Many of the country's top horses and riders will once again return to Chicago to compete at Showplace Production's horse shows this year as pursuit of the coveted $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series begins for the 2010 season. Returning for its fourth consecutive year, the Leading Rider Series has made an exciting addition to its lineup this year, adding six divisions of leading hunter awards along with the previous jumper honors.The 2010 Leading Rider Series will offer $32,500 in jumper...

The Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix has been the talk of the town this winter as the excitement amongst the world's top riders is on the rise in anticipation of qualifying for this unprecedented event. Over the course of the HITS Winter Circuits, 159 top Grand Prix riders took advantage of 35 HITS Pfizer Million Qualifiers as they vied for $1.5 million in prize money and one of 40 coveted slots on the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings List. The Winter Circuits in Thermal and Ocala produced 45...

Photo by Robbi Meisel Classic Company’s president, Bob Bell, announced the first ever Musical Freestyle Hunt Seat Equitation Championship will premiere at the upcoming Atlanta Summer Classics, June 16-27, in the former Olympic Grand Prix arena of the Georgia International Horse Park. The idea came to Bell while outside a schooling ring on an off day of his show, sitting in a golf cart chatting on his phone when the sound of a nearby stereo drifted over, causing his attention to shift towards...

The United States Trotting Association (USTA) announced the USTA Roadster Classic as a Roadster to Bike class with $15,000 added total estimated prize money. The class is sponsored by the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS) and the American Road Horse and Pony Association in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association. Offered for Standardbred horses that have not been shown prior to Sunday, August 29, 2009, the class will be held during the World’s Championship Horse Show in...

If you are a non-profit equine organization in need of a grant then don’t delay. Go to www.trusthorses.org/grant/request.html and fill out a grant application from USA Equestrian Trust (USAET) Grant Program. The deadline of May 4 at 5 p.m. EST is fast approaching. “While no public charity can make grants to every deserving group, USA Equestrian Trust encourages any non-profit in the equestrian community who needs assistance to consider completing the grant application,” commented Alan F. Balch,...

The American Hackney Horse Society Foundation is pleased to announce that once again they will be offering scholarships to The Shamrock Farm Road Pony Camp in Smithfield, KY. Anyone under the age of 18 is encouraged to submit an essay and brief biography. Scholarships will be awarded to the winner(s) of an essay contest titled “Why I Want to Learn More About the Hackney Breed.” The scholarship will cover the cost of camp fees, food and lodging. (Transportation to and from the camp is the...

In an effort to implement a pilot program for equine drugs and medications testing for its sanctioned events, the United States Polo Association (USPA) has engaged the services of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equine Drugs and Medications Program. This new pilot program was approved by the USPA Board of Governors in October 2009 and has been implemented in time for the annual 2010 polo season that includes the annual USPA U.S. Open Polo Championship. The Championship takes...

Photo by Shawn McMillen (Wilhelm Genn and Chantal) Wilhelm Genn does it again! German-born Genn is basking in victory as he and his 11-year-old gelding horse, Chantal, took home the blue ribbon in the $30,000 Grand Prix Presented by Houston Area Audi Dealers at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. Saturday night's competition was tough. The Stadium was packed with cheering fans who not only enjoyed the beautiful ride of Chantal, but the other winners, including second-place winner Tracy Fenney on...

I spent last night stuck in Orlando and then Charlotte before finally getting home well after 2 am. Tornadoes ripped through North Carolina and there were a lot of stranded people. It was very encouraging that it was all over the news in the airport. I could have been stuck in Ocala at my lovely friend Max's house. She was kind enough to let me stay while I was at Live Oak, she works for Karen O'Connor, and lives on their wonderful farm, so I had it pretty good for 5 days. I paid for it by...

Robin Groves collects her prizes (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL - With impending storms looming, the fourth and final day of the Live Oak International presented by US Trust featured a difficult cones phase and clear rounds were hard to find. But the best drivers in the US prevailed and two USEF National Champions were crowned based on their incredible three phase performances. A massive storm held off until the final few drivers, and then the weather deteriorated quickly. Chester Weber and...