New Orleans, La. - The U.S. Team had excellent performances at the 2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational, sweeping all the Gold medals under the guidance of coaches Melissa Smith and Kent Swalla. The team of Katelynn Cox, Courtney McGinnis, Alice Rowland, Kasey Saccocia, Madison Stringer, and Victoria Walz claimed the Three-Gaited Section Gold medal. The Five-Gaited Section, consisting of Ashley Brandies, Anne Pateman, Zoe Schaffel, Ashley Stewart, and Emily Van Duren, also won their respective...

Kelli Cruciotti and Zidante Parker, Colo. - June 23, 2015 - Colorado Horse Park's (CHP) Summer in the Rockies III concluded this past weekend in Parker, CO. It was a full week of competition including the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix, $20,000 Open Welcome Stake, $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. The $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix saw 22 participants contest the impressive course, designed by Hector Loyola. The class only saw...

Lexington, Ky. – The crown-jewel of the U.S. eventing calendar, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, gets underway this week at the Kentucky Horse Park. Seventy-five horses were presented and accepted today at the first horse inspection. Entries from nine countries will contest America's only CCI4* event in their quest for the coveted champion title and Rolex watch. In addition to hosting the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship, this year’s...

Michael Leon and Celano win the Grand Prix Hunter Derby at the Flintridge Spring Classic (D&D Photography) La Canada, Calif. - The competitors rode a course that began with a single obstacle, and included a flowing seven stride line, a roll back to a single oxer, a two stride combination, and the riders finished with a single oxer coming home. Michael and Celano had a wonderful round that was consistent throughout, with the team executing every stride flawlessly. Leon grabbed second place...

Sharn Wordley and Popstar Lozonais (Shannon Bower/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - The seventh week of the Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour kicked off in its usual fashion-with blazing speeds and top tier competition. Conor Swail and Sharn Wordley faced off on the open turf field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, each fighting a battle against the clock in an attempt to rise to the top of the ranks. Conor Swail (IRL) was the first rider of the day to post a clear round, riding...

Anne Kursinski and MTM Motto (Shannon Bowers/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - Wednesday Anne Kursinski illustrated once again why she is one of the most successful show jumpers in the United States, claiming the top prize aboard Hay's Investment Corporation's MTM Motto in the first 1.30-1.35m jumper class at The Ridge at Wellington's Turf Tour. The weather started out a bit less than ideal Wednesday morning, but that didn't stop several of Wellington's top competitors...

Wellington Fla. - Week three of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Friday with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class in Wellington. Course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) set the speed track for Friday's 1.45m competition with 57 entries and 19 clear rounds. Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Cyklon 1083 were the winners in 60.69 seconds, just over Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm's...

Lexington, Ky. - One of the highlights of the day Saturday was the presentation of the new Calaveras County Perpetual Trophy (by artist Olva Stewart Pharo) to the very first US Dressage Finals Grand Prix Freestyle Adult Amateur Champion, Janne Rumbough of Palm Beach, Fla. (Region 3). The crowd went wild and clapped to the beat of Rumbough's Mary Poppins-themed music as her gray PRE gelding Junior (by Gaucho III x La Nina by Brioso VI) seemed to relish the electric atmosphere of Alltech...

Lexington, Ky. - The top young horses from across the country displayed their qualities in hopes of claiming a title at the 2014 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship. Judges Linda Andrisani and Daniel Robertshaw traveled to both coasts to assess the entrants. The Championship began on August 27th at the Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar, Calif., then moved east on August 30th to the historic Warrenton Horse Show in Warrenton, Va. For the eighth time in the...

Saugerties, N.Y. - Quality Girl is no stranger to clean rounds with Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and at the top of her game as of late. Highlighted by their Open Jumper success at Devon last weekend and Friday, winning the HITS $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare continues to shine. Todd Minikus and Quality Girl were the top pair in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties (©ESI Photography) “She’s turning into a...