Margie Engle and Ashland Farms' Lord Spezi on course in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — With competition taking place in 10 different show rings and more than 1,600 horses on the premises, the opening week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson summer series is going like gangbusters, proving that Saugerties, New York is the place to be this summer. Olympian Margie Engle...

Manuel Torres and Chambacunero. (ESI Photography©.) Saugerties, NY - The HITS winter show season just passed the mid-way point for all three of its circuits in Ocala, FL, Tucson, AZ, and Thermal, CA. As the leading show management company in the sport, HITS hosts 35 weeks of competition each year, with 58 Grand Prix and some of the biggest prize money purses offered anywhere in the world, including the historic Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. At its peak, HITS hosts six Grand Prix events a week...

Bob Langrish (Vaulter Megan Benjamin won an Individual Gold medal.) (Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last 30 world championships....

The annual convention of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) was a resounding success. More than 300 Morgan enthusiasts enjoyed the week-long event held in Lexington, KY, February 15-18. The week was filled with exciting demonstrations and interesting seminars, as well as the AMHA Board of Directors quarterly meeting. The annual stallion service auction, which had more than 70 stallions, brought in nearly $140,000, which will be split between the Association's ten regional shows, the...

Blaine Mangione takes a break from the jumper ring to win the $1,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Bella Nova Pictures) Versatility was the name of the game as riders transitioned between the equitation, hunter, and jumper rings at Gold Coast 5 (July 19-21). Young professional Blaine Mangione, usually seen in the jumper arena, proved she could win the blue ribbon in $1,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby as well. “I was really shocked! I’m usually in the middle of the pack so I honestly...

Albuquerque, NM - Beautiful southwest skies greeted attendees to the Welsh Pony & Cob Society Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, NM. The convention provided a chance for friends and competitors to visit and celebrate the successes of 2010 and make 2011 plans. An open schedule and planned tour provided ample opportunity to explore nearby museums, cultural exhibits and plenty of shopping in nearby Old Town and Santa Fe. • The Annual General Meeting revealed election results, welcoming new Board...

OKLAHOMA CITY - Horses considered as gypsy cob, gypsy vanner and other similar types are now eligible for registration with the Pinto Horse Association of America. Relaxing the rules on draft characteristics, the PtHA is offering a new classification of equines. According to the new rules, horses showing feathers on their legs are now acceptable as long as they are registered with an approved outcross breed association as determined by the PtHA Rule Book and meet the standard color requirements...

Lexington, KY (November 12, 2010) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Naomi Martin of Brooks, OR, has been selected as the recipient of the 2010 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery and sponsored by the USDF Youth Programs Advisory Subcommittee. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed on a national and local basis to USDF and dressage. As the recipient of this award, Naomi’s...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup is in the final stages of planning for the very exciting 2010 International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup competition, to be held October 6-8 in conjunction with the Kentucky Fall Classic Horse Show at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. This year’s event will be the largest Saddle Seat World Cup event in history as U.S. Team will be taking on three- and five-gaited teams from Canada, Germany, Great Britain and South Africa. In addition to the...

Lexington, KY (September 15, 2010) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Certified Instructors from the testing held August 6-8, 2010 in Mt. Holyoke, MA. The USDF Instructor Certification program is designed to set a standard of excellence in dressage training and instruction in the United States and to educate dressage riders, instructors, and aspiring instructors. New USDF Certified Instructors include; Jennifer Verharen of Vashon...