The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team (Laura Elcock) Fulton, MO - The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team swept the competition at the U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational over the weekend against international teams from South Africa and Canada. The three teams met for the competition at William Woods University, and the U.S. young riders were excellent during the two days of Three- and Five-gaited competition. After the first day of competition, the U.S. team led South Africa and Canada in...

Grand All Over and Emma Kurtz (Photography) Wellington, FL - Grand All Over lived up to his name during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The fifteen-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by David Gochman was champion of the Visse Wedell Medium Pony Hunter divsion with Emma Kurtz. Kurtz, of Cleveland, OH, piloted Grand All Over to second place under saddle and finished first, third, and third over fences. Reserve champion was Sassafras Creek, ridden by Daisy...

Marshall and Amanda Lyerly (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Third time was a charm for Marshall and Amanda Lyerly in the Gold Coast Baby Green Hunter division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Week eleven marks the third time the pair has competed together and their first time earning championship honors for the division. Lyerly piloted Marshall to first place under saddle and consistently strong over fences rounds, jumping to third, first, and two second...

No.8 Kansas State University def. Oklahoma State University The Wildcats were looking to prove that they were back on top of their game. It appears as though they are. A huge question mark just a few weeks ago, Kansas State now looks like a team to watch heading into the big 12 championship and NCEA National Championship. Their 11-8 decision Saturday was vengeance for an early season loss to the Cowgirls, and a confidence booster. It was an even match, but K-State Hunter and Western teams got...

Condor and Tracey Mack-Gorin (Anne Gittins Photography) Lexington, KY - It may only be his third show on American soil, but Condor is settling in nicely at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Tracey Mack-Gorin piloted Stepping Stone Farm's five-year-old Warmblood gelding to championship honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section A division during week six of the FTI WEF. Condor has also competed in Pre-Green and Performance Hunter divisions with Christine Kear in...

Liza Boyd and Fieona (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Liza Boyd of Camden, SC, started her season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with big wins in the Gold Coast High Performance Working Hunter Division. Boyd was champion with Jack Towell and Kelly Maloney's Fieona and also took home reserve honors on Janet Peterson and Finally Farm's Quatrain. Boyd and Fieona, a nine-year-old Oldenberg mare, placed third under saddle and first in both over fences...

Todd Flettrich and Danseur Wellington, FL - The field for World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach is almost set, and it is full of top dressage riders from around the globe. Thursday's Wellington Classic Dressage Sunshine Challenge Grand Prix CDI3* represents the last opportunity to join the field: 13 horses will vie for the remaining two spots. But after Wednesday's jog for the CDI3*, one of those 13 may have already lost his chance. Hopeful competitors presented the horses...

Jessica Stitt and On the Hour. (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Jessica Stitt took home both champion and reserve champion prizes with her geldings On the Hour and Taken in the FarmVet Amateur/Owner 3'3" 18-35 division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Competition for the division wrapped up on the last day of week one of the FTI WEF in the Equine Tack and Nutritionals Ring 6. On day one of competition for the division, Stitt and On the Hour placed first...

Alexandra Lawson is a 19-year-old freshman at Purdue University from North Salem, Indiana. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. I've spent most of my life in the small farm communities of Danville and North Salem, Indiana. My parents and maternal grandparents are grain farmers - farming about 5,000 acres in the surrounding area. When you grow up in farm country, you just naturally get involved with FFA and 4-H, and it was through 4-H that...

Lexington, KY - Applications for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman's Award are being accepted through October 1, 2012. The award recognizes young equestrians who exhibit exceptional leadership potential, serve as positive role models for their peers, demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of equestrian sport, are involved in their community, and exemplify positive sportsmanship principles. The overall winner of the 2012 USEF Youth...