Todd Minikus and Pavarotti. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - After missing the beginning of the 2011 show circuit due to a shattered collarbone, Todd Minikus (USA) made his return to the winner's circle at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) today riding Pavarotti to a victory in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 10. This was the pair's second time back in the ring this season and they made it look easy with two fast and faultless rounds. The FTI WEF's tenth week of competition,...

Grace Stuntz and Fitzhugh. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 12, 2011 - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued today and the hunter divisions were popular and competitive. Among the lucky riders who got to show in the afternoon when the sun was shining, were the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3'3" Hunters, presented by Illustrated Properties. Grace Stuntz was aboard her own mount Fitzhugh for the tricolor win this evening. Week 5 marks the second week this season that Stuntz and...

Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II (Stockimageservices.com) Elkton, MD – The Dansko Fair Hill International kicked off the last chapter of the 2010 eventing season, with the USEF National CCI2* and CCI3* Eventing Championships. With many competitors and staff still shaking off the effects of a month of World Equestrian Games activities, Fair Hill International provided some welcome relief in the Maryland countryside. The USEF National CCI2* Eventing Championship got underway on Thursday, and...

Each rider has a story, and you can hear from each member of the Kentucky Equine Research (KER)/U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in this new video. These inspiring riders of all ages have overcome adversity to reach an international stage with their horses, and they are vying not only for a place on the medal podium but also the realization of personal goals. “My mom is a physical therapist, and she’s really up on different types of therapy, and...

After a brief hiatus, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has announced the return of a horse sale during its World Championship Paint Horse Show series this fall. The Breeders’ Trust Select Sale will consist of 50 head of top American Paint Horses that are all nominated to APHA’s popular incentive program, the Breeders’ Trust. “We look forward to providing the industry and the public an opportunity to select from some of the best Breeders’ Trust-nominated show horses, show prospects...

The sun over Hansen Dam shone on a packed parking lot and a whole crowd of smiling faces for the fourth in the Verdugo Hills/Lake View show series May 15-16. The momentum has been building in these shows over the year, and last weekend’s large turnout made for a great weekend of competition. “The weather was perfect for this show weekend, and it was so nice to see so many trailers in the parking lot and a significant increase in the amount of entries,” said trainer Sandrine Seifert of D&D...

The 2009 title-holders from France hold the lead as the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series moves to Rome this week where the host country makes a guest appearance on home ground. This brings the total of competing nations to 11 for the second leg of the prestigious eight-round tournament which concludes at Dublin in early August. And it promises to raise the competitive temperature considerably, as Italy is already making a spirited comeback to the top level of team sport through good results...

The second Gold Coast show of the season ran April 9-11 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, giving the chance for everyone from beginners to seasoned competitors a chance to compete and have some great fun and keen competition. Carolyn Biava of First Field Farm and her crew had a great show, garnering numerous ribbons and several championships to boot. However, perhaps her biggest success story for this show had nothing to do with ribbons. Biava’s student, Dale Winters, suffered a brain...

The 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which kicks off with preliminary classes at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva tomorrow (Wednesday), has been blown wide open by the late withdrawal of Ireland's Jessica Kuerten. When three-times champion Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who gave birth to her first baby just six weeks ago, confirmed last week that she will not defend the title, then Kuerten's position as long-time favorite was further strengthened. But the Irish rider who topped...

Photo Courtesy American Vaulting Association (Patti Skipton of Warm Beach Vaulters received the AVA's Trainer for the Year Award for 2009.) At their recent Annual Convention, the American Vaulting Association (AVA) presented Lifetime Achievement Awards, the highest award of the AVA, to Jeffrey Ashton Moore and Jan F. Garrod, whose efforts over the past 40 years have been instrumental to the recognition, growth and continued high standards of the sport of equestrian vaulting. At the same event,...