Becky Gochman and Sambalino (Shawn McMillen Photography, www.shawnmcmillen.com) Washington D.C. - The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition on Wednesday and awarded championship honors as well. The Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” championship was awarded to Becky Gochman of New York, NY, riding David Gochman's Sambalino. The pair earned the Frank Counselman Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Friends of Frank Counselman. Gochman was also...

Darragh Kenny and PROF DE LA ROQUE (AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - Ireland's Darragh Kenny was the crowned the 'speed demon' of the evening at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, capturing the $33,000 Keystone Classic Speed Stake with PROF DE LA ROQUE, owned by Postage Stamp Farm, LLC, as well as the Open Jumper Speed Championship with TOP GUN IV, owned by Oakland Ventures LLC. Fellow Irishman Alan Wade designed the course, which consisted of 13 obstacles set at 1.45 meters...

Conor Swail and GAME READY (AlCookPhoto.com) Harrisburg, PA - It was an exciting evening as some of the world's top riders competed in the $40,000 Pennsylvania 'Big Jump' competition. Ireland's Conor Swail and GAME READY, owned by Sue Grange, were last to go in the jump-off, and pulled out all the stops to clinch the win in 34.54 seconds at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. "It feels great to win", said Swail. "The horse is a very good horse, he's a fast horse and very...

Sambalino and Becky Gochman (Shawn McMillen Photography) Upper Marlboro, MD – The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show continued today with competition for the amateur and adult hunter riders, along with a evening session final for Children's/Adult Jumpers. Grand Championship ribbons were pinned on the bridles of Sambalino and Becky Gochman, Q and Susan Baker, and Sutton Place and Katie Robinson in the Amateur-Owner and Adult Hunter divisions. In the evening session, the fastest jump-off...

Lillie Keenan rode Levistano 2 to victory in the Sam Edelman Equitation Championship, presented by The Chronicle of the Horse, at the Hampton Classic. (Shawn McMillen photo) Bridgehampton, NY - Lillie Keenan won the two-round Sam Edelman Equitation Championship, presented by The Chronicle of the Horse, at the Hampton Classic, scoring 175.5 points. Charlotte Jacobs finished second (171), and McKayla Langmeier finished third (170). Keenan, 16, was disappointed in her first-round performance,...

Team Weber on the marathon course at Caen. (Photo courtesy of Madeleine Augustsson) Ocala, FL – Nine-time U.S. national four-in-hand champion Chester Weber remains undefeated in France following his second win there in the CAI-A4 Caen August 23-25, against a field of 12 drivers and 60 horses representing seven nations. Team Weber’s win at the CAI-A4 Caen is especially significant as the competition was the test event for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. In early June, Weber had the...

Bridgehampton, NY - Lillie Keenan rode her Londinium to a narrow victory in the $20,000 Hampton Classic Time Challenge at the 38th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. Her time of 57.08 seconds barely eclipsed the time of Todd Minikus on Tuxedo, who stopped the clock in 57.51 seconds. Shane Sweetnam rode Cyklon 1083 to third place in 58.47 seconds. Keenan, 16, New York, N.Y., said she'd watched Minikus go on Tuxedo, and she knew that replicating his performance would be the key. Minikus went...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

Jared Petersen and Titus 2:11 on their way to a win in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Culpeper (ESI Photography) Culpeper, VA - Twenty-one-year-old Jared Petersen of Archer, Florida and fellow Legacy Farm rider Jordan Coyne of New Port Richey, Florida went one-two in Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Culpeper, posting the only double clear rounds of the day. In a field that included grand prix veterans such as Laura Linback, Tracy...

Jill Knowles and C'est Si Bon (Emily Riden) Lexington, KY - In English the phrase "c'est si bon" translates to "it's so good." It's a fitting name for a horse who's Performance 3'6" Hunter rounds Thursday at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show were 'so good.' Jill Knowles and C'est Si Bon claimed the blue ribbon in the Performance 3'6" Handy Hunter class and the division championship Thursday, the second day of the 'AA' rated show running now through July...