Minneapolis, Minn. - The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America (WPCSA) held its 2014 Annual General Meeting over the weekend of February 22-23, 2014 in Minneapolis, MN. The cold weather around the country may have created travel difficulties but attendees received a warm welcome from the Welsh of Minnesota! Society members from across the United States joined in in Society business and committee meetings, award banquets and presentations. The WPCSA Election Results The membership elected to...

Kyle King and Quigley bested an impressive field on Sunday to win the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal. They were one of three in the jump-off and used Quigley’s speed to earn the blue (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Quigley may not have many grand prix miles behind him, but his rider Kyle King of Ocala, Florida is looking forward to the 10-year-old gelding stepping up to the level with a bang. He is certainly on the right track after winning...

Nayel Nassar and Lordan jump to a win in the $33,500 FEI HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - It all came down to the gallop in the $33,500 FEI HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal on Thursday. With only two horses in the jump-off, Nayel Nassar put the speed of his nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Lordan to the test and bested Bliss Heers by fractions of a second. Nassar of Santa Clara, California represents...

Michael Leon continues his winning ways in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Flying Horse Photography) Burbank, Calif. - Michael Leon, who earned a big check in the 2013 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus, is no stranger to winning. He started off the 2014 show year by dominating the $2,500 LAEC Opener USHJA National Hunter Derby at The LAEC Opener Horse Show (Jan 17-19), and if he and Freedom (Anna Sophia Lotman, owner) win a second derby together at LAEC this season, he’ll earn another...

Jacob Arnold will begin a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - New year. New opportunities. Just ask Jacob Arnold, who begins a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 as the inaugural apprentice driver in the Live Oak Combined Driving, Inc. Developing Driver Program. “Though Live Oak Combined Driving has always been involved in the ongoing development of many drivers, this new program will begin with Jacob Arnold as the first apprentice...

Melinda Moore and Sir Silver Knight (Brooke Jacobs of Jacobs Photography) Lexington, Ky. - Melinda Moore of Lawrenceburg, KY, took home top honors in the American Saddlebred classes on Thursday evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, claiming both the $3,000 Five-Gaited Grand Championship and the $3,000 Three-Gaited Grand Championship with horses owned by Annika Moriarty Bruggeworth. The American Saddlebred and Hackney Divisions, presented by James & Misdee Miller and Elisabeth Goth...

Conor Swail and GAME READY (photo © AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - It was a thrilling finale on the last night of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show as many of the world's top riders competed in the $85,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix De Penn National. You could hear the crowd collectively hold its breath as each horse sped around the course, but it was Irish rider Conor Swail and GAME READY who pulled out all the stops to clinch the win. Twenty four competitors attempted course designer...

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night (Libby Law Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The U.S. horse-and rider combinations are poised for the FEI Nations Cup competition at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*, October 10-13, 2013 in Boekelo, The Netherlands. Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp, Lauren Kieffer, and Boyd Martin make up the team representing the U.S. Following the first horse inspection, 104 combinations from 11 nations are ready to contest the challenging three-day event, which is the seventh...

Pablo Barrios leads the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series Standings with Zara Leandra. (Rebecca Walton) Lexington, KY - With another top placing at the KHJA Horse Show last week, Venezuelan rider Pablo Barrios has furthered his lead in the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series. He and his talented mount Zara Leandra kicked off the Series by winning the first Hagyard Lexington Classic in May, and they then garnered wins in both the third and fourth events. Most recently, Barrios and Zara Leandra finished...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...