Equestrian Sports Productions (ESP), owner and manager of the FTI 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), is busy with the final preparations to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) for the January 12 opening day. ESP has spent millions of dollars since the last circuit to ensure that the experience for both customers and horses will be excellent in the New Year. Mark Bellissimo, Chief Executive Officer of ESP, and Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP),...

Equestrian Sport Productions has begun the upgrade of both the Gene Mische Grand Hunter Arena and the Rost Arena with the world class "Poels" Footing that is currently installed in the Magavoro, Denemethy, and the International Arenas. Work commenced this week and will be completed by mid-December well in advance of Week 1 of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins on January 13, 2010. Equestrian Services International, LLC, a Bart Poels Footing Company, will be installing the...

In the first 10 days since the launch of a new web-based volunteer registry system, nearly 4,000 new volunteers have already signed up online for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The World Games 2010 Foundation estimates that at least 6,000 volunteers will be needed to work before and during the Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25-October 10, 2010 in Lexington, KY. “The response we have received is heartwarming and overwhelming,” said Cathy Rutter,...

St. Andrews Presbyterian College (Laurinburg, NC) edged out Centenary College (Hackettstown, NJ) to claim the team championship at the 30th Annual ANRC National Intercollegiate Riding Championship on April 21-22, 2007. St. Andrews finished with 161.30 points, compared to Centenary’s 160.73. Goucher College (Maryland) was a close third, with 159.29. Defending champions, Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia), settled into fourth place. Centenary rider Eleanor Kunsman won the overall...

Riding For Reading, a non-profit organization (501 (c)3) dedicated to promoting reading, literacy, and education through equestrian sports and activities, is pleased to announce that it has received two important grants to augment its 2007 budget. The Equus Foundation selected Riding For Reading as a recipient of one of its 2007 grants, and the United States Hunter Jumper Association also provided a grant. These grants will be used to help fund Riding For Reading’s equestrian based literacy...

Lexington, KY— It’s fast, easy to use, and saves you the hassle of fumbling with multiple sets of membership cards from both the USEF, and USDF or USHJA to enter a competition. The USEF Affiliate Verification Service is now operational and can be accessed through the USEF website, www.usef.org; the USDF website, www.usdf.org and the USHJA website, www.ushja.org, or at www.eqverification.org. The service allows you to search and then print your owner and rider USEF membership data, and...

As equestrians, we’re no strangers to travel. Our horses aren’t either. We travel for competitions, for business, and on chance occasions when sunshine lures us out of the barn, we sometimes travel just for fun. Regardless of our reasons, we know what we want on these trips. We want value. We want no-hassle solutions. We want peace of mind. And whenever possible, we want simple one-stop answers that offer all of the above! Try renting a car from Hertz. Trips become a little more...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

Western Dressage clinics are rolling all over the nation. Here in the Pacific Northwest one clinic series has been endorsed by our USDF Region 6 Director, Donna Longacre. Her lifetime of experience in the dressage world combined with her judging experience in both dressage and western disciplines makes her uniquely qualified to comment on Western Dressage training and judging. I am so excited to have created a clinic series that carries such an endorsement as I continue to try to present...

First-place winner McLain Ward. Photo: Curtis Wallis. New Albany, OH – The New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day hit a record high of 20,000 guests visiting the home of Abigail and Les Wexner in New Albany today. USA rider McClain Ward captured his second Classic trophy aboard Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, winning his first New Albany Classic in 2004 with mount Goldika. The Classic hosted a total of 28 riders from around the world including six Olympic competitors and...