Benn had been a resident of Liberty for the past seven years and earned his living doing what he loved – training American Saddlebred Horses. He spent his younger years working with Don Hulse and Dale Pugh, and was the head trainer at Callaway Hills Stables in Columbia, Missouri for twelve years, before operating his own training barn in Springfield, Missouri. Most recently...

Mary McCormick (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Strong performances by both the Women's and Men's U.S. Vaulters entertained a near sold-out Alltech Arena during the second Individual phase of competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Thursday. Mary McCormick leads the U.S. effort, followed by Alicen Divita in ninth place and 2006 WEG Aachen Gold medalist Megan Benjamin in 11th place. The Vaulting Freestyle is perhaps the most appreciated phase of the...

Chris Nelson and Inside Out in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix (Photo by © ESI Photography ) CULPEPER, VA (October 6, 2010) -- HITS, Inc. capped off an exciting and record-breaking season when its 35th week of show-jumping competition came to a close on Sunday, October 3 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. The final week of horse shows for the 2010 HITS season was highlighted with a variety of special classes that had top-notch prize money for both jumper and hunter riders. Without a...