Victoria Colvin, pictured here with Don Juan, leads the Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix Series standings heading into the final event on Sunday, March 23, at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - This year’s Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series (AFYRGPS), presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, has been bigger and better than ever. Now in its fourth year, the AFYRGPS has attracted more than 50...

John French and Comex Gold lead the West Coast in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - The West Coast came out on top this year as they swept the top five spots in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge. John French of Woodside, California was the inevitable winner when he piloted Comex Gold to scores of 90 and 94 for amateur rider Lee Kellogg Sadrian. “Comex Gold is a great, quiet, beautiful mover and he actually goes better for...

Eduardo Menezes and Coupido Mercedes Benz jump to the top spot in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, the day before the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix takes the stage at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Just six months ago, Coupido Mercedes Benz was showing in 1.30m classes, but he carried Eduardo Menezes to a win this weekend in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, topping a field of 34 to claim the blue. Menezes was pleased with the win...

Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Laura Lee Montross, of Bedford, NY, took home another championship title with her own Nairobi Nights at the FTI WEF. The pair won the $5,000 Peggy Cone Adult Amateur Classic during World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week earlier this season at the FTI WEF, and followed up that win with a week ten division championship title in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over division on Friday morning. Nairobi Nights, a...

The Strongid© C 2X™ Grand Prix Stadium will again welcome the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Sunday, March 16 (Lindsay Yandon) Thermal, Calif. - HITS, Inc. is proud to announce the final list of riders set to compete in Sunday’s AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach, at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. With the touch-down of the East Coast qualified riders and manager’s picks yesterday, the list is made up of a storied cast of international...

Chester Weber and his team during the 2013 Live Oak International (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - Never has an international-level equestrian competition in the Sunshine State offered so much for so many. The Live Oak International CAI/CSI-W 2*, March 19-23, at Live Oak Plantation, will provide spectators the chance to watch some of the sport’s most celebrated equestrian athletes. Top athletes entered to compete include 2012 British Olympic Team Gold Medalist Ben Maher, 2012 Olympic Bronze...

Elizabeth Faraci and Posh (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Elizabeth Faraci, of Annapolis, MD, topped the Sylvester Center Adult Amateur 36-50 Hunter division on Sunday morning at the FTI WEF with Posh. At just five years old, Posh bested a field of experienced horses with two wins over fences and a second place finish in the hack. The reserve champion for the division was Sea Walker, owned and ridden by Nicole Oliynyk. Oliynyk and Sea Walker were sixth, fifth, sixth, and first over fences and...

Rich Fellers and Flexible were on top of their game Friday in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal. They topped an impressive field of 58 for the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, Oregon and the famed Flexible climbed the ranks at HITS Thermal on Friday to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, over a field of 58 starters. Earlier this year, the fate of 2012 USEF International Horse of the Year...

University of South Carolina junior Katherine Schmidt finished the regular season with a 21-2-1 hunt seat record, including a perfect 12-0 record in equitation over fences. Martin, Tenn. - No. 1 ranked South Carolina won 3-of-4 MVPs and overpowered Tennessee-Martin in its regular season finale on Saturday, as the Gamecocks defeated the Skyhawks, 13-7, at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion. South Carolina (11-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) wraps up the regular season with a program best 11-wins. "Very...

The American Horse Council’s initiative offers $100,000 in cash and prize incentives for engaging newcomers in horse activities. Washington, D.C., – Time to Ride, an initiative of the American Horse Council, today announced an aggressive grassroots effort designed to engage 100,000 new people with horses in a 100-day period. The “100 Day Horse Challenge” is a nationwide campaign that will expose at least 100,000 new people to hands-on horse activities while providing...