Champion Megan MacPherson and reserve champion Hannah von Heidegger with Caraneen Smith of Bigeq.com (Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. ) Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show opened up competition today at the Show Place Arena. This is the first day of the Capital Challenge Equitation Championship Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 7. The North American Junior Flat Equitation Championship is a fun and competitive class...

The fifteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend our barn attended the first Western Dressage classes in our area. It was a beautiful day to ride in a beautiful venue at a facility where the idea of western dressage has been warmly accepted. It was such a nice feeling to share space with dressage riders and enthusiasts, most of whom were very curious about the discipline. We rode all the North American Western Dressage Tests through Level 4 and found the tests...

Devon, PA - Friday was the first full day of performance classes plus wonderful exhibitions by Aussie horseman Guy McLean and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association Quadrille. “Remember Hope; this is your dream to do dressage at Devon,” said Guy McLean to his horse, Hope, explaining to the audience that following his performance last year they had a conversation that ended with a commitment by both horse and rider to perform dressage in the Dixon. Later on the Delaware...

Upper Marlboro, MD – Many of the top horses in the country will travel from near and far to compete next week at the 2012 Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by The Gochman Family, in Upper Marlboro, MD. The show runs September 29 through October 7 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center and will feature many horses that are currently at the top of the national standings for their divisions for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Meet some of this year's...

Winner of Hanovarian class Age 2 and under Francheska AH (Project Marketing) Devon, PA - Dressage at Devon attendees were treated to an amazing array of individual breed classes in the world’s largest open Breed Show. From Andulusians to Gypsy Vanners, and Hanovarians to Knabstruppers, each breed had the opportunity to show off its unique qualities. In the Hanovarian – Age 2 and under, Francheska AH (Fielding/SPS Malena), bred and owned by Kate Palmquist, took home the blue. In the...

Woodside, CA - Derek di Grazia has done a substantial redesign of his cross-country course for the Woodside International Horse Trials, which will take place on Oct. 5-7, presented by Professional’s Choice and Equine Insurance of California. Di Grazia says he’s changed five combinations on the course for the featured CIC3* division, and he’s also made numerous alterations for the CIC2* and CIC1* divisions. “Because we did quite a bit last year, when Woodside became an...

Tony Suraci on stage as The Highwayman (Galway Downs Press Office) Temecula, CA - Riders and fans will see an even more attractive competition site when they return to the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event on Nov. 1-4. More than 500 new trees now further enhance the grounds, and 15 acres of grass polo fields have been installed in the center of the racetrack. But the trees are just the beginning of the steps organizer Robert Kellerhouse has taken to make the Galway Downs International...

Back in the US after a very successful European tour, Chester Weber continued his winning ways by driving his team to victory in the Advanced Horse Fours at the Hermitage Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, FL – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, rocked the results in Europe over the summer – driving away with the Individual Silver and Team Bronze medals at the 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships. Now...

Damocles HLF was awarded the My Dave Perpetual Memorial Trohpy (Hoof Print Images) S eptember 25, 2012 - The sun was shining all day for the first day of Dressage at Devon 2012. Days 1 – 3 are the world-renowned Breed Show with Young Horse/Sport Horse, Mature Horse/Breeding Horse, and Under Saddle Classes for horses 3 years and up. Weighting of scores for Young Horse classes is based 60% on movement, 30% on confirmation, and 10% on general impression. While all the classes are exciting...

Michael Hughes wins the Region 1 ASPCA Maclay Regionals (Anne Gittins Photography) It was a full weekend for junior riders as the final four regions concluded their ASPCA Maclay Regionals. The anticipation was tangible as the nation's top riders competed for the chance to attend the prestigious ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals during the Alltech National Horse Show this fall at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Michael Hughes captured the first place honors for Region 1, with Lillie...