It began years before its inaugural date in 1993, this vision of an Arabian championship show for young people. Arabian horsemen have always applauded and supported their youth, and the current national show is a dynamic reflection of that recognition and energy. This year’s show officially began Saturday, July 21st, but there were also several days of Youth Clinics, Seminars and a Youth Convention that led up to first classes Saturday morning. There will be a total of over 130 classes at...

Ken Berkley of Flemington, NJ, pictured aboard Ax-Cent, is leading the standings for the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, Presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the halfway point of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Ken Berkley of Flemington, NJ, is currently leads the standings for the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, Presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the halfway point of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset,...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

The sixth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder When on a horse, I wear a riding helmet. My students wear riding helmets. I ride and show western and dressage. The helmet/hat quandary, style vs. safety, the tradition or common sense conversation is therefore a subject near and dear to my heart. On March 22, 2012, I went into the hay barn to get a bale of hay to feed lunch in the barn. To make a long story short, despite my usual care in tipping bales, as I turned to leave the...

Mary Jordan speaking to campers at USOC Olympic Day Photo courtesy Saco Parks & Recreation Department in Saco, Maine Saco, ME - As the London Olympics/Paralympics approach athletes have been promoting and creating awareness of this spectacular event. On June 29, 2012, the Official USA Olympic Day occurred where hundreds of Olympians and Paralympians participated around the country in interactive and informative public speaking events. Created by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC),...

Zana Wofsi and Taylor Schmidt. Traverse City, MI - July 22, 2012 - Even though Taylor Schmidt has only been competing in the jumper ranks for little more than a year, when she went into the ring to jump off for the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic she had confidence in her mare Zana Wofsi. Knowing that Wofsi's strength is turning, Schmidt said she made her winning plan with the knowledge that they could master Michel Vallaincourt's jump-off test. He challenged riders...

Caitlyn Shiels and S&L Downtown finished first in the Six, Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper class during the opening week of the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – The next generation of grand prix horses took center stage during the first three weeks of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival horse show, running July 4 through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. Five-Year-Old, Six-Year-Old and Seven and...

Leslie Howard et Lennox Lewis 2 Credit Normand St-Jacques Bromont - American rider Leslie Howard, who won the first FEI Open Jumper 1m50 this week, presented by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, enjoys victory again in the Desjardins Speed Derby, winning with a comfortable six-second margin. A high-energy course The Speed Derby's course, built in two rings, added a challenge for the horses by using the walkway to cross over. Twenty-two horse/rider teams...

Hans-Dieter Dreher & Magnus Romeo (Alan Davidson/GCT) Chantilly, France - The race for the overall Global Champions Tour 2012 championship intensified Saturday with three top riders closing in on series leader Edwina-Tops Alexander. The dramatic finale to the Grand Prix in Chantilly was a dramatic display of top-level show jumping in front of a huge crowd only days before the start of the Olympic Games. The competition was a testament to the exceptionally high calibre of GCT events with...

Cosmo and Laura Pfeiffer. Traverse City, MI - Although Laura Pfeiffer has collected many blue ribbons during the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, there was one that had eluded her since the series started: the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix. Her wait ended today, however, when she guided Fox Meadow Farm's Cosmo to the top and bested a field of 30 horse-and-rider combinations to capture the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix, sponsored by Positive Step Farm. "I've been...