Aaron Vale dominated the Open Jumper divisions on the second day of the Tampa Bay Classic. He guided Kryptonite to the 1.40m victory in only 42.398 seconds (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - The course was the talk of the day Thursday at the Tampa Bay Classic, as each consecutive rider was faced with a technical track that tested the best of their abilities. Riders gathered at the Covered Arena early this morning, and the cold weather only added to the mounting anticipation as some of the...

McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - McLain Ward (USA) and the powerful black stallion Super Trooper de Ness emerged victorious in the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 on Thursday, March 28, as part of the twelfth and final week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, Ward topped U.S. riders Charlie Jacobs, Christine...

Adrienne Iverson navigated Maximus, owned by Redfield Farm, to three back to back blue ribbons in today's Conformation Hunter division at the Tampa Bay Classic. (Emily Riden/PMG) Tampa, FL - The Tampa Bay Classic is proving to be a successful and enjoyable show circuit destination for many, including Adrienne Iverson and Maximus. As the first week of the Tampa Equestrian Series continued Thursday at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, Iverson and Maximus earned three back-to-back blue ribbons in...

Lauren Hough and Ohlala (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Thursday's busy competition schedule also featured a $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with the roster of top finishers including Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Let's Fly, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S. Course designer Alan Wade saw 52 entries with 16 clear rounds for the one round speed class. Once again, the rounds got faster and faster as some of the best went late in the line-up. Lauren...

Darrin Dlin and Tienna (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The $10,000 Adequan 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic was held on Thursday morning with a win for Canada's Darrin Dlin and Tienna, owned by Susan Grange. Held as the final for the division during this year's FTI WEF circuit, the class saw 31 entries in the first round of competition with sixteen going clear to the jump-off. Darrin Dlin and Tienna completed the fastest of five double clear rounds in 37.201 seconds for the win. Peter Wylde...

Havens Schatt and Kaepernick (Anne Gitttins Photography) Wellington, FL - Kaepernick and Havens Schatt took home the championship prize in the Perfect Products Pre-Green Hunter Level 1 division during the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The five-year-old Warmblood gelding is owned by Schatt's client, Debbie Stevens. Kaepernick and Schatt were first, third, and third over fences and placed fourth under saddle. Reserve champion was Ransom, ridden by Nick...

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week twelve of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by FTI Consulting, featured the $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed classon Wednesday with a win for Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083, owned by Spy Coast Farm. Earning points on the Longines FEI world ranking list, the pair beat Laura Kraut (USA) and Woodstock O in second and Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Everest de Muze in third. The 2013 FTI...

Amanda Steege and Zidane were among the first blue ribbon winners at the 2013 Tampa Bay Classic, earning the top honors in the High Performance Hunters (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Tampa, FL - Two weeks of top hunter and jumper competition kicked off today at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center as the Tampa Bay Classic got underway, marking the start of the Tampa Equestrian Series. In the Main Hunter Ring, it was Amanda Steege who claimed the 2013 Tampa Bay Classic's first blue ribbon...

Michael Morrissey rode to the top of the 1.40m Jumper leader board during the opening day of the Tampa Bay Classic. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Tampa, FL - The gates to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center opened this morning to welcome in the top riders in the nation to the two-week Tampa Equestrian Series. Commencing with the Tampa Bay Classic, jumper riders gathered in the brisk morning to vie for the coveted championship honors. The competition was heated in the Covered Arena as...

Evi Strasser and Rigaudon Tyme Loxahatchee, FL - The International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI-W's Sunday class offerings attracted a number of promising young horses whose riders hoped to give them experience in preparation for a move up the ranks. Local and international competitors alike persevered through windy weather to put in strong performances at Equestrian Estates' IHS Champions Park in Loxahatchee. Evi Strasser and daughter Tanya Strasser-Shostak both rode 9-year-old horses...