Roxanne Trunnell & Nice Touch (SusanJStickle.com) Caen, France - Roxanne Trunnell and Rebecca Hart brought FEI World Para-Dressage Championship competition at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to a close with their Freestyle Tests. The La Prairie Racecourse hosted the final tests of the championships as the top third of competitors from Grade 1a, 1b, II, III, and IV looked to ascend the medal podium. Grade 1a rider Trunnell (Rowlett, Tx.) was making her final competitive...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When Kevin Babington first laid eyes on Shorapur he knew there was something special about the mare. Despite being told she was too hot for his liking, he had to try her. That first ride was a year and a half ago. Yet, Friday they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis as if they'd been together forever. “I was like a kid in a candy store the first...

Jay Land and Nepal (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - It's always been a family affair for the Lands, but with young riders Frances and Taylor Land usually picking up the spotlight, it was exciting to see father Jay Land in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Despite taking a few months off from the show ring, Jay returned ready to win as he laid down a flawless round aboard his veteran mount Nepal in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Richard Jeffery...

Chris Ewanouski and Cortina (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - All eyes were on the up-and-coming horses of the future in the Rolex Stadium today as they vied for winning honors in the 7 & 8-Year-Old Jumpers and the 6-Year-Old Jumpers. Chris Ewanouski captured the first blue ribbon with his 8-year-old mount Cortina, while amateur rider Joyce Green piloted Cassidy to the top prize in the 6-Year-Old Jumpers. Great Britain's Richard Jeffries designed the track for the 7...

McLain Ward and Dulien Van De Smeets fly to a win (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When McLain Ward climbed down from the tack of Dulien Van De Smeets after winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis, he didn’t look for congratulations, but marched straight to the mare’s owner, his godmother. Susie Heller stood clutching a winner’s trophy and was scooped up by Ward’s embrace. Every win is special, but this was divinely special. This week marked the...

Through a grant from the USA Equestrian Trust, AMHA is seeking to develop an online homeschool program to teach reading, writing, history, science, and math through the use of horsemanship and the Morgan horse. Homeschooling is a type of education where children learn outside of a school setting under the supervision of their parents. The family determines what is to be learned and how it is to be taught, while following whatever government regulations apply in that state or country. Today...

Lake Placid, N.Y. - Todd Minikus of Wellington, FL, rode Quality Girl to victory in the $30,000 CMJ Sporthorse Jumper Classic at the 2014 I Love New York Horse Show, Presented by Sea Shore Stables. Minikus was one of 12 from the starting field of 43 to reach the jump-off by riding without penalty over the first-round course designed by Show Jumping Hall of Famer Steve Stephens. He was then third to try the tiebreaker course and he set a tough mark to beat with another clean round in 31.951...

Jennifer Alfano and Me Again (E.Riden/Phelspsports.com) Mumford, N.Y. - Jennifer Alfano has won USHJA National and International Hunter Derbies across the country, and Saturday she added a win at a brand new, beautiful venue to her resume - the victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Genesee Country Village & Museum. Alfano clinched the win on the breathtaking Great Meadow of the 19th-Century Country Village aboard Me Again, a Dutch Warmblood owned by Helen Lenahan. The...

Saugerties, N.Y. - Quality Girl is no stranger to clean rounds with Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and at the top of her game as of late. Highlighted by their Open Jumper success at Devon last weekend and Friday, winning the HITS $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare continues to shine. Todd Minikus and Quality Girl were the top pair in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties (©ESI Photography) “She’s turning into a...

Mickie Sage and Harlu. Photo by Horsin' Around Photography Parker, C.O. - The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the Mini Prix both were set to run at the same time during Spring Warm-Up II at the Colorado Horse Park. Professional Mickie Sage planned to compete horses in both classes putting her a little under the gun. "I didn't have a lot of time to learn the derby course," said Sage. "I didn't even walk the course. I went in the ring and asked the other trainers what the lines...