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...

McLain Ward and HH Ashley were the top pair in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - McLain Ward was wearing his poker face Friday at HITS Saugerties and gambled his way to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis on new mount, HH Ashley. Second to go in a five-horse jump-off, Ward chased down speedster Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida, who posted an immediate Great American Time to Beat at 37.15...

Caitlin Bevins, 2014 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final winner, riding The Wizard (Howard Schatzberg) Lexington, Ky. – A field of 10 competitors vying for the 2014 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final title kicked off the evening session at the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show on July 9. At the end of the class, held at the famous Red Mile Race Track in Lexington, Ky., history was made as Caitlin Bevins was named the winner of the 2014 USEF Saddle Seat Adult...

Laura Linback and HH Dauphin (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wayne, Ill. - It was an electrifying final day of competition today at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the Showplace Spring Spectacular Series wrapped up with the $40,000 Weathertech Grand Prix. It came down to a two-horse jump-off, but Kelsey Thatcher and Athena rode to the win, leading the week's final victory gallop. Alan Wade built a technical track for the final day of competition, and with the nation's top riders ready to...

Devon, Pa. - A $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby was held on Thursday afternoon, presented in honor of Kenneth and Sally Wheeler, with a win for Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, riding Glefke & Kensel LLC's Mindful. Mindful, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Graf Grannus x Bold Indian), won his first derby with Farmer just a few weeks ago in Kentucky after transitioning out of the jumpers this winter. He was also presented with the High Performance Hunter division championship on...

Orchard Hills Dragonflyy in his winning "Best Young Pony" presentation (The Book LLC) Devon, P.A. - While junior competitors showed their equitation in Devon's famous Dixon Oval, the young hunter ponies competed in-hand in the Gold Ring on Thursday. The ponies showed in their respective age groups divided by gender, and the top ponies of all ages were then judged together for championship honors. The Best Young Pony was ultimately crowned overall. The Hunter Pony Championship for Fillies...

Lindsay Strafuss and Jetset (The Book LLC) North Salem, N.Y. – The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continued today and in the hunter ring, the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship was awarded to Jetset, ridden by Lindsay Strafuss of Memphis, TN. Jetset won the under saddle class and was first, first, third, and fifth over fences. They won the championship in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters, and their top finishes gave them the grand championship. The reserve champion in the 18-35...

Q (Shawn McMillan Photography) Katy, Texas. - Usually, the professional tunes up the horse before the amateur takes over the reins on the first day of a horse show, but Tuesday it was the opposite for Susan Baker's Q. Instead, Baker guided the elegant bay to top honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter section before trainer Peter Pletcher took his turn on Q in the First Year Green section. "Well, you know how horse showing goes!" said Baker laughing. "So, I was like, 'OK let’s do it....

Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Laura Lee Montross, of Bedford, NY, took home another championship title with her own Nairobi Nights at the FTI WEF. The pair won the $5,000 Peggy Cone Adult Amateur Classic during World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week earlier this season at the FTI WEF, and followed up that win with a week ten division championship title in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over division on Friday morning. Nairobi Nights, a...

University of South Carolina junior Katherine Schmidt finished the regular season with a 21-2-1 hunt seat record, including a perfect 12-0 record in equitation over fences. Martin, Tenn. - No. 1 ranked South Carolina won 3-of-4 MVPs and overpowered Tennessee-Martin in its regular season finale on Saturday, as the Gamecocks defeated the Skyhawks, 13-7, at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion. South Carolina (11-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) wraps up the regular season with a program best 11-wins. "Very...