Ravel Settles for Second (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL – Having convincingly won the Grand Prix at the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters on Thursday afternoon, the pressure was on Steffen Peters to continue his winning tear with Ravel. But unfortunately for the US fans, it was a repeat of 2009 and he still couldn’t eclipse Anky van Grunsven and her Olympic champion Salinero. The reigning Gold medalist wowed the fans with a classic fault-free performance and a score of 84.4% for the...

Steffen Peters and Ravel, Anky van Grunsven and Salinero and Isabell Werth and Satchmo joined 15 other horse-and-rider combinations Monday to prepare for the Exquis World Dressage Masters Palm Beach this week that kicks off the 2010 lineup of the globe's richest dressage competitions. Anky van Grunsven watched her first ever polo game Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Isabell Werth worked Satchmo at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center while her sister, Claudia, wheeled...

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious horse competitions, has officially launched its 65th season. This year’s show will be held, once again, at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, starting on March 17, 2010, and will run through March 28, 2010. It was announced that BBVA Wealth Solutions would be returning as the lead sponsor of the show. “We are thrilled that BBVA Wealth Solutions has agreed to be our lead sponsor again this year....

The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is pleased to announce that tickets are available for this year's Exquis World Dressage Masters, which will be held on February 4-6, 2010, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The Exquis World Dressage Masters is a CDI***** dressage competition that will offer $150,000 in prize money. Classes will include Grand Prix on Thursday, February 4, at 1 p.m.; Grand Prix Special on Saturday afternoon, February 6; and Musical Freestyle on Saturday,...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) elected a new president and treasurer for three-year terms. George Williams of Delaware, OH, who was vice president of the federation for nine years and a United States high-performance rider, takes the helm as president from Dr. Samuel Barish. Steve Schubert of Methuen, MA, replaces Barb Tuohino Funk as treasurer. Williams also appointed Melissa Creswick of Clovis, CA, as interim vice president for a one-year term. George Williams is currently a...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that they have awarded the Amanda Warrington Grant to three-day event rider Heather Morris of Lewisville, TX. The Amanda Warrington Grant is awarded through the Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda's family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to a developing event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability...

The phrase "learning from the best" took on a whole new meaning for the 14 riders who participated in a clinic with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, December 5-6. Ward helped the United States show jumping team win Gold medals at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, and has won major titles at some of the most prestigious horse shows in the world, including the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show and the $1 million CN...

Excellence in equestrian sport does not come easy. It takes an amazing sense of dedication, incredible skill and a courageous heart. And in 2009, five horses (and their riders, drivers and handlers) have shown the world exactly those qualities. For each of them, their hard work and brilliant talent has garnered them a nomination for the United States Equestrian Federation's highest honor bestowed upon a horse - the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year Award. The five nominees represent the...

HITS is pleased to announce that they will host the Dressage Getaway CDI*** during week III of the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA. The show, held on February 12-14, will feature a full schedule of national and high-performance dressage classes. The 2010 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA, will have six weeks of hunter/jumper competition from January 26 to March 14. During the Dressage Getaway competition, the CSI jumpers and CDI dressage horses will share the indoor warm-up ring and...

American Quarter Horse Racing World Champion Be A Bono has moved to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions. Be A Bono earned American Quarter Horse racing’s top honor when he was named the World Champion of 2004. He also earned champion three-year-old and champion three-year-old gelding honors for 2004. Owned and bred by the late Spencer Childers of Fresno, CA, the sorrel gelding was trained by Dan Francisco. Be A Bono was foaled February 22, 2001, and retired from racing as a...