Laura Kraut and Miss Independent (Randi Muster/PMG) Lexington, KY – The field narrows yet again, as Laura Kraut edges her way to the top of the standings in the East Coast League. Adding more fuel to an already fiery 2005 season, Kraut, a native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, jumped her way to a first place finish at the $75,000 Cosequin Florida Open in Wellington, March 6. The double clear round atop Miss Independent put Kraut two points ahead of McLain Ward in the standings, previously the...

Despite a previous week of sunshine when the field of 30 competitors began the Gulf Coast Mid Winter $10,000 Open Welcome, Mother Nature decided to add another challenge to Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course. A deluge of rain began as the first horse passed judges Fred Brown and Mike Christian. David Q Wright’s Step Right Up did just that. After a clear first round the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding from Murfreesboro, TN, gave a repeat performance in a jump-off field of eight with a speedy 34.494...

The Zada Enterprises, LLC, Florida Dressage Classic ended on a high note on Sunday, February 20, as spectators were treated to more than 20 musical freestyles performances. The $2,000 Grand Prix Musical Freestyle class drew a huge crowd and Leslie Morse’s winning ride on Kingston garnered almost unprecedented enthusiasm from the spectators. The dynamic ride to the Pirates of the Caribbean tune, "The Curse of the Black Pearl" was perfectly suited to Kingston, who seemed as pumped up as the crowd....

On Sunday, February 12, many of the top national equestrians tested their skills in the Bayer-Legend $25,000 Grand Prix Sponsored by Gulf Coast Winter Series. The competition was held at the Harrison Country Fairgrounds on County Farm Road in Gulfport, MS. The winner of the Bayer-Legend $25,000 Grand Prix was I.Z’s Lifetime, owned by Bjorn and Clara Ikast of Laredo, TX with Bjorn Ikast in the irons. I.Z.’s Lifetime, an 11-year-old stallion won $7,500 with two clear rounds. Second place was CR...

The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) organization has many members competing at the Indio Desert Circuit horse shows in Indio, CA. Richard Spooner is currently one of the most successful West Coast grand prix riders, and he is the original founder of the West Coast Active Riders organization. The Indio Desert Circuit is only in its third week of competition, but Richard Spooner has won the majority of prizes in the grand prix competitions. In the $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix on Friday, February 4,...

The 3rd Annual Sport Horse National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Sport Horse Nationals) returns to Lexington, VA, September 21-25, with the addition of a pleasure carriage driving division for Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. Classes include pleasure driving working, pleasure driving reinsmanship and “pick your route” obstacles. All driving competition will take place on Wednesday, September 21st. Show entries may consist of single or multi horse hitches. All...

The battle to earn berths in the FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2005 continues to rage in countries around the world as the date of the Final approaches. After a fierce qualifying season in the Canadian League, Leslie Reid of Langley, BC, won the Canadian League World Cup Dressage final qualifier, earning the right to represent Canada in the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, which will be held along with the FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final in Las Vegas, NV, April 20-24, 2005. Seven riders took...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), America’s national governing body for equestrian sport, announced today the appointment of Carr-Hughes Productions as its “Official Television Agency” with duties to oversee and promote their television programming efforts. “We’re excited to officially bring on Carr-Hughes to lead us in this very important area,” said John Long, CEO of the USEF. “Their track record in gaining TV...

In an effort to improve the lives of horses, the Kentucky Horse Park and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will conduct the first ever Healthy Horses series of seminars at the park on May 14. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, commented, “The weeks preceding and following the Kentucky Derby bring national attention to Kentucky’s horse industry, so it’s a perfect time for everyone in our state who is involved with horses to take a fresh look at...

Aaron Vale of Aiken, SC, posted the first victory of the season as the 2005 American Grand Prix Association (AGA) tour got underway in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, January 23, 2005. The nighttime competition took place at the Paul E. Reinhold Agricultural Center Fairgrounds on State Road 16 in Green Cove Springs, FL. In its 27th year of equestrian excellence, the AGA tour includes 32 events in 22 different equestrian markets and offers over $2.5 million dollars in prize money. Vale’s...