Shane Sweetnam and Solerina (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off its week of CSIO competition on Wednesday with a $5,000 Welcome Stake, held as two classes, with afternoon and evening sessions. The day session saw a win for Ireland's Shane Sweetnam aboard Solerina. The night session was won by Chile's Samuel Parot and Al Calypso. FTI WEF week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 26-March 2, 2014, featuring...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl (Shawn McMillen) Lexington, Ky . - When $50,000 is up for grabs it brings out the best horses and riders in the world, putting their best foot forward. That is how the Open Jumper division at the 2013 Alltech National Horse Show kicked off today. Todd Minikus and Quality Girl left nothing to chance as they sped around Conrad Homfeld's challenging track, besting the field by two seconds to win the Taylor Harris $50,000 Open Jumper Welcome Speed, presented by...

Susan Hutchinson and Sig Excel (Captured Moment Photography) Del Mar, Calif. - Large turn-outs for jumper classes kept the Del Mar Arena busy, and riders had to be exceptionally fast and accurate to finish in the ribbons in these highly competitive classes. Performance Working Hunters at both 3.3 and 3.6 also saw large classes and exacting competition. As the 1.35m Jumper Classic got underway this evening, 42 riders including veteran show jumping stars Will Simpson, Rich Fellers, Hugh Mutch,...

Calgary, Alberta - The eight Chefs d'Equipe for the nations competing in Saturday's BMO Nations' Cup gathered Thursday night to declare the riders for their teams and find out what the order will be for the competition. Below is the order of the teams and the riders that are listed for each team (but not the rider order): 1. Belgium Pieter Devos Francois Mathy Judy Ann Melchior Olivier Philippaerts 2. Canada Eric Lamaze Ian Millar Tiffany Foster Mac Cone 3. United States Beezie...

Devin Ryan guided Zosja to victory in the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix, presented by the Inns at Equinox, on July 20 at the Vermont Summer Festival in (East Dorset, VT) East Dorset, VT - Devin Ryan and Zosja were declared the winners of the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix, presented by the Inns at Equinox, on Saturday afternoon at the Vermont Summer Festival. Ryan and Zosja were the only double-clear round of the day, laying down a steady and careful second trip to secure them the victory....

I guess the beginning is a great place to start. I grew up in Maine, the oldest of five, to a father who was in the military and a mother who was a housewife until the youngest of my siblings was in Junior-High school. We grew up on the other side of middle-class, OK, we were poor. I grew up watching spaghetti westerns in black and white on Saturday afternoons. I always loved the intrigue of being a Cowboy, pushing cattle up the Chisholm Trail, fighting bad guys and Indians. Next to the pony...

Lexington, KY - The third Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, Massachusetts. The two-day clinic featured 13 horses between the ages of four and six and was once again taught by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “It was nice to visit the New England area a second time for a Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session. Participation from the auditors, owners, breeders and trainers who attended was...

Traverse City, MI - What a difference a decade makes. North Face Farm, owned by Jake and Anne Haas, has supported Horse Shows by the Bay since its inception, and to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary North Face Farm is sponsoring a new $10,000 Leading Hunter Rider Cash Bonus Award. "I was one of the original members of the founder's club and began supporting the show when it was in a grass field," said Jake with a smile. "I have nothing but positive things to say about the show and...

Lillie Keenan and Clearway (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Fifteen-year-old Lillie Keenan rode to victory in the 6th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, presented by Alessandro Albanese, during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Keenan, of New York City, piloted Heritage Farms' Clearway to a score of 89 during round one before upping the ante in round two with an astounding 98.5. Keenan was in second with a total score of 187.5 going...

Molly Ashe and Kennzo (© ManciniPhotos) Wellington, FL - Kristen Abbatiello-Neff's Kennzo and Molly Ashe jumped their way to victory in two rounds of competition in the $20,000 Holiday and Horses USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, on Sunday, December 2, 2012. Concluding the week-long competition, the class was held in the spacious International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a beautifully designed course set by Skip Bailey, of...