Kristen Smith, the winner of the 2012 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final, riding Who Needs Mama (Howard Schatzberg) Lexington, KY - Kristen Smith of Smithfield, KY rode Stephens College's Who Needs Mama through heavy downpours to the championship win in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final, under the tutelage of Zubrod Stables. The Final took place Friday the 13th as part of the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show at the...

Alison Robitaille and Cover Girl 27 Traverse City, MI - Ideal conditions and a bright blue sky set the stage for the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City today at Horse Shows by the Bay in scenic Traverse City, Michigan. Series I came to a close this afternoon reading like a textbook edition of stellar competition with the last chapter highlighting an amazing performance by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone's Cover Girl 27 and Alison Robitaille. A field of 21 competitors challenged the first of...

The fifth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last week I poked a little fun at what western dressage riders are wearing for both schooling and show. This week I want to bring you the reality of the situation from manufacturers who give us the products that will ultimately be seen in rings around the country. Last week I showed you the proposed North American Western Dressage rules for WD show attire. Since the requirements state that riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt with...

Donald Cheska and Ad Fundum. Traverse City, MI - Sun and a light morning breeze set the stage for the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix today at Horse Shows by the Bay, as 30 competitors eagerly challenged the Evie Frisque (Ontario, Canada)-designed course. Sponsored by Positive Step Farm and Patrice Schreiber, today's competition is the first of four $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix classes to be hosted by the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival throughout the month of July in scenic...

Rich Fellers & Flexible, winners of the Sun Life Financial “Reach for the Sun”. (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB -The stars and stripes had a lot to celebrate at Spruce Meadows on the 4th of July during the first day of the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ Tournament. The American’s started out on their roll with 17 year old Reed Kessler (USA) aboard Onisha, a 13 year old Warmblood mare. Kessler faced off against 76 horse/rider combinations over the 500...

The fourth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I head out to the barn to work. Like other trainers, I work outside in temperatures from 0 to 100 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year, from dawn till dark and sometimes longer. As a professional trainer and riding instructor I am called on to muck stalls, fix fence, buck hay, dump grain, rake footing, fill water buckets, sweep the aisle, clean tack, change bandages, medicate, lead beginners, longe riders, heft children...

Madison Goetzmann and Happily Ever Laughter won the Grand Pony Hunter Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (AnLi Kelly-Durham/PMG) Devon, PA - The sun was shining as the Pony Hunters took center stage in the Gold Ring at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse show, presented by the Tayor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). The ponies and riders of Heritage Farm could not be beat, bringing home all four championship titles as well as the two Grand Championships. Francesca...

Corinthian Melissa Morrill won the $1,000 PHSA Hunter Classic at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - Excitement filled the Dixon Oval this evening as the $1,000 Pennsylvania Horse Show Association's Hunter Classic made its debut at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse show, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). Corinthian and professional rider Melissa Morrill rode to the top of the leaderboard with a total score 161 to lead the lap of...

Paul Mathews and Carino won the Grand Champion Hunter title at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - The summer sun at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse shows presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) shone brightly over the Dixon Oval as Paul Mathews rode Carino to a dominating performance in the Second Year/High Performance Hunters. After claiming all five of the division's blue ribbon awards, the talented duo returned to ring to claim the...

John Pearce and Johnny B Good (Flying Horse Photography) Parker, CO -John Pearce had a winning week at the Colorado Horse Park during Summer in the Rockies II. First clinching the victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake and then again during the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix when he finished first and second. Twenty-two talented pairs faced the challenging Danny Foster course, but only three turned in phenomenal, clear, first-round performances....