Lexington, KY - USA Equestrian Trust is pleased to announce IRS-registered equine non-profit organizations will have two opportunities to apply for funding in 2013 as part of the foundation's grants program. The Trust's board expanded the grants program to two periods in 2012 and awarded nearly $335,000 in grants, an increase of almost 70 percent compared to 2011. To apply for funding, visit the Trust's newly revamped website at trusthorses.org. The site includes an extensive guide...

Lexington, KY - The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Shannondale Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. A diverse group of young dressage horses, representing a multitude of breeds and varied levels of experience, were selected for the training session with USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler. Scott Hassler instructs Sandie Gaines-Beddard and Flairance (Chris Hutchings) Hassler commented, “We had another very successful training session...

Patty Stovel and Kenya ride to a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala this weekend. Stovel, who used to Kenya and sold him to his current owner, is on her way to qualifying for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final this fall in Saugerties, New York. (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Patty Stovel of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania took little time to warm-up to the new Outside Course at HITS Ocala. Her first time competing in the dynamic ring turned up a win for her and...

The twenty fourth in a series of blog posts from Michelle Binder North American Western Dressage receives all kinds of questions at the website and on our FaceBook page. Last week Jen Johnson shared the following in a post and it generated a huge amount of material for consideration. She posted: “I received an email last night from a **** judge who had the following concerns about Western Dressage..... “The problem is that the western horse is going to have to be much quicker in...

Abigail Mutrux is a 17-year-old junior at University City High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She is the captain of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. In addition to riding Saddle Seat, she enjoys fox hunting and has been awarded her junior colors. Perhaps Saddle Seat is something that most children aren’t drawn toward when they first tell their parents that they want to start riding. I was born into it. My mother grew up competing at the same national...

North Salem, NY - This year's American Gold Cup, underway now and running through Sunday at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, features as one of its beneficiaries, JustWorld International. A number of very special JustWorld activities will be highlighted throughout the weekend. JustWorld International works through the international equestrian community and its extensive networks to fund and sustain programs that provide basic needs to children with little opportunity to receive support...

Bridgehampton, NY - Even though the Grand Prix Ring at the 37th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show is hosting five Olympic gold medalists and many other international stars this week, Friday morning’s jumper classes belonged to two teenagers whose eyes are set on similar accomplishments. Luis Larrazabal, 19, won the $15,000 Speed Derby, presented by Sotheby’s, and Victoria Colvin, 14, won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Welcome Stake. Riding G&C Lepanto, Larrazabal, a native of...

Bridgehampton, NY - The Hampton Classic hosted the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities on Monday, with riders in three divisions competing for year-end titles. In the advanced independent division, Todd Pritscher, 30, of Yaphank, N.Y., riding Robin Hood, won the championship over Joe Penzel, 19, of Huntington, N.Y., riding Diamond. In the beginner independent division, Tiffany Kahles, 18, of East Meadow, N.Y., riding Gryffindor, won the...

A favorite with WIHS audiences is Nick Skelton, London Olympic Team Gold Medalist. Shown here winning the 2011 WIHS President's Cup Grand Prix with Carlo 273. (Diana DeRosa) Washington, D.C., - The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for its 2012 competition, running October 23-28, 2012, at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Full ticket information can be found by visiting www.wihs.org/tickets/ . The WIHS is one of the most...

Lexington, KY - The following vaulters have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in the 2012 FEI World Vaulting Championships, in Le Mans, France, August 13-19, 2012. The United States will be represented by the following vaulters: Individual Females (Name/Residence/Age) Mary McCormick/Woodside, CA/29 Alicen Divita/Redwood City, CA/23 Katharine Wick/Hillsborough, CA/19 Substitute Elizabeth Ioannou/Saratoga, CA/16 Individual Males Gabe...