Michael Hughes and Norton. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL -This past Saturday, highly-acclaimed Junior rider Michael Hughes of Morriston, Florida captured the win in the R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship aboard Norton, owned by Drumnacross Farm, LTD. Hughes sealed the victory after a two-round score of 354. “It was a good class,” said Hughes, who has built a remarkable career in the Junior and Equitation divisions at 15 years old. “I thought the courses in both rounds were difficult, and it...

Lexington, KY – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, is excited to welcome Ariat as the title sponsor and Official Apparel and Footwear of the Kentucky Reining Cup, which will debut alongside this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, April 28-May 1, 2011, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Joining Ariat as sponsors of the inaugural event are the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), SmartPak and Markel...

Beezie Madden, McLain Ward and Ian Millar following the 2007 American Invitational. (Photo by Randi Muster.) Tampa, FL - An impressive roster of some of the world's best riders will be making their way to the city of Tampa, FL, to compete in one of the world's premiere show jumping events, the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm, scheduled for Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. The star-studded group of riders is headlined by two-time...

Canada’s Francois Lamontange riding Anton won the $30,000 Ocala Horse Properties LLC Grand Prix at t (ESI Photography.) Ocala, FL – The Sixth Annual Ocala Jumping Classic will take place March 31-April 3 and April 6-9 at Sharn Wordley Equestrian in Ocala, FL. The two-week show jumping tournament will offer more than $125,000 in prize money and feature divisions ranging from 1m all the way up to Grand Prix. Internationally renowned course designers Michel Vailliancourt of Canada and Catsy Cruz...

Lexington, KY - The Board of Directors of the Midwest Charity Horse Show invites all to attend its 70th anniversary edition, set to take place Tuesday, June 14, through Saturday, June 18, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. In addition to celebrating its 70th year, Midwest also will celebrate the honor of being named 2010 UPHA National Honor Show of the Year. Officiating this year’s show are David Cater, Dunbarton, NH; Kim Cowart, Statesville, NC; and Renee Lavery, Simpsonville,...

Augusta, KS Meet Jjs Summer Breeze, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for horse with the longest tail. Editor Stephanie Doyle “interviewed” Summer (via her owner, Crystal Socha). Summer is a registered American Paint Horse and also is registered with the Pinto Horse Association of America. Just how long is your tail? Currently my tail is 13’6” long. When it was officially measured for the Guinness Book it was 12’6”. What’s your favorite thing about your tail? My favorite thing...

Sweden’s Stefan Jansson in the clinic arena. (Photo courtesy of JRPR) Wellington, FL – Dressage trainer and rider Stefan Jansson spent his first trip to Florida mentoring Lusitano horses and their riders during a clinic at Carlene Blunt’s Country Club Stables in Boynton Beach, FL. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the clinic came on the heels of The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction, and was a fantastic learning experience for dressage riders who compete and train on Lusitanos....

Gary Lane and Olivier. (Photo by JRPR. ) Wellington, FL – Thanks to a nice top line, a great swing and a beautiful muscular build, Olivier, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood ridden by Gary Lane, rode away with The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II CDI. Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the award is presented to a horse with a successful performance during the show due to their fitness level. Lane, of Country...

Andre Thieme and Uvalier. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - It seems the luck of the Irish was with German High-Performance rider Andre Thieme yesterday when he piloted his own Uvalier to a blazingly fast finish in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The win marks his third of the season and the second in five days for Thieme who, just last Sunday, rode Seth Vallhonrat's Coco 135 to an exciting victory in the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer...

McLain Ward and Rothchild. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - McLain Ward (USA) took the win today in the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic with Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farms. The class was the feature event on Friday at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which is in its tenth week of competition. The G&C Farm 1.45m Classic is part of an initiative to increase FEI ROLEX ranking classes at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Thanks to the support of G&C Farm, owned by Gustavo...