Waco, Texas. - The seeding has been determined for the upcoming Independent Championship, featuring four NCEA teams that compete as independents in the sport of equestrian and taking place this Friday and Saturday at Brookings, S.D., the NCEA Selection Committee announced Monday. Fresno State, the nation’s eighth-ranked team, will be the top seed for this weekend’s event. UT-Martin, which has been a part of the NCEA top-10 rankings this season, is the second-seeded team. Delaware...

Alexander Zetterman and Flecu (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week eleven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, concluded on Sunday with jumper action on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Sweden's Alexander Zetterman and Flecu topped the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final. Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, was the winner of the series overall. Great...

Michael Hughes topped both rounds of the HITS Equitation Championship to win aboard Landis ©ESI Photography Ocala, Fla. - Michael Hughes is on top of his equitation game with two top finishes in two days. After finishing second to Victoria Colvin in the George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation class on Friday in Wellington, he dominated both rounds of the HITS Equitation Championship to win at HITS Ocala on Saturday. All eyes were on the 28 riders who qualified throughout the HITS Ocala Winter...

Chester Weber takes his victory lap after winning his 11th USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship (Picsofyou.com) Ocala, Fla. – The competition came to a close Sunday afternoon for the drivers in the FEI Four-in-Hand division sponsored by Seminole Wellness at Live Oak International. Held in conjunction with the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship, the division’s results were decided following the cones phase. After meeting the challenge put forth by the 720-meter 19-obstacle...

Ben Maher and Aristo Z. (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - It only took 42.48 fault-free seconds for Ben Maher of Great Britain to prove why he is show jumping’s reigning Olympic Individual Gold medalist as he boldly negotiated Jane Clark’s Aristo Z over Leopoldo Palacio’s eight-fence jump-off and, in front of a full house of spectators at its John Deere stadium, clinched this year’s $50,000 CSI2*W at the 2014 Live Oak International in Ocala, FL. “It was a fantastic...

Lauren Hough and Böckmanns Lazio (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - - Lauren Hough led the victory gallop in an exciting top four finish for the women of USA in Saturday night's $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Hough and Böckmanns Lazio topped a six-horse jump-off over Laura Kraut and Nouvelle (2nd), Lucy Davis and Barron (3rd), Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks (4th), Ben Maher and Urico (5th), and Kent...

Ainsley Vince and Frieda (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The sun rose over Deeridge Farms as trailers and cars rolled through the opened gateway and down the winding path lined with beautifully manicured banyan and royal palm trees. The fog lifted from the grand prix field to reveal the course that would challenge over 50 horses for the $24,950 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale. Saturday, it was Ainsley Vince of Canada who dominated the field, riding to the top of the leader...

Manuel Fernandez Hache and Maribel H with (from left to right) Juliet W. Reid, Chester Weber, and Joan Pletcher. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com) Ocala, FL - It wasn’t just the Florida sunshine heating up the John Deere stadium at Live Oak International on Friday as the world’s best show jumping riders and horses faced off for the $5,000 Joan Pletcher Realty Speed Class and $10,000 Waldron Wealth Management Welcome Stake in Ocala. Manuel Fernandez Hache of Miami, FL and riding for...

Chester Weber and his team during the Yellowframe Farm FEI Driven Dressage. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com) Ocala, FL - The 2014 Live Oak International is underway, bringing the best competitors in show jumping and combined driving to Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida. The prestigious competition, considered the premier combined driving event in North America, was favored with flawless weather and a strong showing of appreciative spectators as the equestrian extravaganza began. Wednesday...

Jeffery Welles and Bilion (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wellington, Fla. - The final week of the Wellington Turf Tour kicked off today at Deeridge Farms. It was a heated competition, with some of the nation's top riders, both professional and amateur, going neck to neck for the top awards in the 1.30m-1.35m Jumper classes and the YJC Finals. Jeffery Welles and Bilion once again rode to the top of the leader board in the first 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, proving exactly why he sits at the pinnacle of...