Richard Spooner and Cristallo. (Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's seventh week of competition continued on Thursday afternoon with round seven of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series. Held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the class saw a total of 59 entries with 16 jumping clear to return for the jump-off. After arriving in Wellington just three days ago, California's Richard Spooner and his top mount Cristallo...

Tampa, FL - February 24, 2011 - The city of Tampa, FL, will once again play host to one of the world's premiere show jumping event, as the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm, returns to Raymond James Stadium on April 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Once again, the stellar event bears the name of the founder of the class, Stadium Jumping's legendary Gene Mische, who first brought the event to the Tampa Bay area in 1973. Mische died recently after a long and hard fought...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is accepting bids to host the 2012 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today. The USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals takes place between mid June and mid August and offers two age categories: 13 & Under and 14-18. If you are interested in bidding on these Finals, please contact Jeannie Putney, USEF Director of National Dressage before May 1st for more information at [email protected]. ENDS If you have any further...

CALENDAR DD Mighty Hector. (Photo courtesy SHN Payback, Inc.) Columbia, MD Sport Horse National Payback (SHN Payback) today announced the top winners for the 2010 season. Mirage V+++// with two Reserve Championships and three Top Ten wins narrowly captured Super Stallion honors. Beth Conti of Catori Creek Arabians in Arizona received a trophy, ribbon, and custom embroidered cooler. The prizes were donated in memory of the 2008 Top SHN Payback Sire, Bey Oro, owned by Mark and Tania Dunlap. KB...

Sharon McCusker and Wrigley with Anne Gribbons (Eva Salomon/USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - Dressage riders in Florida had the opportunity to hone their skills with USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons and USEF Developing Dressage Coach Debbie McDonald in a USEF Observation Session, February 14-15. Ten riders and 12 horses took part in the two day session which followed a weekend of competition for many at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge CDI-W. Held at Walter and Mary Anne McPhail's High...

Interagro, a stallion participating in the 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. (Photo courtesy of Tupa.) Wellington, FL – The 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction is right around the corner, and fans of the magnificent Lusitano breed are thrilled to learn that the horses taking part in this year’s highly anticipated auction have settled in Florida. Hosted by the Lusitano Collection, the auction is considered the social event of the season and will take place...

Shawna Harding. (Photo by Susan J. Stickle.) Lincoln, NE – The Board of Directors of The Dressage Foundation announced that Shawna Harding of Aiken, SC, is a recipient of the 2011 “Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize” in the amount of $25,000. The purpose of the Prize, established at The Dressage Foundation, is to provide financial assistance for coaching and training to a talented, committed, qualified rider whose plan is to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high...

Hadji and Palmer-DuRoss. (Steven Bradley Photography.) Aurora, CO - Hadji Halef Omar (Centavo x ZA Sabbaths Joy), a 1992 grey gelding, owned by Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss of Queen Creek, AZ. has been named the 2010 AHA Distance Horse of the Year. The 10-year veteran of endurance competition has taken Palmer-DuRoss over 5,810 miles, a journey for which she is very grateful. “I am nominating Hadji for the Distance Horse of the Year Award in appreciation for all the beautiful places he has taken me...

Alexandria Desiderio and TL Foolin Around+. (Photo by Don Stine.) Aurora, CO - Earning 522.5 points might come naturally for the 2010 Youth Amateur of the Year Alexandria Desiderio, from Chester, NJ. "It kinda happened by accident—I didn't go out of my way—I just show so much now, it's crazy," says Desiderio. But you can't really say Desiderio's points came easily; unless 30-plus hours a week in the saddle sounds easy. Desiderio came by her 522.5 points with the help of three horses at 13...

Scott Stewart and Inclusive. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 17, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued on Thursday with World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) hunter competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All of the rated professional hunter divisions concluded today and awarded championship honors for week six. Champion and reserve champion horses will qualify to compete in the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular on Friday evening,...