Beijing, China - Laura Kraut took home the top prize at the Longines Beijing Equestrian Masters CSI2* Grand Prix in Beijing over the weekend. Kraut and U-Prova (a borrowed horse*) bested a field of 35 mostly Chinese riders for the win. Nine riders were clear after the first round of competition over an eleven fences course. Kraut, the only American in the class, was joined by three Germans, four Chinese riders, and one representing Hong Kong. Laura guided the KWPN-Stallion U-Prova quickly...

When HITS Horse Shows returned north this weekend, Peg Seals and Surely led hunters in a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, another qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final at HITS-on-the-Hudson (©ESI Photography) Culpepper, VA - Virginia’s own Peg Seals and Surely, owned by Chelsea Ireland, returned to familiar territory at HITS Culpeper to capture the first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the spring and summer season this weekend. Seals, who spent the winter...

Waco, TX - The NCEA National Championship tournament got underway Thursday with the opening rounds of Western and Hunter Seat competition. The top four seeded teams in each bracket had byes to round two, so the Sixteen other teams competed Thursday for a chance to face them. Most succesful were the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and defending champion Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies came in defending an overall National championship, and four straight Western championships. Their Western team...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl (Mancini Photos) Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) wrapped up its second week of spring competition April 10-14 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with an exciting victory for Todd Minikus and Quality Girl in the $25,000 ESP Spring 2 Grand Prix. Minikus also won the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake earlier in the week riding Legacy Stables' Tuxedo. The week's jumper courses in the International Arena...

Heather Blitz and Paragon (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Blitz and Paragon finished first in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* with a 72.313%, narrowly beating fellow American Cesar Parra and Van the Man who finished second with a 72.208%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor rounded out the top three with a final score of 70.646%. Judges for the class were: Linda Zang at E, Anne Gribbons at H, Mirabel Alonso at C, Joan Macartney at M, and Evi Eisenhardt at B. The three-day, three-test format...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team (Laura Elcock) Fulton, MO - The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team swept the competition at the U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational over the weekend against international teams from South Africa and Canada. The three teams met for the competition at William Woods University, and the U.S. young riders were excellent during the two days of Three- and Five-gaited competition. After the first day of competition, the U.S. team led South Africa and Canada in...

Erin Haas and As Di Chupito earn the victory during the $10,000 American Invitational Stake Welcome at the Tournament of Champions (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - It was a muddy morning as the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center welcomed numerous horses to the third day of the Tournament of Champions. The jumpers were able to dodge the effects of the inclement weather as they gathered in the Covered Arena to compete for the top prize at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Thursday saw great opposition as...

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls, 2013 Big 12 Equestrian Champions (ostatephoto.com) Stillwater, OK - It was a close match to the end, but the Oklahoma State Cowgirls earned an 8-6 win over the Kansas State Wildcats at the Animal Science Arena in Stillwater, OK Saturday and were crowned Big 12 Conference champions for the second year in a row, and third time ever. The Cowgirls jumped to a slim 2-1 lead early on after their Hunter Seat team earned a win in Equitation over Fences. The Wildcats...

Auburn, AL – No. 6 South Carolina captured the first-ever Southeastern Conference Equestrian Championship, defeating No. 2 Auburn, 10-8, on Saturday at the Auburn University Horse Center. The Gamecocks (8-6), the event’s No. 2 seed, defeated the top-seeded Tigers (11-3) 6-4 in hunter seat and tied 4-4 in western. South Carolina advanced to the championship round following a 10-7 win against third-seeded Georgia on Friday. Saturday’s SEC Equestrian Championship marked the first...

Aaron Vale piloted Palm Sunday to the top of the leader board, scoring the quickest of only three double-clear efforts during the $25,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - In a speedy fashion, Aaron Vale piloted Palm Sunday to victory under the spotlights during the $25,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The anticipation was tangible as eight riders moved into the heated jump-off this evening. Riders fought a battle to the top as they tried...