Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos) In honor of the Fourth of July holiday weekend and to wrap up four weeks of competition managed by Blenheim EquiSports, the $25,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix presented by the St. Regis Monarch Beach, invited 19 horse-and-rider duos onto the Michel Vaillancourt-designed course at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Vaillancourt remarked, “I think today’s course dimensions are very worthy of this class. It is...

Photo by Randi Muster (Kelley Farmer will return to Horse Shows by the Bay for her second year.) The 2010 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is pleased to welcome many of the country's top horses and riders to northern Michigan this summer for four weeks of exceptional equestrian competition. Set in the heart of scenic Traverse City, MI, competitors will enjoy world-class competition at the beautiful Flintfields Horse Park from July 8 through August 1, 2010. Dressage by the Bay Series I...

Photo Courtesy Continental Divide Horse Show (Terri Rickford’s equine portraits are given as trophies in the Continental Divide Horse Show Championship classes and have proven to be extremely popular.) What is more beautiful than the northern plains of Colorado in late August with the snow capped Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. This is the scene that will greet the exhibitors of the 42nd Annual Continental Divide Horse Show. Continental Divide started out in 1968 as a Morgan horse show but as...

Photo by Gary Mills (Culver Academies historic Black Horse Troop.) Culver Academies, known for their historic Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes horsemanship units will bring their traditions to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies on September 25. “I am very excited Culver has been chosen,” said Mark Waller, Director of Instruction at Culver. “I’m confident that we can really put on a good show and give a good impression of Culver’s riding program.” The Culver riding...

Photo by Sarah Wheeler (Jeri Bryant, with her horse, Baby.) The riders4helmets National Helmet Awareness Day, set for July 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park, is shaping up to be a big event. It has attracted the support of major equestrian stars, organizations, retailers and helmet manufacturers from across the United States. The first of its kind, the event was created to support the riders4helmets national campaign, designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets....

Johnny Robb (right), the Director of Marketing for the American Shetland Pony Club and Lori Nelson (left), USEF Assistant Executive Director, National Affiliates are excited about the new USEF Shetland Member High Point Awards. Small equines from all across the nation who attend the 122nd Shetland Pony Congress Show this year will not only compete for national championship titles but will also have the chance to win one of the new USEF Shetland Member High Point Awards provided by the United...

Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Daniel Geitner and Sympa) Classic Company’s Atlanta Summer Finale week was chocked full of big action, but the highlight was the debut of the Open Musical Freestyle Equitation Classic on Saturday evening under the bright lights of the former Olympic arena. Horses, riders, and the masses watching were all tapping toes to the various beats. Brought to life by Classic Company President Bob Bell, the Musical Freestyle, open to both adults and juniors, gave...

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a personalized play-by-play as you watch athletes compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games? Well, you’re in luck. World Equestrian Radio is providing a personal radio service at the 2010 Games that will allow listeners to have a live commentary streaming through their ears as they watch the events. “It is a live radio station of what is going on at the Games,” said Brian O’Connor, equine announcer and co-director of World Equestrian Radio. O’Connor, who...

Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Mandy Porter and LaMarque) The $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix, presented by EquiFit, Inc., welcomed 24 horse-and-rider teams onto the Peter Holmes-designed course at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. With seven riders, six of them women, earning spots in the jump-off, it was the second to last duo of Mandy Porter and Wild Turkey Farm’s young stallion, LaMarque, who led the victory gallop. Porter also qualified her other mount, Chesapeake (Wild Turkey...

Photo by Reflections Photography (Vocas owned by Louisburg Farm and and ridden by McLain Ward, was the winner of the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix.) McLain Ward aboard Vocas owned by Louisburg Farm emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, CT. Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon,...