Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Jennifer Ramsey and Cielo B captured the $7,500 Open Jumper Classics. ) Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, SC, welcomed exhibitors to something truly special in horse showing. The Charleston Summer Classics, a Boutique Horse Show produced by The Classic Company, began its two-week run by offering lots of Southern Charms. Returning to the historical Low Country area for a second year, Bob Bell, Chairman of the Summer Classic continued the rebuilding...

Photo by Jennifer Singleton (One of the driving marathon elements for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.) Richard Nicoll, driving course designer for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), was recently on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park for several days to work with the course builder, meet with various decorators, and generally check on the progress of the marathon obstacles. According to Nicoll, construction is now about 95% percent complete on the marathon...

The hillside overlooking the beautiful Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park was packed with spectators on Sunday afternoon as Traverse City saw some of the country's top horses and riders compete in a $30,000 Show Jumping Grand Prix. After two exciting rounds of competition, Kim Farlinger of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, earned top prize with her athletic dark bay gelding Cordoba. The class featured a track set by renowned course designer Pierre Jolicoeur, and featured 17 horse-and-rider...

It's not like Rachel Boggus has time on her hands. In addition to riding and showing three horses across all the divisions, the amateur rider who trains with Michael Dennehy also is completing the last year of her anesthesiology residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center. "I don't have a lot of free time," Rachel admitted. "When I do, I am riding and showing. It's really hard for me to stay away and sometimes that means very long days with very little sleep, but I wouldn't have it...

Photo by Jon Kassel (Kelly Farmer and Listen) Showplace Productions produced a beautiful derby day at Tapestry Farm in Bristol, WI, this weekend following the completion of its Showplace Summertime Horse Show. Tapestry Farm owners Clay and Donna Struve welcomed many of the country's top horses and riders to their scenic farm for a day full of exceptional competition and hospitality for all to benefit the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Horseman's Assistance Fund. Professional...

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) has officially announced that saddle seat is approved as an emerging discipline of the IEA, and teams are starting to form all over the United States. Hundreds of teams and thousands of members have enjoyed participating in IEA hunt seat and Western competitions for the past eight years, but this will be the first year for the saddle seat offerings. The mission of IEA is to introduce students in private and public middle and secondary schools...

The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic Grand Prix Weekend began with an exhilarating jump-off round in Friday night’s Welcome Stake and ended with an awe-inspiring performance in Sunday’s Cleveland Grand Prix. Along the way there were also canine exhibitions, carriage rides, family fun activities, Grand Prix festivities, the International Hunter Derby and many local champions in the multiple hunter/jumper divisions that competed from Wednesday, July 14, up through Sunday, July 18. The $10,000...

Aachen, Germany - It was a night of great show jumping, and the United States had a solid third place finish in the Mercedes-Benz Preis, part of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup in historic Aachen, Germany. The "all-girls" team and their Chef d'Equipe George H. Morris were pleased with their placing as they finished on a total of 12 penalty points behind Germany with nine and the winners, Ireland, with just four faults. The USA started out strong with a clear round from Lauren Hough of Wellington,...

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo (Erin Cowgill Photo) USEF Names Team for Meydan FEI Nations Cup Team Aachen, Germany – Sitting in the final spot of a nine horse jump-off, Olympic Gold medalist Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, had the small luxury of knowing the time that she had to beat. With that knowledge, Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo were able to best the time of 50.07 seconds set by Sweden's Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Ninja La Silla by two seconds. Their time of 48.27 seconds and a...

K.C. Montgomery (Shawn Flarida RC Fancy Step) Oklahoma City, OK – The 2010 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championships, which also served as the USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan US Reining Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, featured fierce competition with a national title and a ticket to the World Equestrian Games on the line. The Oklahoma State Fairgrounds main coliseum was rocking on Saturday night and when the dust settled Shawn Flarida held on to his lead and had the best two...