Chapter 11: Saying Goodbye to the Pan American Games I am half the man I used to be. No, I have not suddenly gone from “built for the next Ice Age” to “ready for camping in the Lut Desert”, but rather I made a schoolboy error and paid the price. A couple of us decided to escape from the hotel and go for a walk on a local Canadian “trail” – the sun was out and the was a pleasant breeze blowing so the mosquitos were not out to play; the schoolboy error...

Andrew Welles and Boo Van Het Kastanjehof ©Don West Photography Mill Spring, NC - June 25, 2015 - The $34,000 Suncast® 1.45 FEI Welcome boasted the largest number of entries in the FEI division at Tryon Summer 1 to date, with 43 combinations testing the Ken Krome (USA) designed track in the George H. Morris Arena in the Tryon Stadium. The class, which started off the second day of competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) this week, was moved to the morning to help the FEI...

Kelley Farmer pilots Mindful to the win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic! Atlanta, Georgia - June 22, 2015 - The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby saw the best in the sport tackle the course in the Olympic Arena designed by none other than Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Besides a resume that includes his role as the Official Course Designer for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Stephens also designed the 2012 USHJA International...

Susie Hutchison and Ziedento June 14, 2015 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - It was a 'Susie Hutch' Sunday at the Blenheim June Classic II. As the only double clean in the $30,000 June Classic Grand Prix, presented by Michael & Kenzie 1911, Susie Hutchison and Ziedento led the victory gallop. Earlier in the afternoon she was the fastest in the jump-off on SIG Firecracker for the win in the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity. From the hilltop VIP tent to the grassy knoll, there was a...

Keirstin Johnsen and Hennepin (Photo by Sarah Latterner) North Salem, N.Y. – Old Salem Farm kicked off their Spring Horse Shows with Welcome Day on Sunday, May 3. Highlighting the schedule was The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) $2,000 Low Thoroughbred Hunter Division and a full day of hunter, jumper and equitation competition. Welcome Day is a great start to the Spring Horse Shows, which run May 5-10 and May 12-17 featuring a full schedule of top competition. The T.I....

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm's HH Carlos Z won the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* in front of a packed house at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) Saturday night to conclude International show jumping at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Forty of the circuit's best horses and riders representing 13 different countries jumped for the winter's top prize. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Conconcreto...

Nicolas Pizarro and Temascaltepec (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its eleventh week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Wednesday with a win for Mexico's Nicolas Pizarro and Temascaltepec in the $34,000 1.45m FEI speed class. The pair was first to go and set an unbeatable pace that led the way through 60 competitors. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Beluga finished second; Heather Caristo-Williams (USA) and...

Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm's Davendy S jumped to victory in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class on Friday afternoon at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Jumping in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Springsteen jumped the fastest clear round out of 73 entries to beat out Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Welfare (2nd) and Lillie Keenan (USA) with Balance...

Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) kicked off with its first day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, on Wednesday and a win for Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze in the first class of the day. Lamaze and the nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Check Picobello Z (Cardento x Orlando) jumped to victory in the morning’s $8,000 1.45m speed class over Adrienne Sternlicht...

Savanah Stuart and Andover ( The Book LLC) Upper Marlboro, Md. - In her last junior year, Savanah Stuart made the trip to the East Coast from her home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., a worthwhile one. She and Andover won the Children's Hunter 15-17 division, sponsored by The Rizvi Family, with two firsts and a second place. Those top ribbons gave them the Grand Children's Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mary Jane King, and Stuart was presented with the Laura Pickett Memorial Trophy,...