Westport, Conn. - Thanks to Ariat International and the dedication of three volunteers in the Champions Equine Service program, three well-deserving charities devoted to horse welfare and the horse-human bond are receiving grants. Individuals who volunteer a minimum of 24 hours in a year for an equine charity on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network are recognized as Champions and automatically entered into a drawing where the winners have the opportunity to select their charities to...

Lisa Wilcox and Denzello (Peter Martin-Turner/Spidge Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photography) Hickstead, United Kingdom - The U.S. closed out Grand Prix competition at CDIO3* Hickstead with strong finishes in the Freestyle on Sunday. Lisa Wilcox and Denzello demonstrated why they were named to the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team with a third-place finish on Sunday. While Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Wellnetta earned seventh-place honors. Wilcox...

Undeniable ridden by Jenny Karazissis (by Jenny Ross Koning for PhotoLyte.com) Washoe Valley, Nev. - Jenny Karazissis came home with top honors yet again in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility in Washoe Valley, NV. Karazissis and Undeniable continued as reigning champions after winning both classes this weekend at the Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby. As a two-day standalone competition, Franktown Meadows featured the $2,500 USHJA National...

Shannon Dahmer and Lakota Lace (Phelps Media Group) Parker, Colo. - A horse of a different color has been attracting notice at Dressage in the Rockies for more than just his spots. Lakota Lace, an 11-year-old Appaloosa/Percheron/Quarter Horse gelding, picked up back-to-back wins in the Intermediaire I at the Colorado Horse Park. In his first time out at that level, Lakota Lace scored 68.816 percent on Friday, winning the FEI High Percentage Championship, and 67.895 percent on Saturday. Trainer...

This article originally published at www.USEventing.com . Laine Ashker & Anthony Patch Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch are sitting comfortably atop the Advanced division leaderboard at the Millbrook Horse Trials (Millbrook, N.Y.) in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. It's not an unfamiliar position for them, as they won the Advanced division here in 2013. The track suits “Al” and Ashker knows how to bring out the best in her longtime partner, an off-the-track...

Lisa Wilcox and Denzello (Peter Martin-Turner/Spidge Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photography) Hickstead, United Kingdom - The United States produced improved performances in the Grand Prix Special on Saturday at CDIO3* Hickstead to earn a fourth-place finish in FEI Nations Cup competition. The team of Lisa Wilcox, Brian Hafner, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, and Susie Dutta finished on score of 414.611 in the competition that combined scores from the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special. To find...

Gijon, Spain - For the second time in two days the U.S. romped to victory in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition, on Friday the setting was CSIO5*Hickstead and on Saturday the American success came on the turf field at CSIO5* Gijon. Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer brought a team of rising stars to Gijon’s Nations and Ashlee Bond-Clarke, Catherine Pasmore, Quentin Judge, and Georgina Bloomberg delivered with strong performances throughout the day over Avelino Rodríguez...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When Kevin Babington first laid eyes on Shorapur he knew there was something special about the mare. Despite being told she was too hot for his liking, he had to try her. That first ride was a year and a half ago. Yet, Friday they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis as if they'd been together forever. “I was like a kid in a candy store the first...

This article orgiinally published at www.useventing.com . Sharon White and Wundermaske lead the Advanced division heading into cross-country (Jessie Smith/PRO) Despite some lovely tests by proven pairs on the second day of dressage competition, Sharon White maintains her lead from Thursday with Wundermaske in the Advanced division of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series at Millbrook Horse Trials in Millbrook, NY. Buck Davidson performed a personal best with Sherrie Martin and Cassie and...

Harrie Smolders & Regina Z (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - The evening CSI5* 1.50m class at Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard was won by the master of faster Harrie Smolders (NED) and his feisty mare Regina Z, who raced to the top of the class from early in the draw finishing in an unbeatable time of 38.19s. Second went to Constant van Paesschen (BEL) who is hitting form again this season having collected a 3rd this morning. This time the young star rode a...