HITS would like to congratulate all of the riders in this year's 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Championships, which was held on October 31 at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, featuring the 126th National Horse Show. Of the top 10 ribbon winners, nine of the riders compete at HITS winter show circuits, either in Thermal, CA, or Ocala, FL. Winner Zazou Hoffman of Santa Monica, CA, is a past regular competitor in Thermal, as are Samantha Harrison (fourth place) and Lucy Davis (sixth)....

The inaugural presentation of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award will take place at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner during the Federation's Annual Meeting on January 16, 2010. The EQUUS Foundation is searching for equine artists to design the permanent trophy, which may be a painting or sculpture that depicts the humanitarian achievements made by a member of the equestrian community. The submission may be an existing portfolio piece of the artist....

TheHorseStudio.com is proud to sponsor this unique clinic on International Horse Transport, which will be held December 2, 2009, in Millbrook, NY. Its aim is to help the international competitor, horse breeder, importer/exporter of horses. Hosted by veteran international freight forwarder, Paul Alvin-Smith, the attendees will learn how to save money, save time and avoid critical mistakes when organizing international travel for their horses. "As a lifelong horseman I was especially thrilled...

Victoria Birdsall and Alex Parrish emerged as East Conference champions in the regular season of the 2009 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its 2009 series with classes at more than 100 horse shows across the nation, giving competitors an abundance of opportunities to accumulate points throughout the year. The series featured separate divisions for amateur-owner and junior riders with standings kept...

The Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center are partnering in a new project to assist Kentucky's unwanted horses. Last week the Kentucky Horse Park became aware that some unwanted, pregnant Thoroughbred mares were in need of a home. The owner of the mares no longer wanted them, and sent them to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC), a 72-acre facility located in central Kentucky. The KyEHC is a model shelter for equines from across the state. No horse in need of shelter is...

Minikus, Farrington, Johnson, and Kessler in Winner's Circle for Jumpers The 2009 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) CSI****-W is one of the most exciting equestrian competitions in the country, and it is one of only two shows in North America that offer a puissance, or "high jump" class. Friday night's $25,000 Puissance presented by Chevron Corporation saw a very familiar face for the awards presentation. Seven-time winner McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, was victorious in the class on...

On October 22, the Junior Hunter divisions began competing at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), held at the Verizon Center through Sunday, October 25. Kelsey Thatcher took an early lead in the Older Junior Hunter divisions, winning the first class of the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division. Earlier in the day, Hasbrouck Donovan stole the show, earning two blue ribbons in the Younger Junior Hunter classes. The Older Junior Hunter divisions got under way late that morning, and it was...

Competition in the Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series continued during the month of September. Even with the summer competition schedule coming to a close, many horse shows featured Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series classes, making it an intense race for the September Rider of the Month. With Cavalor's support, the series honors one rider each month as the Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Rider of the Month. The honor goes to the...

Lexington, KY - It was weather fit for neither man nor beast. But, it was not going to stand in the way of the determined horse-and-rider combinations that made their way to the Kentucky Cup Endurance - the official test event for the discipline of endurance riding and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The day promised two international-level competitions consisting of a 75-mile and a 100-mile race through Bluegrass farmland. But, that would change halfway through the event for those...

Winner Matthew Metell riding Pioneer, owned by Heritage Farm (James Leslie Parker ) Gladstone, NJ - It was a picture perfect ending to a picture perfect weekend for the 2009 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East in Gladstone, NJ. Matthew Metell, riding Pioneer (owned by Heritage Farm) captured the prestigious win at the Finals – East. This year the Finals – East had a record number of entries with 97 riders completing all three Phases. The weekend...