Oklahoma City, OK – January 17, 2011 – Since 2007, the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) has offered youth reiners an online program that rewards members for their leadership and community service activities outside of the show arena. The Varsity Reining Club (VRC) was established to engage youth members and encourage them to become active at both the local and national level. This program offers NRHyA members opportunities to contribute to their association and develop valuable...

Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui. (Flashpoint Photography©) Green Cove Springs, FL - January 15, 2011 – Only the United Nations could compare to this week’s global gathering of delegates for the FEI World Cup Qualifier with 28 of the world’s best equine athletes looking to garner points towards a spot in the finals, held April 27 through May 1 in Lipzieg, Germany. Kent Farrington, who divides his residence between Greenwich, CT, in the summer and Wellington, FL, during the winter, partnered with...

FORT WORTH, Texas – The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) recently entered into a partnership with the World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA). The associations agreed to recognize points earned by Paint Horses at each other’s events for a horse’s performance record as well as World Champion, Reserve World Champion, futurity champion and reserve champion titles. Top 10 finishes will be recognized as well. They will also work toward holding joint educational judging seminars. Members...

Wellington, FL - Interagro Lusitanos of Brazil, the largest Lusitano export and breeding operation in the world, is pleased to announce that their head trainer, Pia Aragão, will be competing at the Florida winter dressage shows. Aragão will compete horses from Interagro Lusitanos, including several horses that will be taking part in the 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction in Wellington on February 23–26. Aragão and her horses will be arriving in Florida in late January. “I will...

Kelley Farmer and Rosalynn. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - January 13, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued Thursday as professional riders sought championship honors in various hunter divisions. This year, the High Performance Working Hunter division, sponsored by The Sanctuary at PBIEC, has been added to the list of divisions for competition. The new division is open to all riders and horses, and includes fences ranging in height from 4' to 4'6". While eight horse...

Yann Candele and Redefin. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) held its second day of competition today with the first of 12 weekly WEF Challenge Cup grand prix classes. Canada's Yann Candele and Redefin, owned by Susan Grange, were the fastest double clear combination to earn the top prize. Held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, the 2011 WEF will hold 12 consecutive weeks of competition for its winter show...

Nick Skelton and Unique (Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival) Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its competition January 12 with opening jumper classes in the International Arena. To start the year off right, Nick Skelton (GBR) was back in the saddle and in the winner's circle with Unique, owned by Beverly Widdowson, in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. The first week of the FTI WEF runs through January 16. The...

Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), which has 12 weeks of competition from January 12 to April 3, will once again host the Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series this year, which will now feature a $50,000 bonus. The $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classics are held weekly through week 11. The final class, the $30,000 Suncast® 1.50 Jumper Championship, will be held on Sunday, March 27 (WEF 11), and it will be an FEI ROLEX ranking class. The top...

Lexington, Kentucky - The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), in partnership with its Saddle Seat Sponsor, Morehead State University (MSU), will offer its first saddle seat horse shows February 5-6. The weekend will be planned so that two saddle seat shows can be offered on two consecutive days. All levels and ages of IEA saddle seat riders will be invited to compete. Any IEA saddle seat teams and riders may attend as the show will be open to riders from any region or zone in the...

Dressage rider Leah Winston and Lusitano stallion Amintas Interagro. (Photo courtesy of JRPR.) Jacksonville, FL – The Lusitano breed was in the spotlight at the recent United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention in Jacksonville, FL, when an award-winning Lusitano took part in the symposium and two lucky audience members won tickets to the upcoming 2011 Lusitano CollectionTM International Horse Auction. The auction, which will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in...