Winners in Rome (Courtesy FEI ) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – The US Show Jumping squad bounced back with a valiant effort, winning the second leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Rome, Italy. Chef d’Equipe, George Morris continues to build a show jumping empire with the US. After winning back-to-back Olympic Gold medals in 2004 and 2008, Morris brought a team of mixed experience to Rome and dominated the nine other nations to finish on a two round total of 4 faults. The French...

Doug Payne, an acclaimed rider and board member of the Professional Riders Organization, won the Virginia Horse Trials CCI* this past weekend. His win included an impressive dressage score in the long format event that secured his victory. “I was thrilled with Running Order’s performance,” said Payne of the seven-year-old Irish gelding owned by Stone Hill Farm. “He is the ideal horse for the longer format, and I know he’ll continue to excel to the top of the sport.” Payne chose to compete in...

The New England Equitation Championships (NEEC) will return to the Eastern States Exposition Coliseum in West Springfield, MA, October 15-18, with all the excitement, camaraderie and keen competition it is known for. Judges Bob Crandall, Mindy Darst, Jimmy Lee, Randy Roy, Christine Tauber and Andrea Wells will preside over this year’s competition as well as the ever-popular Challenge of the States sponsored by the friends and family of Grazing Fields Farm. Fran Dotoli and Dr. Kate Chope will...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Youth and Auction Committees have announced that the ASHA Youth Auction will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2009, during the World’s Championship Horse Show. The auction will be held at the new Crowne Plaza Louisville (formerly The Executive West Hotel) in Crowne Room A (formerly The Mary Room). Bid Numbers may be obtained beginning at noon on Wednesday, August 26, and bidding on silent auction items will begin at this time. Silent bidding...

Hilltop is proud to announce that it will once again be hosting inspections for both the American Hanoverian Society on August 8 and the ISR/OldenburgNA Registry on August 28-29. Inspections not only offer the breeding community the opportunity to receive approval and input from top registry officials but also offer educational opportunities for all sport horse enthusiasts to learn more about each registry's requirements and ideal conformation and movement for sport horses today. During...

Last year the Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Society, a division of the Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes (German Oldenburg Verband) proudly held the first ever Oldenburg Horse Show and Mare Performance Test at High Point Hanoverians in Chestertown, MD. The show, open to all Oldenburg registered and breed approved horses, and the mare performance test, open to Oldenburg registered mares, were a great success thanks in great part to the efforts of Angela Barilar of High Point Hanoverians,...

Hilltop Farm is excited to report on the early show season successes of some of our stallions. Fielding (Fred Astair x Lessing, by Banter), a five-year-old stallion owned and bred by Autumn Hill Farm made his United States Equestrian Federation debut under Michael Bragdell on April 18-19 at the Virginia Dressage Association (VADA)/Nova Spring Dressage Show. The pair handily won all three of their first level tests with scores up to 68.571%. The young stallion displayed his excellent composure,...

The Sport Horse Nationals Payback Program 2009 is proving to be just the ticket for breeders again in 2009. With deep discounts on the stud fees of almost 300 stallions of all breeds, Payback is the “go to” resource in today’s economic climate. Included in the offered stallion services are world class Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Anglo-Arabians, Saddlebreds, Welsh, Friesians, Hackneys, Quarter Horses and others. Many are national or world champions, or have sired champions. Total number...

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) will again be honoring Anglo-Arabian horses competing at Youth Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals in 2009. The top five winning Anglos in all classes at each show will be awarded an embroidered cooler and neck ribbon, with a gold trophy also going to the Supreme Champions. NAAAHA has also implemented a High-Point Program for Anglo-Arabians that compete in working hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, sport horse under saddle,...

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) is giving members one more chance to win big money at the 62nd National Appaloosa Show & World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show in Jackson, MS, by extending the deadline to purchase slots for futurity and sweepstakes to June 1, 2009. The 2009 slot purses promise to be large. More than $85,500 was paid out in 2008, so get in on the action and purchase a slot in one of the following four classes: · 3-year-old Western Pleasure Futurity · 3-year-old Hunter Under...