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...

Michael Tokaruk and Roger Rabbit. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 16, 2011 - In an unusual class on the opening morning of week 6 at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, there was a tie for the win in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. Laura Kraut, on The Freedom Group's Dona Evita, and Michael Tokaruk with Roger Rabbit, owned by Castle Point Farm LLC, both finished the speed class with no faults and in the same time of 63.121 seconds. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's sixth...

Taylor McMurtry and Just An Illusion. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - February 16, 2011 - The sun continues to shine in Ocala after a successful first AA-rated week of show jumping at HITS Post Time Farm. High-Performance and talented hunter riders once again pleased the crowd with awe-inspiring performances in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health and $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Young star Taylor McMurtry won her first Grand Prix ever aboard her own Just An Illusion...

Last March I made my inaugural visit to Wellington, FL and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for CSIO week, which included the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by CN. My partner in crime, Melissa Davis, and I set-up our Merchandise “Fort” and sold-out of nearly all the USA and patriotic coats, polos and hats we’d shipped down. Unseasonably chilly temperatures for Palm Beach...

Steffen Peters and Ravel. (Photo by Susan J. Stickle.) Wellington, FL - February 14, 2011 - Eight North American riders have been invited to the 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place on March 9-11. The invitations include the world's leading American and Canadian dressage riders, Steffen Peters and Ashley Holzer. Peters, riding Akiko Yamazaki's gelding Ravel, won the individual Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle...

Hayley Barnhill and Casallo. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - Today's competition was the wrap-up of week 5 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3. Numbers were soaring today as competitors and spectators alike came to enjoy the sunshine and the horses. Among those competitors were the older section of Large Junior Hunters. Casallo was awarded the championship honor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters. Hayley Barnhill was aboard the John...

Nick Skelton and Big Star. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - The fifth week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with the $25,00 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic, and it was Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, who proved victorious over a field of 65 entries. Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, designed today's courses and set a first-round track that 11 combinations would clear....

Laura Kraut and Cedric. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 12, 2011 - An exciting jump-off topped off a fantastic class this evening in the $150,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm, as Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric added another grand prix victory to their tally at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Following their win in the $78,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix last Sunday, Kraut and Cedric bested an all-star field tonight with a picture perfect...

Grace Stuntz and Fitzhugh. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 12, 2011 - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued today and the hunter divisions were popular and competitive. Among the lucky riders who got to show in the afternoon when the sun was shining, were the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3'3" Hunters, presented by Illustrated Properties. Grace Stuntz was aboard her own mount Fitzhugh for the tricolor win this evening. Week 5 marks the second week this season that Stuntz and...