Traverse City, Mich. - When Rachel Boggus stepped into the Horse Shows by the Bay Grand Prix Ring for the first round of the HJAM Adult Medal Final on July 26, she was on a mission. Not only did she seek to do her best in the class, but she also wanted to push herself to escape her comfort zone. In the end, she accomplished both goals. Boggus, 32, of Indianapolis, Indiana, topped the three-phase final and also gained valuable experience toward her quest to win the Ariat Adult Medal Finals this...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Marshall and Sterling Insurance, Inc. will become the Title Sponsor of the USEF National Pony Medal Championship at the US Pony Finals National Championships. The 2014 US Pony Finals will be held August 4-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The Marshall and Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Championship finals will begin Sunday, August 10, at 7 a.m ET. "The United States Equestrian Federation is...

Tim Goguen and Character (Emily Ride/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - At the end of Wednesday's Kentucky Summer Classic Second Year Green Hunters, the hotly contested division championship had come down to a tie. Both Character, ridden by Tim Goguen, and Silhouette, ridden by John French, sat tied at 32 points, but with more points earned over fences it was Goguen and Character who claimed the division's top title. "He went nicely this week. He tried hard and ended up champion,"...

The U.S. Team for Hickstead (USEF Archive) Hickstead, United Kingdom - The U.S. sends a promising group into this week’s FEI Nations Cup at CDIO3* Hickstead, running July 31-August 3. The team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Susie Dutta, Brian Hafner, and Lisa Wilcox, led by Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald, have drawn third in the order of five international teams. Nations Cup competition kicks off Thursday with the first day of Grand Prix competition, and continues Friday with the...

Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane on their way to a blue in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix presented by Zoetis. The pair topped an impressive field to take first and $22,500 (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - Of the six jump-off contenders in Sunday’s $75,000 HITS Grand Prix presented by Zoetis, four boasted the colors of Ireland. Ronan McGuigan, Darragh Kerins, with two horses, and Jonathan McCrea made their home country proud as they bested a field of 29 starters. Try as they might,...

The Victorious U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team (Rachel Kelley) Fletcher, N.C. - On Friday, July 25 the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup concluded with the United States repeating their 2012 performance, sweeping the top podium positions in the competition, and taking home Gold Medals in both the Three-Gaited and Five-Gaited sections. Throughout the competition, held Tuesday July 22 - Friday July 25 as part of the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show, riders performed rail and pattern work in front of the...

The Plains, Va. - A successful weekend at the Preparation Event for the Squad and Alternates for Squad for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games wrapped up Sunday morning with 11 U.S. combinations completing David O’Connor’s cross country. Crowds of 3,500 people came from throughout the United States to watch many of the best combinations in North America compete at the renovated Great Meadow on a beautiful Virginia weekend. Phillip Dutton...

Reid Patton and Sincere (E.Riden/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - - After an extremely successful junior career, Reid Patton has found continued success - and a more relaxed atmosphere - in a new division: the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3'3" Hunters. She dominated the division Friday at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, sweeping the over fences classes and finishing second under saddle with her own Sincere. "The transition to the amateurs has actually been great," Patton said. "The juniors were...

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...

Traverse, Mich. - Redemption was the name of the game during the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Walgreens, the featured hunter class on July 25 during Horse Shows by the Bay Series IV. Molly Ashe and Kennzo had returned to the Traverse City show this year as the defending champions in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family, held during Series III. An unfortunate rail in the Classic Hunter Round, however, cut short their time in the show...