Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2012, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. On January 18, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year both a national and international horse will win. The six champions have earned...

James Alliston and Tivoli (Amy McCool) Temecula, CA - Start calling James Alliston “Mr. Galway Downs.” The Galway Downs International Three-Day Event has offered a CCI3* for the last three years. Alliston finished third in 2010, finished first and seventh in 2011, and this year he finished first, second and sixth. Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., rode Tivoli to first place (53.4) Jumbo’s Jake, the horse he won with in 2011 and finished third with in 2010, to second place...

Samantha Harrison was crowned the winner of the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West (Flying Horse Photography) Los Angeles, CA - After three days and numerous tests, Samantha Harrison (La Canada, CA) found herself leading the victory gallop of the 2012 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West. The win was made even more sweet for the Oklahoma State University junior and member of the NCEA Equestrian team. "Winning means so much to me because...

Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude won the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Saturday, August 11, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Tracy Magness, of Hughesville, MD, rode M/M John Bartko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude to victory in the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, on Saturday, August 11, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival. In a ten-horse jump-off, Magness had the only clear round to...

Mark Bluman and G&C Blue won the $10,000 Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 9, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Colombia’s Mark Bluman and G&C Blue, owned by Gustavo Mirabal, were the winners in the $10,000 Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 9, at the 2012 Vermont...

Jimmy Torano and Winner topped the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Jimmy Torano, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, rode James B. Pirtle Ent., Inc.’s Winner to victory in the $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week competition began on July 4 and continues through August 12 at...

Luis Larrazabal and G&C Flash won the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Venezuela’s Luis Larrazabal earned an exciting victory in the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week...

Karen O'Connor and Mr. Medicott (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The German Olympic Eventing Team was in a class of its own as history was made at Greenwich Park. Michael Jung led a charge that finished with him winning Team and Individual Gold in a flawless effort on Sam. They were the only combination to finish the entire competition without adding anything to their dressage score. That score of 40.6 meant that Jung is the first person ever to be the reigning European, Olympic, and World...

SAUGERTIES, NY – HITS recently wrapped up nine weeks of show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson and transitioned to the Culpeper Finals at Commonwealth Park in Virginia. The capstone to the Saugerties series offered coveted year-end awards, over $1.5 million in prize money and new Pfizer Million and Diamond Mills Hunter Champions. As HITS-on-the-Hudson quiets, Andre Thieme, Samantha Schaefer and a handful of Marshall & Sterling League National Final winners are cashing their checks and...

Lillie Keenan with her overall Grand Champion award with Don Stewart's Confidentialand overall Reserve Grand Champion award with Chansonette Farm LLC’s Madison at the 2011 USEF Junior Hunter Championship - East Coast (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — After three rounds of competition, Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, returned to the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson to accept champion awards with not one, but two horses in the 2011 USEF National Junior...