Scott Stewart and Empire. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - It was an important day for hunters at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sixty entries took their shot at a chance to compete in the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, one of the biggest purses in the world offered for hunter competitors. The class began this afternoon in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. With a large number of spectators standing by, each horse and rider combination took their turn over a course of eleven jumps,...

Katie Prudent, pictured here on Sassacaia III, bids to become the first four-time winner of the Amer (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.) Tampa, Fl - With this year's edition of the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farms just over a week away, the line-up for the Saturday night showdown is all set, and this year's roster of riders is one of the best in the 38-year history of this long running Tampa tradition. Ten Olympic veterans will go head to head at the 'Super Bowl of...

Jan Ebeling riding Rafalca. (Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler.) Burbank, CA - For West Coast riders, there was no joking around this April Fool's Day as a huge field of competitors fought for the blue ribbon in the CDI Prix St. Georges Test at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J. Officiating for today's class were FEI judges Linda Zang (5* USA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), and Eddy de Wolff (4* NED). "The overall quality in the top group of this class was very good," said judge Eddy de Wolff. Emerging...

Kreuth, Germany – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show welcomed ancillary competition today with the $500 added Limited Open, $3,500 added Intermediate Non Pro and $5,000 added Intermediate Open. In a field of 27 Limited Open riders, the winner came from Italy: Mirjam Giraudini riding her stallion ARC Doc Red Oak. They scored a 215.5 for the win. Giraudini has been a tremendously successful all around competitor for many years, earning multiple AQHA...

Dressage American dressage rider Catherine Haddad capitalized on an eighth place finish in the Freestyle at the final Reem Acra/FEI Western European League World Cup Qualifier in s' Hertogenbosch, to earn a trip to the Final on Winyamaro. Haddad, who is based in Germany, has had consistent results throughout Europe at these important Qualifiers and will be representing the United States in Leipzig, Germany at the 2011 Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Final April 27 - May 1. Please visit the USEF World...

Nina Lill and GB Jacs Bond. (NRHA.) Kreuth, Germany – The Consolation for the $187,000 added National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Open Futurity offered plenty of fine reining for visitors today. It was FEI European Champion Nina Lill (GER) who rode to a top score of 220 astride GB Jacs Bond (owner Jan Gerbig). The gelding by GB Jac out of Dr Bonds Bessie was bred by Daniela Schurrer and earned the Western Event Snaffle Bit Level 2 Open Futurity Champion title last year. The duo...

Jennifer Alfano will show Jersey Boy during the Carole and Jim Looke Family Fund $50,000 USHJA Inter (Photo By: Shawn McMillen.) Katy, TX - The Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show is just around the corner, and the top horse and rider combinations are preparing to travel to this incredible horse show where they will compete for $250,000 in total prize money. The hunter divisions alone will be awarding an unprecedented $150,000 in prize money to the winning combinations during the weeklong...

Jennifer Alfano and Extraordinary won last year's $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International (Photo By: Lindsay McCall/PMG.) Lexington, KY -This year the hunter divisions will be one of the main features during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show Series at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The highlight events will include the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, May 11-15, 2011, and the World Champion Hunter Rider week of competition during the...

Jamaica (left wheel) is Honored at Live Oak (Pics of You) Chester Weber's classy veteran Dutch Warmblood Jamaica, was honored in a retirement ceremony on Sunday at the Live Oak International CAI. Now 20, the flashy bay gelding made a prolific rise to the world stage and was part of Chester Weber's Silver medal-winning four-in-hand team from the 2008 FEI World Four-in-Hand-Championships. Jamaica was initially bought to be a tourist carriage horse, rescued on his way to the slaughter house. He...

Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) had a very full and exciting week of competition during week 11. The FTI WEF hosts the best that the sports of show jumping, hunters, and equitation have to offer in 12 rings of competition. Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch...