Birmingham, Ala. - The third season of Southeastern Conference equestrian begins on Friday when a pair of SEC squads open their campaigns. Auburn travels to UT-Martin for an 11 a.m. ET contest, while South Carolina visits Kansas State at 2 p.m. ET. Texas A&M opens its 2014-15 season on September 25 when it plays host to UT-Martin, while Georgia begins on October 3 by traveling to South Carolina. Each of the four equestrian programs of the SEC are among the nation’s top-10 teams,...

Phillip Dutton and Connaught (Mike McNally) Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation mourns the loss of champion eventing horse Connaught, who was laid to rest on September 17, 2014 due to complications from old age. With longtime rider, Phillip Dutton, the 1993 Irish Sport Horse gelding represented the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games, in addition to representing Dutton’s native Australia at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Connaught was twice named Rolex/USEF...

North Salem, N.Y. - The sold-out crowd of nearly 6,000 fans cheered following the conclusion of Sunday afternoon's $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W held at the idyllic Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York. Jessica Springsteen flashed a huge smile as she raised the prestigious American Gold Cup trophy high above her head. Springsteen and Vindicat W bested a field of 32 other qualified international entries to add their names to the list of accomplished riders and horses who have won the...

William Whitaker and Upper Class (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta - Competition continued at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' with two great competitions for show jumping on the Friday schedule. William Whitaker (GBR) became the fifth rider in the Whitaker family to record a victory at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament. He and Upper Class were the fastest of three double clears to win the $210,000 Tourmaline Cup 1.60m. The $125,000 ATCO Electric...

Catherine Tyree (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) Calgary, Alberta - Catherine Tyree is having her own bit of a win streak, but for Tyree the streak today came within just one class. The Northwestern University sophomore took both of the top two spots in the morning's $3,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed class. She claimed the victory aboard her own Wetter and finished in a close second with Free Style Van Polderhof. "I'm so happy. Both horses were so great. I couldn't...

Jordan Marmul and Borencio won both Junior Hunter over fences classes in Section B (Chicago Equestrian) Wayne, Ill. - Junior hunters took to the Wisconsin Equine Hunter Ring at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. The show is the host of the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association's (IHJA) medal final competition and the Midwest Marshall and Sterling Championships. Some junior riders were warming up for the big weekend despite the cold temperatures and...

North Salem, N . Y. - When Darragh Kenny and Gatsby entered the ring as one of the last to go in today's $34,000 Don Little Memorial Welcome Stake, the time to beat sat at 76.040 seconds. That time, held by Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W, had been set nearly 50 rounds before and looked like it would remain untouchable. But by the time Kenny and Gatsby trotted off the grass grand prix field at Old Salem Farm, they had blown Springsteen's time out of the water by nearly 5.5 seconds...

Freddie Vazquez rode CR Moet to the Performance 3'6" Hunter Championship (Phelps Media Group, inc. International) Wayne, Ill. - The professional hunter divisions wrapped up as unseasonably cold weather moved into the Chicago area at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Show manager Patrick Boyle makes the highly anticipated fall championship a favorite of many exhibitors with fantastic awards, beautiful courses and a most memorable medal finals day. The show...

Lisa Goldman and Morocco sped to the top of the $10,000 Welcome Stake in 32.842 seconds during the Showplace Productions Fall Classic Championship. (Phelps Media Group) Wayne, Ill. - The air was crisp and the horses fresh as the Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show got underway at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. The LUXMAX USA Grand Prix Ring was alive with action early in the morning with the Young Jumper Championships, but the heat turned up later in the day when riders faced off...

Lauren Hough and Ohlala (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta - Weather conditions were markedly improved for today's opening competition of the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament. While originally scheduled to start yesterday, snowfall, downed trees, and power outages pushed the start of all competition to Thursday at the 'Masters', the first instance of a complete day's reschedule of competition in the 39-year history of Spruce Meadows tournaments. There...