Wellington, Fla.- Following the first day of competition at the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* sponsored by Stillpoint Farm, the U.S. teams stand in first and third places, on totals of 212.802, and 206.853, respectively. Splitting the two American teams is Spain in second place on a total of 206.895. The Ground Jury of Anne Gribbons, Gabriel Armando, Cesar Torrente, Lorraine MacDonald, and Bo Jena judged Small Tour combinations, performing the FEI Prix St. Georges, in the morning, and saw 12...

Emma Kurtz and True Love (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - Young riders competed in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals at the Washington International Horse Show Sunday afternoon with a win going to 13-year-old Emma Kurtz of Hudson, OH, riding True Love. Trained by Amanda Lyerly and Mike Rheinheimer, Kurtz scored an 86 over fences and moved from second to first with her ride in the work-off under saddle to take the lead. She was presented The Jane Marshall Dillon Memorial Perpetual...

Los Angeles, California - After placing second in last year’s Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West, 15-year-old Olivia Champ (Karen Healey and Michelle Morris, trainers) came back to win it all this year. “This is the most fun day at the horse show and the most amazing final in the entire country,” Champ remarked. “This final is really important to me because it really tests you as a rider and it’s all about how you can ride a jumper...

Paul O'Shea rode Instant Karma to the $50,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix victory at the Fieldstone Summer Showcase I, also claiming the $25,000 Boston Strong Rider Bonus (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Halifax, MA - The luck of the Irish was with Paul O'Shea Saturday afternoon at the Fieldstone Show Park as he piloted Instant Karma to the victory in the $50,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix, presented by Gallo Dark Horse Wine, Ocean Spray and Samuel Adams, narrowly beating Boston Bruins owner,...

Brittini Raflowitz and Elios rode to the top of the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake leader board at Equifest I, riding to the only double-clear effort of the class. Wayne, IL - Accuracy was key for Brittini Raflowitz and Elios this afternoon during the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake at Equifest I. The pair out jumped all fellow contenders as the only ones to post a double-clear effort, eventually leading the victory gallop in the Lamplight Equestrian Center's Grand Prix Ring. David...

Katie Prudent and V (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - Two exciting feature competitions were held on Friday under beautiful blue skies for day two of the ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows. In the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m, Katie Prudent (USA) and V led the victory gallop, while Meagan Nusz (USA) and Vesuvius took top honors in the $15,000 CIBC Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.40m. The ‘Pan American’ Tournament continues through Sunday,...

Kristen Bumpus and Cupid (Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - The first day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival welcomed the top riders in the nation to the new and improved Fieldstone Show Park. After an overhaul, the Fieldstone Show Park kicked off the first day of the weeklong show with thrilling hunter and jumper competition. David Oliynyk rode to the top of the 1.15m Jumpers, while Kristen Bumpus piloted Cupid to the top of the ranks during the 1.25m Schooling Jumpers as she tackled the course...

Rachel Boggus and SS Whisper (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Rachel Boggus, of Fort Wayne, IN, catch rode her way to another first place finish, this time with SS Whisper, in the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Final during the final day of competition for the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). SS Whisper, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding is owned by Wee Enterprises. Boggus was awarded a Beval bridle and gift certificate for her blue ribbon finish in the...

Kathleen Raine with Breanna (Lindsay McCall for HorseGirlTV.com) Del Mar, CA - Accuracy, elasticity, and quality describe the championship rides in Saturday’s 2013 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CDI-YJ3*. Steffen Peters and Dutch Warmblood, Vaya Con Dios, earned the FEI Intermediaire I Test championship solidifying the dressage partnership for this past show jumper. Twenty year-old Amelia Child and Veto garnered the win in the FEI Young Rider Individual Test adding a top score to her...

How can you practice anything on your horse when there’s six inches of snow on the ground, it’s below freezing, the wind is blowing, and you’re not blessed with an indoor arena? Here in Colorado, we often have beautiful, sunny days where we can exercise our horses outdoors for hours. On other days, not so much. As a friend of mine said, "it’s not how you ride your horse; it’s how you live your life." He was referring to work you can do off your horse, such as...