Hadji and Palmer-DuRoss. (Steven Bradley Photography.) Aurora, CO - Hadji Halef Omar (Centavo x ZA Sabbaths Joy), a 1992 grey gelding, owned by Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss of Queen Creek, AZ. has been named the 2010 AHA Distance Horse of the Year. The 10-year veteran of endurance competition has taken Palmer-DuRoss over 5,810 miles, a journey for which she is very grateful. “I am nominating Hadji for the Distance Horse of the Year Award in appreciation for all the beautiful places he has taken me...

Alexandria Desiderio and TL Foolin Around+. (Photo by Don Stine.) Aurora, CO - Earning 522.5 points might come naturally for the 2010 Youth Amateur of the Year Alexandria Desiderio, from Chester, NJ. "It kinda happened by accident—I didn't go out of my way—I just show so much now, it's crazy," says Desiderio. But you can't really say Desiderio's points came easily; unless 30-plus hours a week in the saddle sounds easy. Desiderio came by her 522.5 points with the help of three horses at 13...

Karen O’Connor, Pat Parelli, Linda Parelli and David O’Connor. (Photo courtesy Coco Photography.) Ocala, FL - February 21, 2011 – Children in the central and northern Florida area had their wishes granted when Pat Parelli, the founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, traded in his cowboy boots for a jumping saddle during the Second Annual Make-A-Wish Equine Challenge on Valentine’s Day at the Ocala Equestrian Complex. At the same time, David O’Connor, Olympian and President of the United States...

Beezie Madden and Prima. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden scored her second win this week at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby. She and Prima, owned by Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC, were the fastest over a challenging derby course on the grass field at The Stadium. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's sixth week concluded today and was sponsored by Fidelity Investments. The 2011 WEF will continue...

Scott Stewart and Inclusive. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 17, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued on Thursday with World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) hunter competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All of the rated professional hunter divisions concluded today and awarded championship honors for week six. Champion and reserve champion horses will qualify to compete in the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular on Friday evening,...

Dressage rider Caroline Roffman. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden.) Wellington, FL - February 17, 2011 – Dressage rider Caroline Roffman proved why the FEI named her the recipient of the 2010 Rising Star Award when she rode into the winner’s circle during the International Horse Sport Palm Beach show aboard Beemer, a 13-year-old, 17.2 hand bay Holsteiner. It was the first time for Roffman to compete Beemer and the pair earned a winning score of 73.023% in the Young Rider Grand Prix. "I was so...

Karen Pavicic on Don Daiquiri, with Lorraine MacDonald, President of the Ground Jury. (Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler.) Burbank, CA - Sunny skies re-emerged over the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA, for the final day of the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI*/Y/J. Although only two competitors chose to contest the Intermediaire I Freestyle, both Canadian riders demonstrated how they will be serious contenders for a spot on their country's Pan American Games team. Dancing to the victory was...

Mark Watring and Green Sleeps Vioco. (Flying Horse Photography©.) Thermal, CA - Puerto Rico’s Mark Watring and Horseworks Etc. Inc’s Green Sleeps Vioco secured their first Grand Prix triumph of the circuit when they scored the top prize in Saturday’s $50,000 Purina Mills CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, in the indoor arena at the HITS Desert Horse Park, in Thermal, CA. Last night’s triumph by Watring continued an impressive streak by the men competing at HITS Thermal as each...

Alida D'Angona, Miss Massachusetts 2011. (Photo courtesy AMHA.) Shelburne, VT — Alida D'Angona, 24, from Bolton, MA, recently was crowned Miss Massachusetts 2011, and will be a presenter at the American Morgan Horse Association's annual awards banquet on Saturday, February 26 in Boston. Born in California, D'Angona traveled with her family as a child across the world to live in Hong Kong before settling in Bolton. With an interest in music as well as the sciences, D'Angona quickly became...

Cherri Reiber and the Lusitanos Zerbino Interagro and Vistor Interagro. (Photo courtesy JRPR.) Wellington, FL – Spectators at the February 19th Grand Prix and Great Charity Challenge at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival are in for a treat when Samba dancers and an exhibition by Lusitanos bring a flair of Brazil to the International Arena. The Brazilian-themed exhibition is in anticipation of the 2011 Lusitano CollectionTM International Horse Auction, considered the social event of the...