The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team enjoyed a successful first training session in New Orleans New Orleans, LA - In preparation for the 2013 US Saddle Seat Invitational, to be held April 5-6, 2013 at William Woods University, the US Saddle Seat Young Rider Team attended their first training session on March 1-3 at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first time the riders and coaches could all come together to work and train as a team. It afforded riders an opportunity to...

Devin Ryan and Calissandro tackle the CWD obstacle on a course designed by Olympic designer Steve Stephens in yesterday's $35,000 CWD Grand Prix in Gulfport (Flashpoint Photography) Gulfport, MS - CWD sponsored rider Devin Ryan from Long Valley, New Jersey aboard his own Calissandro, won the $35,000 CWD Grand Prix yesterday at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic in Gulfport, Mississippi. Calissandro is a nine year old American-bred Holsteiner by Conejo purchased as a two year old by Ryan. Ryan has...

Adrienne Lyle will be one of a multitude of Olympians competing at this weekend's Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI 3*/Y/J (SusanJStickle.com) Burbank, CA - The West Coast's 2013 international dressage competition season gets underway this week at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair & CDI 3*/Y/J, February 22 - 24 in Burbank, CA. Final preparations are being made at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to welcome an impressive roster of U.S. and Canadian competitors whose aspirations are already...

Jennifer Alfano and Rose Hill, just back from a colic surgery that took place last May, rode to a win and a coveted prize-money check in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala this weekend (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Jennifer Alfano got down to business at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, and won the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this weekend. Alfano of Buffalo, New York and Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill rode to a sweet victory and a $2,800 winner’s check....

Holly Shepherd and Triompf sail over the Adequan jump on the grand prix field in Gulfport, Mississippi on their way to the win in the $35,000 Adequan Grand Prix (Classic Communications) Gulfport, MS - Twenty two horses took to the pristine grand prix field under sunny skies for the $35,000 Adequan Grand Prix Sunday to close out the Gulf Coast Classic's National Week. A packed VIP tent and crowded bleachers watched the horse and rider teams from across the country tackle the course designed...

No Worries and Devin Ryan (Flashpoint photography) Gulfport, MS - The Gulf Coast Winter Classic 's National Week saw a field of 21 jumpers gallop onto the breathtaking grand prix arena for the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome class, but this week it would be No Worries, owned by Barbara Rowland and ridden by Long Valley, New Jersey native Devin Ryan, who would end up in the winner's circle. Of the twenty one entries, the class saw ten of the horse and rider teams go clean in the first round....

Michael Hughes continues to prove that age doesn’t matter in the show ring. The junior rider piloted Luxina to a win in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, this weekend at HITS Ocala and topped some of the country’s biggest names in show jumping (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Michael Hughes, 17, topped a star-studded field on Sunday in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala IV. Hughes of Allendale, NJ had two rides in Sunday’s main event and...

This week I want to update you about some exciting new programs coming in 2013 for Western Dressage enthusiasts. As this discipline continues to develop, more tests are available, more shows are available, and more award programs vie for participation. The show and clinic calendars are filling up for the year and so much is happening. In January our local WSH Zone added year end awards for Western Dressage following the inclusion of Western Dressage as a subdivision of Dressage on the...

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...

Larkspur and Francesca Dildabanian (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - The fourth week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded Sunday with the Coldwell Banker Children's Hunter 14 and Under division, hosted in the Equine Tack and Nutritionals Ring 6. Champion honors were awarded to Ashley Whitner's Larkspur, ridden by Francesca Dildabanian. The pair placed first and third over fences during day one of competition and finished up day two with another...