Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Keri Potter and Rockford I) The all-new Devoucoux Hunter Derby kicked off with a bang at the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit when one of the top hunter riders in the country, John French, piloted Victoria Komisar’s Over the Moon to the inaugural win in the $10,000 Devoucoux Derby on the West Coast. French of Gilroy, CA, had the highest score in both the first and second rounds of the popular 3'3" class that featured 29 starters on a course set by John Manning, which...

One of the leading hunter/equitation riders and trainers will be giving a Hunt Seat Clinic, sponsored by Palm Beach Riding Academy, in the International Arena on February 16 at 3:30 p.m. during the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week, which is the sixth week of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Smith and his wife, Emily, own and have operated Ashland Farms since 1992. They have trained and or shown to numerous championships at shows such as Devon, Capital Challenge,...

Photo by Ken Braddick (A frisky Satchmo with rider Isabell Werth during the vet check.) All 16 horses that were presented for veterinary inspection were passed Wednesday to start in the €100,000 (US$138,000) Exquis World Dressage Masters at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Three German combinations, three Dutch, six from the U.S., three from Canada and one pair from Denmark will perform in the €10,000 (US$14,000) Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe Grand Prix at 1 p.m. It is the only...

Steffen Peters and Ravel, Anky van Grunsven and Salinero and Isabell Werth and Satchmo joined 15 other horse-and-rider combinations Monday to prepare for the Exquis World Dressage Masters Palm Beach this week that kicks off the 2010 lineup of the globe's richest dressage competitions. Anky van Grunsven watched her first ever polo game Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Isabell Werth worked Satchmo at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center while her sister, Claudia, wheeled...

Kim Severson Takes Her Expertise South of the Border (Mike McNally) Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will continue to lead a joint development program with the FEI in Central and South America. The USEF made a commitment to supply coaches from the USA and Canada to FEI regional Groups IV and V for 2010 and 2011 after a very successful pilot year in 2009. The objective of this program is to increase the participation in regional games in the area going forward....

Steffen Peters and Ravel Won the 2009 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas (Shannon Brinkman/USEF Archive ) Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the seven horse/rider combinations that have been named to represent the United States at the Exquis World Dressage Masters in Wellington, FL February 4-6, 2010. The group of seven includes Steffen Peters and Ravel, the 2009 USEF Equestrian and Horse of the Year and the reigning FEI World Cup Champions and Leslie...

Photo by Diana DeRosa (Kelley Farmer and Early Applause) On February 14 and on February 20th equestrians will be either scoring points or cheering from the sidelines at two events showcased by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF). For the fourth annual Bowling for Equestrians on the 14th competitors will rack up dollars. This event benefits the AHJF’s Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) and takes place at Greenacres Bowl (6126 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres, FL) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. One week...

Breeders of the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA) have accomplished something likely never done before by a domestic studbook. In the $40,000 Jack Daniels Grand Prix at the Denver Stock Show in January, AHHA-bred horses earned three of the top four prizes. The winner, Lt. Kijie (Sandstone Laurinn/Jasmin/Carolus, breeder Sandstone Horse Sales), was followed by Southern Pride (South Pacific/Caretino, breeder Joan Irvine Smith and The Oaks) in third and Ceonta (Cassini/Celina/Corofino,...

February 16-18 marks the first opportunity of 2010 to participate in the SmartPak/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Trainers Symposiums. The symposiums offer practical training sessions and round table discussions with top industry professionals. This first event kicks off with John French as the hunter clinician and George Morri, as the equitation and jumper clinician at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. The Symposiums are offered to everyone—not just trainers....

Slide Into the World Equestrian Games (Waltenberry/ USEF Archive) Lexington, KY – With 239 days to go (and counting) until the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, all eyes in the world of reining turn to qualifying efforts. Without exception, the highly contested four seats and one alternate named to represent the United States are on the line as top reiners from coast to coast scurry for qualifying opportunities. The remaining four scheduled CRIs in the United States, which will count for...