Ocala, Fla. – The bucolic Live Oak Plantation set the backdrop for a morning of combined driving dressage as the 2015 USEF Driving National Championships for Single Pony, Pair Pony, Pony Teams, and Pair Horse divisions got underway. USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) was first in the ring and presented a performance that could not be bested, scoring 43.84. Morgan and her own Fuego 88, a 14-year-old German Riding Pony gelding, executed a solid...

Lane Clarke and Semira De Saulieu win the the $50,000 Card Flex Grand Prix, Sunday, March 8, 2015, at HITS Thermal (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Lane Clarke and Semira De Saulieu, owned by Charlotte Gadbois, topped the $50,000 CardFlex Grand Prix at HITS Desert Horse Park Saturday afternoon, trumping a field of 52 competitors, with a clear round in the jump-off and a time of 39.309 seconds. Karl Cook, winner of Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, placed second Sunday, this time on...

Thermal, Calif. - Topping a field of 62 riders, Will Simpson once again took home a blue ribbon from the HITS Grand Prix Ring, winning Sunday’s $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix – his eighth Grand Prix victory this circuit – aboard The Dude, owned by Monarch International. Will Simpson and The Dude, owned by Monarch International, win the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Sunday, February 22, at HITS Thermal (ESI Photography) Topping nine other horses that made it to the jump-off, and...

A symbolic horse wedding in Las Vegas at the most romantic time of the year marks two months to the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals in the entertainment capital of the world. (Liz Gregg/FEI). “Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage”. The words of the Frank Sinatra 1956 Emmy-winning song still ring true today, and as equestrian sports fans and athletes all know, “you can’t have one without the...

Brianne Goutal and Ballade van het Indihof (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) resumed with competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday after inclement weather forced the cancellation of Thursday's classes. The $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5, originally scheduled for Thursday, was held in the afternoon with a win for USA's Brianne Goutal and Ballade van het Indihof. Alexander Zetterman and Flecu...

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (SportFot) Wellington, Fla. - Week four of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, concluded on Sunday with the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50M Championship Jumper Classic featured in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The class saw a win for McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm's HH Carlos Z in a very fast 20-horse jump-off over Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl. They were followed...

Will Simpson jumped clear and fast to take first place on S.F. Arlantha (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson has virtually shut out the field of Grand Prix riders so far at HITS Desert Horse Park. Simpson, riding S.F. Ariantha, claimed his fifth consecutive victory with a first place finish in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Friday. S.F. Ariantha, a new mount for Simpson, is owned Olivia Cox-Fill. Thirty-five riders competed in the class and 11 returned for...

Derek Petersen and Cassevel win the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Derek Petersen of Archer, Florida, riding his and Maddie Skimming’s Cassevel, came out on top in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday at HITS Post Time Farm, after placing second in the same class during the first week. The Brook Ledge Welcome included two combinations set in the course designed by Foster, and proved to be a challenge for the competitors. Only two, Petersen with...

Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze (CAN) is now three for three in the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Held each Thursday throughout the 12 weeks of WEF competition, Lamaze won the first two classes aboard Rosana du Park and scored his third victory in Thursday's $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 riding Fine Lady 5. He rides both horses for Artisan Farms LLC....

Hunter Holloway and I Love Lucy jump to win the Brook Ledge Open (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - The $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome kicked off the 2015 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Wednesday with 15 eager to start their season with a win in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Six riders were able to shake off the winter blues by jumping fault-free in the first round over Ocala course designer Doug Russell’s inviting 1.40 meter course of 14 jumping efforts and two combinations. First to...