Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

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...

Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One win The American Gold Cup Qualifier North Salem, NY - Christine McCrea jumped ahead of the competition Friday to place first in the $50,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The day was clear and warm to welcome the 50 entrants to the final class of the day on the spectacular grass Grand Prix field. Six entries went clear and headed to the jump-off. McCrea had the winning time with 40.830 seconds aboard...

Greenwich, UK - Rich Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Flexible continued adding to their clear round tally today at the Olympic Games by securing the U.S. team’s position in the second round of the Nations Cup with an immaculate effort. Team USA’s score of eight faults means that they are tied with Brazil for equal seventh place. The top eight teams from today’s jumping go forward to tomorrow, led by the team from Saudi Arabia who are carrying one time fault forward to tomorrow....

Bromont, July 22, 2012 - Nicolas Dello Joio completes the only double clear round of the BonjourQuébec.com World Cup qualifying event at the International Bromont today, Sunday July 22. A high-caliber event The course, designed by Venezuelan Leopoldo Palacios, was made up of 13 obstacles for 16 efforts, including 3 double combinations (2 jumps counting as one). The time allowed of 80 seconds proved to be a handicap for many riders who did not make it to the jump-off. Of the 26...

Reims, France - Four members of the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour went to task in Nations Cup competition Friday afternoon at the CSIOYJ Reims. The U.S. entered the two-round competition in an enviable position having drawn fifth of six teams to contest the 1.45m track. The team of Alise Oken, Annie Cook, Chloe Reid and Lydia Ulrich capitalized on their strong draw to jump to second place honors. 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour Team (USEF Archive) Leading the U.S....

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $35,000 Welcome Cup at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic's Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount...

2012 Reining World Freestyle Champions Pete Kyle & A Ruf Gal (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - Pete Kyle relived the ‘60s as he grooved his way to the top of the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup World Championship Freestyle. Riding A Ruf Gal, Kyle got the crowd of almost 5,000 in the Alltech Arena to clap along to Three Dog Night’s Joy to the World. Kyle topped the evening’s leader board with a score of 227.5. "I always look for songs people will recognize and that crowd will...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be well represented at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final April 17-22 as nine American show jumpers will head to 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands for the 2012 Final. After 30 World Cup Qualifying Events throughout the 2011-2012 season the following riders have qualified in this order in their respective Leagues: East: Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) will ride Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden Creek Farm's Indigo Indigo...

Lexington, KY - The nation's top saddle seat riders will compete in the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Selection Trials held at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri this Saturday, March 31, 2012 in hopes of earning a spot on the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. The Saddle Seat World Cup consists of a three-gaited and a five-gaited competition. At these Trials five team members and one alternate will be selected for each team. Athletes selected will represent the United...