McLain Ward and Wings (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its fifth week of competition on Wednesday with a win for two-time U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward and his mount, Wings, in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 led the way through a large part of the class, but were bested by Ward and Wings at the very end and finished in second place. Week five of the FTI Consulting...

Jessica Spracklin The Dressage Foundation's Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund has recently awarded a grant to young rider Jessica Spracklin and grants to professional instructors, Kathy Knappitsch and Patricia Deasy, to support their dressage education. Jessica Spracklin of Hamilton, OH, was awarded $800 to attend Lendon Gray’s 2014 Winter Intensive Training program. This three month program takes place in Wellington, FL, and creates well-rounded elite equestrian athletes. “My...

Josephina Nor Lantzman and Chello Z were the only pair to ride clear over Olaf Petersen Jr.’s first-round track to secure an early victory in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, Calif. - As the dust settled from World Cup week at HITS Desert Horse Park, Josephina Nor Lantzman piloted her own Chello Z to the top of a 29-horse field in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The highlight for Nor Lantzman was that...

College Station, Texas. – It wasn’t easy, but the Georgia Bulldogs improved to 7-2 (3-1 SEC) with a one-point, 10-9, road victory over the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. Georgia’s dominance of equitation on the flat proved to be difference maker. With the Aggies taking 3-2 wins in equitation over fences and reining, and riding to a 2-2 tie in horsemanship, the Bulldogs were saved by a dominant 4-1 win on the flat. The Bulldogs head home for the first time since fall this...

Darragh Kenny and Quiz (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held on Friday with a win for Darragh Kenny and Spruce Meadow's Quiz. The class saw 23 entries with 5 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off and three double clears. Kenny and Quiz earned top honors in 41.05 seconds. McLain Ward (USA) and Kantunaro, owned by Ellen Holtgers and David Paige, finished second, clearing the course in 41.17 seconds. Alexa Pessoa (USA) and Rodrigo...

Spencer Smith and Beau Van Het Keysershof (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Spencer Smith and Ashland Farm's Beau Van Het Keysershof, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood, topped the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search on Friday morning at the FTI WEF. This was the second week in a row the pair collected the top prize for the class. Second place went to Victoria Colvin with Stallone VDL and the top three was rounded out by Lilly Ulrich and Vocus. The top ten riders over fences were...

Ashlee Bond Clarke and Chela LS are sitting pretty moving into FEI World Cup qualifying at HITS Thermal. They won their second grand prix of the circuit on Thursday in the $33,500 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, C.A. - Ashlee Bond Clarke of Hidden Hills, California has had her eye on Chela LS for years. The big-bodied chestnut mare was the ride of Simon Nizri before Bond Clarke purchased Chela LS in July. It was then that she realized just how...

Cross Plains, Wis. - The American Driving Society (ADS) is pleased to announce plans for a new head-to-head driven North American Championship, in addition to the popular calculated Intermediate Championship offered since 2009. The North American Preliminary and the North American Intermediate Championships will be driven championships, each taking place over a single competition weekend. The original Championship will be renamed The North American Calculated Intermediate Championship and...

Darragh Kerins and Decia Van Het Molenhof (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Wellington, Fla. - Although the clouds hung dauntingly overhead, a field of 38 competitors warmed up for the fourth week of the Ridge at Wellington's Turf Tour. Held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, the 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers saw top international riders contend for the top spot in today's two classes. Ireland's Darragh Kerins rode to the pinnacle of the ranks during the first class, while Ali...

Avery Klunick goes through a jumping exercise with In It to Win It (USEF Archive) Lexington, Ky . – Participants chosen for the 2014 USEF Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program took part in training sessions with USEF Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor on both the East and West Coasts to prepare for the competition season. The first sessions took place January 14-17 at Tucolata Creek Ranch in Temecula, Calif., for West Coast-based riders, with the East Coast-based riders participating...