Lexington, KY - Building on the success of National Helmet Awareness Day 2010, the popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets.com has announced plans to host International Helmet Awareness Day 2011 on Saturday, June 11. Riders4Helmets has teamed up with leading helmet manufacturers to offer discounts on helmets to equestrians via participating retailers globally on this day. More than 300 retailers in the U.S. and eight retailers Internationally offered discounts on helmets from eight...

Louise Serio and Phillipa at the Kentucky Spring Classic (Photo by Holly Whiteman). Lexington KY - Hunter riders at the Kentucky Spring Classic enjoyed a day without rain at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. Today was the second day of the Kentucky Spring Classic, which is the second week of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. This week features the World Champion Hunter Rider Week, which gives riders the opportunity to earn fabulous prize money along with quality points toward year end awards...

Kate Levy and Vent Du Nord. (Classic Communications). North Salem, NY – Mother Nature gave us beautiful weather for the first week of competition at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, but she could not make it happen on the morning of the Grand Prix, where she gave us some torrential rain in the early hours. Taking it all in stride, both show management and competitors made adjustments and as the rain came to a close, competition went on as usual. The only concession to the rain was...

Badminton, U.K . - There was a thrilling climax to cross-country day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ - when Mark Todd (NZL) returned to a hero’s welcome, having produced a masterful display of riding to bring the inexperienced NZB Land Vision home clear and into the lead. Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision leads on cross-country day at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™...

Award-winning course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio. (Photo by Kenneth Kraus.) Hampton Falls, NH - A new course designer at the 2011 Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, featuring the $75,000 Grand Prix, will challenge competitors this year on the grass Grand Prix and Derby field. Award-winning course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio will be testing the top riders in the high performance classes to be held at Silver Oak Equestrian Center, Hampton Falls, NH, September 14-18. A sanctioned FEI course...

Karen Jenkins in Spain with Jenson, Ofendido VII's sire. (Photo courtesy Karen Jenkins.) Ocala, FL - When Karen Jenkins demanded her own pony at age five, her unsure parents insisted on riding lessons. Years of instruction and various horses later, they knew horses were in her blood – and not going anywhere. “My parents insisted that if I had a horse, I had to take care of it myself,” said Jenkins, who now is 73. “I think they became resigned to the fact that I was dedicated to making horses a...

Lizzie Snow graduated from High School in 2010 and has represented Area VII at the Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 she won Team Gold and Individual Bronze at the 2010 event and made a successful move up to the CCI2* level. The Portland, OR native is now based in Southern Pines, NC. I can’t believe it’s already the end of March. I feel like the year just began but now the spring season is halfway done! My...

Ocala, FL - If the weather was a sign of things to come, then the 2011 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is sure to be another spectacular season. The HITS Ocala Pre-Circuit came to an end on Sunday after two special weeks of exciting show jumping, which now paves the way for the highly anticipated six-week, AA-rated circuit set to start on February 8. Where it all begins again The Road to the Pfizer Million HITS, Inc. made history in 2010 when it produced the richest Grand Prix in the world, the...

Wellington, FL - January 17, 2011 - The first week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was a great success with horses and riders from around the world competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. It was a record opening week for the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, with the number of horses showed increased by 11% from last year. The competition, held in 12 different rings all now on the North Grounds, was fantastic, and spectators and exhibitors enjoyed the venue...

Ravel-Horse of the Year in 2009. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - December 21 - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2010, five horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 21, the United States Equestrian Federation will bestow just one of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. The five...