Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Divertimento (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Divertimento made easy work of the Week 9 FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, taking the win in yet another Grand Prix Special this season. The pair won the class scoring a 72.333%. Mikala Gundersen (DEN) took second place aboard My Lady receiving a 70.196% and Shelly Francis (USA) put in another solid...

Christina Firestone and Wilhelmus S Win 1.30-1.35m Class (Shannon Bower/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - The Ridge at Wellington's Turf Tour visited Tonkawa Farms to kick off the ninth week of competition. The sun shined all day over the gorgeous polo fields on the private estate. Manicured hedges bordered the property and created a tranquil setting for the horses and riders to enjoy beautiful courses designed by Nick Granat in the main ring and Michel Ismalum in the second ring. Many...

Peter Pletcher and Thanks for the Gold (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Peter Pletcher and Thanks For The Gold kicked off hunter action for WEF 3 in the Shapley's Grooming Products Green Conformation Hunters. Thanks For The Gold, owned by Rancho De Los Arboles of Oak Point, TX, topped two of the over fences classes, along with the model and under saddle, to finish the day as champions. Also turning in consistent performances over the two days were Having Said That ridden by Kelley Farmer. The...

Brooke Banks and Brodeur (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - While it's far from Brooke Banks' maiden season in Wellington, she is jumping her first fences as an amateur rider this week. When the clock struck 12 on New Year's Eve, she shed her junior status and set her sights once again on the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, this time as an amateur. Not letting her new title faze her, however, Banks jumped her own eight-year-old Mecklenburg gelding Brodeur to the championship in Section...

Los Angeles, Calif. - Jane Richard Philips, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, took the top prize at the first edition of the Longines Speed Challenge in Los Angeles, competing the course on board Dieudonne de Guldenboom in a blistering 60.97 seconds. Winning the event presented by Longines was a great way to close out Friday’s competitions. Timing and precision: these are the keywords of this Masters Grand Slam class, now held on three continents. Known as one of the fastest competitions...

Leslie Berndl and Uminco (Janos and Zoltan Varaljai) Izsak, Hungary – The U.S. sent two drivers down centerline on Thursday to kick off the FEI World Driving Championships for Singles in Izsak, Hungary, with both competitors standing within the top 25 after the first day of competition. Before the Ground Jury of Pierre Cazas, József Borka, Reiner Wannenwetsch, Diana Brownlee, and Sarah Mullins, Leslie Berndl drove Uminco through nervousness to stand sixth, while Donna Crookston...

Nations took the next steps in earning Para-Dressage Team medals, as riders also had their first opportunity to claim Individual medals at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Wednesday at the La Prairie Racecourse. Grade III and 1b combinations went to task throughout the day, as the U.S. was represented by Angela Peavy and Sydney Collier. In the Grade III Championship, Peavy (Avon, Conn.), competing as an Individual, closed out her first World Championship experience in the...

Kent Farrington & Voyeur (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Aachen, Germany - Five members of the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games qualified for the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachenon Sunday and the U.S. horses and riders held their own with some of the best in the world. Kent Farrington led the way with a double clear aboard Voyeur. In the jump-off, he and Amalaya Investments' 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding were excruciatingly close....

Kevin Staut and Silvana (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Paris, France - It was a triumphant home win for France in Saturday night's seventh leg of the 2014 LGCT Championship, hosted for the very first time by the City of Lights - Paris. The inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour of Paris Grand Prix was won by a thrilled and emotional Kevin Staut and Silvana, who left the arena to resounding cheers and applause from the crowd. Second went to a very happy Pius Schwizer (SUI) with Toulago, and 3rd to...

Armed Forces Day attendees (Photo by Alexandra Kinney) Wylie, Texas - On May 17, 2014, the first Wounded Warrior Introductional Seminar at North Texas Equestrian Center in Wylie, TX, occurred. It was Armed Forces Day, a chance to honor all those who serve or have served. This seminar was an opportunity to reach out to veterans to educate them about a Paralympic sport whose roots are deeply connected to the military. In attendance at the event were veterans and their family members, USO...