Peter Wylde, 2004 Olympic Team Gold medalist for the USA, rode Esplanade 7 to his first grand prix win of the 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival on Thursday, January 29. The pair took the fourth leg of the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup Series under lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Fifty-seven combinations started the class with 15 going clear to move to the jump-off. Six pairs posted clear rounds in a thrilling dash around the shortened course. Wylde, who...

The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s (UHC) National Speaker Program is up and running. If you are an equine group with an upcoming event and would like to have someone speak about the UHC, what it does and the problem of unwanted horses, the UHC has a program to provide you with this support. The UHC has volunteers across the country who may be able to attend your event and present information from the Coalition. If you have an equine-related event coming up, please contact the UHC to request a...

The American Horse Council (AHC) has announced that the focus of this year’s National Issues Forum will be the “Welfare of the Horse.” The Forum will be held June 16, 2009, in Washington, DC, as part of the AHC’s annual meeting. Over the last year, concerns about the welfare of horses used in racing, showing, recreation, or work have been raised by our fans, the general public, the media, and Congress. Such concerns have been expressed before, but perhaps not as broadly as now. “Those involved...

The Minnesota Horse Council announced the selection of American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) member Guy Warner as 2008 Horse Person of the Year at their annual meeting and awards banquet on Saturday, January 17, 2009. The award is presented each year to someone who shows long-term service and commitment to the equine industry in the Midwest. Warner, the 39th recipient of this award, has put in over 40 years of service—both equine related and community related. He served 10 years in...

Another milestone in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history was made following the 2008 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show (NAAC). Arcese Quarter Horses USA, of Weatherford, TX, became NRHA's third Million Dollar Owner with horses surpassing the million-dollar mark with earnings accumulated at the 2008 Italian Futurity and 2008 NRHA Futurity & NAAC Show. Eleuterio Arcese, of Arcese Quarter Horses USA, has worked to promote the sport of reining in...

Commandingly leading the 2008 International Jumper Futurity Listings, Reno (Riverman x Caretino) has offspring putting in top performances across the country. His American-bred son, Zero Point (Hilltop Reno x Galoubet A) has certainly been racking up the points during the competition season with his top-place finish in the USEF Five-Year-Old Jumper Horse of the Year division. Bred by Candy Tripple and owned by Matt Yeterian, Zero Point had numerous competitions last season with his rider Maggie...

Wellington, FL – The Exquis World Dressage Masters finale showcased the world’s best dressage riders under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club on Saturday night. The temperature was unseasonably low but the quality of dressage was seriously high. The reigning Olympic Champion, Anky van Grunsven, lived dangerously in the Grand Prix on Friday, she only qualified for the Freestyle when Michael Barisone opted for the Grand Prix Special...

It was a perfect day for the 2008 Olympic duo of Sharn Wordley and the brilliant Rockville, the winners of the Lucky Sevens Jumper Welcome Classic presented by ShowNet.biz on January 22. Wordley’s one mount bested 27 contenders for the top spot, including Wilhelm Genn, who dominated the circuit last year with his three mounts, Chantal, Loredo, and Happy Z. But as the sun began to set on the swift jump-off round, Wordley had survived the trials and tribulations put before them courtesy of course...

Lexington, KY – Braving frigid temperatures, US vaulter, Mary McCormick, won the 2009 CVI** Leipzig, January 23-25. In front of huge German crowds McCormick put on an impressive show vaulting on Tjekko (owned and lunged by Lasse Kristensen), to finish on 8.367 just ahead of Switzerland’s Marion Graf and Ines Juckstock from Germany. Leipzig plays host to a CDI, CAI and CSI and the multi-discipline event drew tens of thousands of fans. “Competing at Leipzig was an amazing experience,” said...

Caitie Hope's winning momentum from last year has followed her into 2009, and last week she rode her way into the winner's circle once again. Hope of Barrington, IL, competed at the Lake St. Louis Horse Show in St. Louis, MO, and executed consistent rounds for top ribbons. She trains with Diane Carney at Telluride Farm, based in Hampshire, IL. Hope piloted Cinch, owned by Kathleen Hope, in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division and came away with the overall championship. The pair earned two...