It was all about speed during Sunday's $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. There was a steady rain throughout the class in the Main Stadium, but that did not slow anyone down. Daniel Bluman was the first on course with Fatalis Fatum and advanced to the jump-off in the lead position. The pair set an incredible clear time that could not be beat. Todd Minikus came very close with Pavarotti is second place, and Alexa Pessoa galloped to third place aboard Madison....

Victoria Birdsall and Alex Parrish emerged as East Conference champions in the regular season of the 2009 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its 2009 series with classes at more than 100 horse shows across the nation, giving competitors an abundance of opportunities to accumulate points throughout the year. The series featured separate divisions for amateur-owner and junior riders with standings kept...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the following horse/rider combinations to represent the U.S. at the CSIO**** Buenos Aires, November 4-8, 2009. Michelle Grubb will serve as chef d’equipe. The following horse/rider combinations have been named: Name/Age/Hometown Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Mario Deslauriers/44/New York, NY Vicomte D/11/Belgian Warmblood/G/Jane Clark and Paradigm /15/Belgian/G/Rider Danielle Torano/35/Ft. Lauderdale, FL...

Lexington, KY—After the dressage and the marathon, Suzy Stafford is currently on Silver at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany. Stafford drove a very good marathon with the Morgan pony Courage to Lead and climbed to the second place in the standings. The U.S. team has kept its fourth position in the nations standings, but has every chance to win a medal since the difference with third placed nation Belgium is small. It was a beautiful day for the marathon...

Ailish Cunniffe is crowned Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Championship Final winner. (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY—By midday Sunday, the Kentucky Horse Park began to look vacant. Ponies were unbraided and cooled, loaded trailers rumbled toward home and the usually lively vendor row was filled with merchants striking their tents and packing their wares. After four days of fierce competition in the Pony Hunters and Jumpers, the whirlwind that is the 2009 USEF Pony Finals...

Team Gold medalists—Zone 8—from the Team Jumper competition. (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY —Last night the joint was, as they say, jumpin’. Day three of the five-day USEF Pony Finals National Championships kicked off this morning with Phase I for the Regular Pony Hunters (model and under saddle), moved on to the Small Pony over fences class, and segued by sunset into the rousing 2009 USEF National Pony Jumper Team Championship. This year’s Small Pony Hunter title...

Maddy Darst (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY—There is a lot that goes into the makings of a champion pony. Just ask Ohio’s Meredith “Maddy” Darst. She would know. And to prove it, two of her mounts—Rock the Boat and Brownland’s Mr. Mac—jumped their way through the over fences phase of the 2009 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships to take the Medium Green Hunter Pony and the Small Green Hunter Pony champion...

Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister (Flashpoint Photography) Lexington, KY —The Young Riders in the dressage competition returned to the arena for the final time to perform their musical freestyles. The stadium was rocking as the 15 qualifying riders performed their choreographed routines for an exuberant audience during the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. The highest score thus far in the competition...

Nicole DelGiorno and Lamborghini Dane (Flashpoint Photography) Lexington, KY—The Junior dressage riders were back in the arena this morning for the Individual medal tests. Some gusty wind and impending storms made for some excitable horses, but the riders rose to the challenge and produced some lovely tests for the judges during the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships. In the end, less than one whole point separated first place from...

Zone 10 took Gold home to California after the Junior Team Show Jumping competition (Sportfot.com) Lexington, KY —The first CN North American Junior & Young Rider Show Jumping Championships presented by USHJA medal was on the line when the Junior jumpers took to the arena for the Team medal round this afternoon. The competition was fierce from the start and the ultimate winner was decided with a three rider jump-off. It was the first jumping medal presented at the 2009 Adequan FEI...