Saugerties, NY – The first day of the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals at HITS-on-the-Hudson hinted at an exciting week forthcoming. Competition got underway yesterday in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium as HITS Working Hunters, both Professional and Non-Professional strutted their stuff. Rob Burroughs and Spellbound ride to a clean sweep of the HITS Working Hunter – Professional Rob Burroughs guides Spellbound to HITS Working Hunter – Professional...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy took led the Working Hunter division sweeping the over fences for the opening day of the 67th Buffalo International Horse Show ( Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Buffalo, NY - The first day of the sold out 67th Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) opened to top-tier hunter competition as the Indoor Arena at the Buffalo Equestrian Center was alive with action. The premier fundraiser for the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) offered an array of hunter...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

Bridgehampton, NY - Lillie Keenan rode her Londinium to a narrow victory in the $20,000 Hampton Classic Time Challenge at the 38th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. Her time of 57.08 seconds barely eclipsed the time of Todd Minikus on Tuxedo, who stopped the clock in 57.51 seconds. Shane Sweetnam rode Cyklon 1083 to third place in 58.47 seconds. Keenan, 16, New York, N.Y., said she'd watched Minikus go on Tuxedo, and she knew that replicating his performance would be the key. Minikus went...

Bridgehampton, NY - Horses stabled on Long Island had their day in the spotlight on Sunday, August 25, the first day of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, competing in the five local hunter divisions. They competed in the grass-covered Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring or in Hunter Ring 2. Savannah, ridden by Ashley Raynes and owned by Patricia Raynes, was the day's biggest star, earning the Grand Local Hunter Championship after winning the Local Junior Hunter Championship by jumping to first place in...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

Lexington, KY - Scott Hassler, USEF National Young Dressage Horse Coach, and Ingo Pape, one of Germany's most respected breeders and horsemen, will conduct the USDF Sport Horse Prospect Development Program, presented by Dressage at Devon, a USDF Education Partner, and supported by Hassler Dressage. This forum will be held September 14-15 at Apple Knoll Farm, in Millis, MA. The forum will focus on a correct, fundamental system for starting sport horse prospects. This new educational event is...

Ian Silitch and Party Girl on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win (©ESI Photography) Culpeper, VA - Ian Silitch admits that it’s hard to jump ten jumps perfectly no matter how good your horse is, but came close enough to perfection to win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Saturday at HITS Culpeper. Silitch of Ocala, Florida and Linda Bamman’s Party Girl coupled scores of 86 and 81 for a total of 167 and the win by only one point. “I have been riding Party Girl...

Saugerties, NY - A talented group of Canadian dressage stars crossed the border into New York over the weekend. One of them was on top of the leaderboard more often than not. In the two major Grand Prix classes Ashley Holzer and Jacqueline Brooks earned victory. With Jewel's Adelante, Holzer won the FEI Grand Prix test with a score of 68.936%. That put here above fellow Canadians Diane Creech and Jacqueline brooks in second and third respectively. In the Grand Prix Freestyle it was brooks...

Reed Kessler and Soraya l'Obstination (Global Champions Tour) 2012 US Olympian and history-maker Reed Kessler was determined to shake off Friday's second place finish, and knowing the young 19 year old's competitive drive, Saturday was an opportunity to beat Friday's winner Patrice Delaveau and land a Longines Global Champions Tour winning title. Reed was aboard her new mare Soraya l'Obstination and won with an impressive time of 55.99 seconds; almost a whole second faster then...