North Salem, NY - Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward was back in the saddle and back in the winner’s circle as he rode Emma to win the 7 & 8 Year Old 1.40m Young Jumper class at the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows in North Salem, NY. Ward, Brewster, NY, returning to the horse show circuit for the first time since fracturing his kneecap in January, showed no ill effects from the long layoff that put him out of action for more than 3 months and caused him to miss the Olympic trials....

Fairfield, CT - Never before in its 39-year history had an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association hunter seat team coach won two IHSA National Championships for two different colleges or universities. But that was before Mary Drueding. Drueding, already selected by the IHSA nominating committee to receive its Lifetime Achievement Award, demonstrated an irrefutable argument in defense of her coaching excellence and expertise as her St. Lawrence University Saints hunter seat team clinched the...

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $35,000 Welcome Cup at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic's Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy scored two blue ribbons at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in the High Performance Hunters, sweeping the first day of classes. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - Riders gathered at the Stonelea Ring to face the demanding hunter course as the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show got underway. They were greeted with a brisk morning air, and a cloud filled sky, as the divisions commenced with top riders from across the nation competing for the winning honors...

Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) wrapped up its fourth week of the 2012 spring horse show series at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) this week. The ESP Spring 4 show ran May 4-6 featuring "A" rated hunter and 3-star jumper competition. The five-show spring series will conclude this week with ESP's Spring 5 horse show on May 12-13 featuring "C" rated hunter and 3-star jumper competition. Highlights will include a $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic...

a guest blog post fom Mary Cox The following three ideas may take being somewhat adventuresome but trust me, the result will make it all worth it ! First, research a local stone fabricator in your area. A fabricator makes the template and cuts the stone for granite, marble or stone countertops. Once you’ve located one, pay them a visit and remember to put on your best “I’m a Tack Hoarder – help me” face. Then ask them very sweetly if you can do some “Dumpster...

Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the Jacqueline B. Mars Domestic Competition and Training Grant has been awarded to Jolie Wentworth of Martinez, CA. The grant is given to an Eventing rider who has been identified and recommended by the USEF Eventing Selectors, with an impressive record and potential to represent the United States in future international competition. Wentworth began riding at the young age of seven, and one of her earliest...

President of Taylor Harris Insurance Services Michael Taylor. (Kenneth Kraus) Middleburg, VA - Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) announced the debut of the all-new Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge. This unique challenge offers a spectacular $200,000 top prize for any show jumping rider that can put together back to back to back wins at three of the nation's most prestigious grand prix events. The three events included in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge are the $100,000...

Ruth Carlson, chair of the FEI Endurance Committee; Ian Williams, FEI Director, Non-Olympic Sports; Brian Sheehan, FEI Endurance Committee member, at today’s Round Table. (Edouard Curchod/FEI) Lausanne, SUI - The Endurance Round Table session, which shared the final morning of the FEI Sports Forum with the Eventing Round Table, attracted representatives of National Federations (NFs) and veterinarians for discussion on proposed rule changes that will be presented to the FEI General Assembly 2012...

a guest blog post fom Mary Cox I sold my Childeric close contact jump saddle today. I had left if off at the local tack store only a week before so when the phone call came that they had a buyer I hung up and found myself almost in tears! The decision to sell my favorite saddle was due to the cold hard fact that I hadn’t jumped in more than 5 years, my passion has been Dressage for quite some time and I thought it was “time”. But my reaction to the phone call was...