Lisa Goldman and Centurion B (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Lisa Goldman won three grand prix during her first appearance at the Ocala Winter Circuit last year, and hasn’t skipped a beat since. She returned with a bang this week, winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to kick off grand prix competition at this year’s circuit. Riding for her family-owned Red Coat Farm in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, Goldman piloted Centurion B to the win. Last year, Goldman and...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal Calif. - With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will...

Scott Stewart and Lucador (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley's Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division. Reserve champion for the division was High Regard,...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Federation (USEF) has named Kai Handt as the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor. The Search Committee, chaired by Eric Straus, USEF Para-Equestrian Eligible Athlete Committee, and USEF Para-Equestrian High Performance Kai Handt (USEF Archive) Committee recommended Handt for this position. Handt (Wylie, Texas) has a great depth of experience in the equestrian world as a competitor, trainer, and coach. Since August of 1985, Handt...

Tim Maddrix pilots Claudia Styslinger's KT Cher to the win in Saturday night's $10,000 Open Jumper class (A&S 2014) Pensacola, Fla. - The Pensacola community packed the stands Saturday night in the covered arena at the Escambia County Equestrian Center to watch some top show jumpers compete for the $10,000 Open Jumper purse. Eighteen horse and rider combinations took to the course designed by Classic Company's Official Course Designer, Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana. "I...

Lili Hymowitz and Statement (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Lili Hymowitz could not be beat Sunday morning in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law, at the FTI WEF. Hymowitz walked away with division champion and reserve champion honors with her mounts Statement and Tiffani, respectively. Hymowitz and Statement, a seven-year-old Westphalian gelding, won three out of the five classes for the division. The pair picked up wins in two over fences classes...

Jacob Arnold will begin a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - New year. New opportunities. Just ask Jacob Arnold, who begins a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 as the inaugural apprentice driver in the Live Oak Combined Driving, Inc. Developing Driver Program. “Though Live Oak Combined Driving has always been involved in the ongoing development of many drivers, this new program will begin with Jacob Arnold as the first apprentice...

Lexington, Ky. - USA Equestrian Trust has awarded $55,000 in grants to help fund four projects by equine non-profits. The awards come on top of nearly $210,000 awarded in May for 10 projects by equine non-profits. Since the inception of the Trust’s grants program, the organization has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants. The projects funded as part of the grants period ending in October were: American Saddlebred Horse Association ($10,000) to help redesign its database of registered...

Lexington, Ky. - In 2013, Land Rover, the official automotive partner of the USEF, continued its unfailing support of the U.S. eventing program, awarding $208,000 in Competition Grants and a further $56,500 toward Training Grants. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations from the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team received funding to compete at seven prestigious competitions in both Europe and the United States. "I feel very fortunate to have received travel grants from Land Rover for two of my horses,...

2002 Paralympian Gold Medal Sled Hockey Team and Marine Patt Sapp; James Wentz; Christin Wentz; Tina Wentz; Vice President of the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association and 1984 Olympian Joan Hansen; and USPEA's President and Paralympian Hope Hand (Lindsay Yosay McCall) Richardson, Texas - In November 2013, the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association, Southwest Chapter, donated $1,000 to the United States Para-Equestrian Association's Jonathan Wentz Memoria...