Photo Courtesy HITS (The beautiful Grand Prix arena at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, NY.) As riders gear up for the 2010 grand prix season, qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on September 12 in Saugerties, NY, is topping the list of priorities. Kent Farrington, Jimmy Torano, and McLain Ward were among those announcing intentions to become one of only 46 potential riders to vie for a top prize of $350,000 in September. With a limited number of spots available on...

Steffen Peters, Jessica Ransehousen, Maxance McManamy (Geoff Oliver Bugbee) Louisville, KY – In January of 2009 Steffen Peters was honored with the USEF’s Equestrian of the Year Award for his uncanny sportsmanship and his achievements on the field of play throughout 2008. In 2010, at the USEF Pegasus Awards dinner he was bestowed the title again – this time for simply blowing the doors off the dressage world in 2009. Made even sweeter by the fact that the beloved horse who made it all possible...

2009 USEF Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year (Shannon Brinkman/USEF Archives) Louisville, KY – Annually, five of the USEF’s 130,000 registered horses achieve so much in a year that they are named USEF Horses of Honor and enter the running for the title of Farnam®/Platform™ Horse of the Year. In 2009 all five of these horses were nothing short of remarkable. But one forever changed the face of his sport, and with that, Ravel was voted the 2009 USEF Farnam®/Platform™ Horse of the Year. It began in...

While there are countless social events to attend throughout the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation's Road to Kentucky benefit dinner on February 5 tops the list of important places to be this season! Nearly sold out, the Road to Kentucky is just three weeks away. Before time runs out, mark your calendars and get your tickets, as this is an event you will not want to miss. As riders gear up for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,...

Photo by Randi Muster (Pablo Barrios and La Gran) The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began their competition on Wednesday, January 14, with opening jumper classes in the International Arena. The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by G&C Farm and runs through Sunday, January 17. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and almost $6 million in prize money will be awarded through the circuit. This week's course designer is...

Photo by Whitney Allen (Carly Anthony and Ricky Neal) Carly Anthony, 19 of Redmond, WA, and Richard “Ricky” Neal, 17 of Pasadena, CA, were named the inaugural winners of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session. For their amazing accomplishments, Carly and Ricky will each receive 30 days of advanced training with a high-performance athlete, as well as $1,500 in gift certificates from Dover Saddlery to purchase show clothes. When...

Courtesy The Dressage Foundation (Trip Harting) The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce the formation of the Trip Harting Fund. The Trip Harting Fund was established through The Dressage Foundation to award a scholarship for a Pony Club A or B members. This scholarship is to help a young person pursue their education in dressage; the award will honor Trip's lifetime commitment to youth in dressage and his love of Pony Club. Trip Harting was one of the leading judges in the world of...

Capt. Mark Phillips (Photo USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - At the conclusion of 2012 the US Eventing Program will undergo a significant change. After 20 years, Capt. Mark Phillips has announced his retirement as Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor following the London Olympic Games to "give someone else the opportunity to put their stamp on the program." To date, Capt. Phillips has led the Eventing Team to 23 Team and Individual medals during his time at the helm of the program. Highlights...

Courtesy Mancini Photos (Kelley Farmer and Habana) Kelley Farmer and Habana repeated their victory in the Baby Green Hunter division, sponsored by Draper Equine Therapy, at the Equestrian Sport Productions New Year’s Show. It was the second victory in the Baby Green Hunter Championship during the winter show circuit for Farmer and the four-year-old gelding Habana, who is owned by the Spencer Ranch, home of Popeye K, the 2008 and 2009 USEF Hunter Breeding Sire of the Year. “It is very exciting...

Photo by Amy McCool (Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister ) Lexington, KY – Before a packed house at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders in Frankfurt, Germany, American rider Kassandra Barteau saved her best performance for last with GP Raymeister and finished second in the ‘B Group’ of the Freestyle. In her last year of Young Rider competition, the 21-year-old from Maple Park, IL and the 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by Grand Prix Equestrian and Ginna Frantz, scored 68....