The successful High Score Awards presented by the Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America at Pony Finals have been expanded this year to include registered part bred Welsh ponies in addition to registered purebred and half Welsh ponies recognized in past years. Earlier this year, WPCSA voted to register part bred Welsh and these animals are now competing at rated Welsh shows alongside half Welsh. Part bred Welsh are animals with at least one registered half Welsh parent. In addition to...

The fourth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I head out to the barn to work. Like other trainers, I work outside in temperatures from 0 to 100 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year, from dawn till dark and sometimes longer. As a professional trainer and riding instructor I am called on to muck stalls, fix fence, buck hay, dump grain, rake footing, fill water buckets, sweep the aisle, clean tack, change bandages, medicate, lead beginners, longe riders, heft children...

In the final countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the FEI has launched a new online hub fei.org/olympic dedicated to all things Olympic and Paralympic, both old and new. In celebration of the centenary of equestrian sport in the Olympic Movement and all the equine and human athletes that have made Olympic equestrian history since 1912, a new section history.fei.org explores in detail each edition of the Games, with summaries on the sport, complete results, statistics and iconic photos of...

Pas de Deux pair Rosalind Ross and Devon Maitozo competing earlier this year at CVI Woodside(Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com:) Lexington, KY - Vaulting competition at CHIO Aachen in Germany concluded Sunday afternoon with the American contingent proving itself to be near the top of the world game. U.S. Paux de Deux vaulters made an especially strong showing. Devon Maitozo and Rosalind Ross finished in 2nd place with an overall score of 8.372 and had by far the best score (9.100) for their...

Calgary, AB - A record crowd of over 13,000 fans came out to celebrate Canada Day at Spruce Meadows, while cheering on their favourite athletes during the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘Canada One’ Tournament. Canada Day competition started off with the 1.50 meter West Canadian Cup, with 34 horse/rider combinations on the playing field. As predicted, Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) created a tough track for the riders, stretching over 555 meters with 16 jumping obstacles. Four combinations...

Madison Goetzmann and Happily Ever Laughter won the Grand Pony Hunter Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (AnLi Kelly-Durham/PMG) Devon, PA - The sun was shining as the Pony Hunters took center stage in the Gold Ring at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse show, presented by the Tayor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). The ponies and riders of Heritage Farm could not be beat, bringing home all four championship titles as well as the two Grand Championships. Francesca...

Layla Choate and Plus One Chex (Waltenberry Photography) Oklahoma City, OK - Youth reiners in three age groups competed in the USEF National Youth Reining Championships at the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City Saturday evening. Layla Choate, Elizabeth Cosper, and Karl Johnson left the Adequan Arena with titles. In the 19-21 age division there was no lack of drama. When competition ended with Layla Choate (Hazel, KY) and Plus One Chex and Michael Pope (Theodore, AL) and Whizota locked in a tie at the...

Kathleen Fisher and North Shore won the Junior Hunter Grand Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - It was all about the juniors during the fourth day of the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). The riders were thrilled to showcase their mounts in the Dixon Oval at the prestigious Devon Show Grounds. After laying down beautiful trips with her talented mount North Shore in the Junior 16-17 Hunters,...

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB - The sun shone on Saturday at the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘Canada One’ Tournament. This was particularly true for American veterans McLain Ward and Mario Deslauriers. Fifty nine horse/rider combinations saddled up for the 1.45 meter Direct Energy Cup this morning, competing for top spot over the 500 meter long course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). Over 16 jumping efforts, the field was narrowed down to the 13 combinations who moved into the jump...

The sun was shining strong on Spruce Meadows for the second day of the 2012 ‘Canada One’ Tournament. With 75 horse/rider combinations saddling up for the 1.45 meter West Jet Cup, course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) created a difficult and technical track for the riders. After 16 jumping efforts over 540 meters, a scant 6 combinations moved on into the jump off. Among them, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) beat out his competitors with double clear rounds aboard his 8 year old Belgian...