It is proving to be a big day for the U.S. at English competitions this morning and it’s only lunch time! At the 2012 Paralympic Games, the fourth U.S. rider, Donna Ponnessa, does not perform her 1a Team Test until 4:33pm, so another 4 hours of anxious anticipation! Her U.S. teammate’s got things off to a good start yesterday as Jonathan Wentz and Becca Hart gained massive scores for the U.S. to keep them in the team hunt. Jonathan scored 70.364% to finish fifth in the Grade 1b Team...

A retired couple from Western New York and their two young Thoroughbreds are poised to pick up a pair of championships at the Career2 Grand Finale, to be held at the Millbrook Horse Trials in Millbrook, N.Y., Aug. 2-5. Career2 is the new program created to promote eventing as a second career opportunity for retired racehorses. Linda and Jack Walnes of Avon, N.Y., lead the Beginner/Novice and Novice Divisions as Career2 heads into the Grand Finale. Mr. Walnes is also vying for a championship in...

Cathleen Driscoll and Color Me Blue won Small Hunter Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - With an early start to today's event, the riders at Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) were able to beat the heat at the Devon Show Grounds. Amateur rider Cathleen Driscoll topped this year's new Small Hunter division, and their efforts over the last two weeks also won the Circuit Championship. Louise...

Dynamic and Laura Pfeiffer. Traverse City, MI - As Horse Shows by the Bay continued its second day of fierce competition--again amid spectacular weather and conditions at the Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Michigan--the key to success was consistency. While day one showcased an unprecedented number of sweeps in the professional hunter sections, with the same horse/rider combinations sweeping all three classes offered in their respective sections, today riders had to remain steadfast....

Louise Serio and Aate won both over fences classes in the First Year Green/High Performance Working Hunters at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - Red, white and blue was the theme at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) as the nation's top horses and riders celebrated Independence Day at the historic Devon Show Grounds. Louise Serio led the professional divisions with wins in the First Year Green/High...

Middleburg, VA - The first leg of the all new Taylor Harris Insurance Services $200,000 Triple Crown Challenge, America's richest rider bonus, is set for lift off just days from now at the legendary Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. This unique challenge offers a spectacular $200,000 top prize for any show jumping rider that can put together back to back to back wins on the same horse at three of the nation's most prestigious grand prix events. The first event of the Taylor Harris...

The TAKE2 program is growing. Designed to promote second careers in the show ring for retired racehorses, TAKE2 offers hunter and jumper classes restricted to Thoroughbreds, with prize money funded by members of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The initial launch featured three venues: the May 2-6 Garden State Horse Show in Augusta, N.J., sponsored by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association; and the Saratoga Springs Horse Show (May 2-6 and May 9-13) and the Skidmore College...

2012 Olympic Trials for Show Jumping Winner Reed Kessler has had great success with Mika at the Kentucky Horse Shows for many years. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are just around the corner and some of the nation's top riders are gearing up for the two-week event. The first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show CSI3*, May 9-13, 2012, has been designated by the USEF as a 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Event. Long Listed riders such...

Tampa, FL - The Tournament of Champions got off to a start with the Pre-Green Hunters [yesterday] morning in the Main Hunter Ring, with top riders and horses vying for the honors throughout the afternoon. It was Amanda Steege and Mary Euphemia who stole the show on the second day of the Tournament of Champions. Steege flawlessly piloted Winter Wonder to the Reserve Championship in the Pre-Green Hunters coming just shy of the championship honors behind Euphemia. Euphemia also took home the...

Heather Blitz and Paragon (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - The last rider to enter the ring, Heather Blitz, rode Paragon to a score of 75.350% to win the Grand Prix Freestyle at the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF)Stadium show grounds in Wellington, FL. Blitz had a rough day leading up to her win. With her four year old, she memorized the 4 year old FEI test, not the USEF 4 year...