Emma Kurtz and Graffito (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Saturday morning in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter ring, Emma Kurtz and Graffito kicked off hunter action on a positive note. The pair earned scores of 84 and 80 to finish first and second in the final two over fences classes of the Charleigh's Cookies Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under divsion. After two stellar jumping rounds, Graffito went on to win the under saddle and finish the day as champion. Giavanna Rinaldi and Bella Luna, owned by...

Peter Pletcher and Thanks for the Gold (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Peter Pletcher and Thanks For The Gold kicked off hunter action for WEF 3 in the Shapley's Grooming Products Green Conformation Hunters. Thanks For The Gold, owned by Rancho De Los Arboles of Oak Point, TX, topped two of the over fences classes, along with the model and under saddle, to finish the day as champions. Also turning in consistent performances over the two days were Having Said That ridden by Kelley Farmer. The...

Say When and Danielle Baran (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Traveling from Toronto, Canada, Danielle Baran and her horse Say When were the WEF 2 Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 champions. Baran rode Say When to four over fences victories over the two days of competition. Reserve Champion honors went to Ashley Whitner and her own Larkspur. The combination was second in three of the four over fences classes. Baran bought Say When as he was turning four years old, after trainer...

Scott Stewart and A Million Reasons (SportFot) Wellington, Fla. - For the second week in a row Dr. Betsee Parker's A Million Reasons, ridden by Scott Stewart, has taken home championship honors in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunters. This was A Million Reasons second show in the High Performance Working Hunters, having done the Second Year Green Hunters last year. "She [A Million Reasons] is a really good jumper, a great mover, beautiful, big stride. She's like the...

Lexington, Ky. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased announce the coaches for the 2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams. Melissa Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) and Kent Swalla (Columbia, Mo.) have been named as coaches of the home team. Their team will be competing at the U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational at Cascade Stables in June. Kelly Kraegel (Guthrie, Okla.) and Sarah Lawson (Rockport, Ind.) will be coaches of the team travelling to South Africa in September. Melissa Smith...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing 25 Program continued to identify and educate top up-and-coming riders in 2014. The comprehensive program incorporated all aspects of horsemanship in intensive winter training sessions, and continues education with Team Coach David O’Connor throughout the competition season helped riders reach new heights in the competition arena. Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, Ill.) has excelled in the Eventing 25...

Lexington, Ky. - The National Horse Show is steeped in history, and the 2014 Grand Champion Junior Hunter is a horse that is not only adding to that history, but creating quite the legacy for himself as well. Tori Colvin and Ovation (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) "In the history of the [United States Equestrian Federation] and the [American Horse Show Association] there has never been a Small Junior Working Hunter that has won as many of the big ones as he has. You're looking at an animal...

Lexington, Ky. - The National Horse Show is steeped in history, and the 2014 Grand Champion Junior Hunter is a horse that is not only adding to that history, but creating quite the legacy for himself as well. Tori Colvin and Ovation (Emily Riden/Phelps Media) "In the history of the [United States Equestrian Federation] and the [American Horse Show Association] there has never been a Small Junior Working Hunter that has won as many of the big ones as he has. You're looking at an animal that...

Michael Hughes looks to add the Maclay National Championship to his growing resume (Photo by Emily Riden) Lexington, Ky. - The historic National Horse Show is just around the corner and junior riders are preparing to showcase their skills during the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on November 2, 2014, the top junior riders in the nation will compete under the watchful eye of judges McLain Ward and Chrystine Tauber to try and...

The U.S. Team (Mike Arnold) Izsak, Hungary - The United States heads into this week’s FEI World Driving Championships for Singles in Izsak, Hungary looking to impress on the international stage. The U.S. team of Jacob Arnold, Leslie Berndl, and Donna Crookston will be led by Chef d’Equipe Chester Weber at the championships running September 25-28, that host 19 teams vying for podium finishes, while a total of 78 competitors from 24 nations look to secure Individual honors. Arnold...