Double Olympic Gold medalist Beezie Madden won her first grand prix of the 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Thursday, March 12, aboard Onlight in Round X of the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup Series. Madden of Cazenovia, NY, and Onlight, owned by Team Onlight, were the only double-clear round from the initial 49 entries for the class in the DeNemethy arena. Only four combinations made it to the jump-off on the the course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. The time by...

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y once again was the tournament of champions with Olympians like Lisa Wilcox and Courtney King-Dye in the winner’s circle during the four-day event, February 26-March 1. Classes in four rings meant strong competition for each ribbon in front of renowned international judging panels. Even the national classes were scored by the great Uwe Mechlem. Competitors and spectators alike were treated to special activities that can only be found at the Derby, such as...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, is proud to name its top point-earning amateurs for 2008. Natacha Lesburgueres of Louisville, KY, earned 532 points, becoming the adult amateur winner, while Collier McLeod of Augusta, GA, earned 522.5 points for the youth amateur top spot. The AHA Amateur Achievement Award program began in 2002 and has since tracked the points that individual riders, handlers and drivers earn each year. In 2008 the program was adjusted to recognize adults and...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce a very special opportunity for equestrians. The Gold Medal Olympic Show Jumping Clinic Series will be held at the historic training facility at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, NJ. The series will offer a spring clinic with 1984 U.S. Olympic Team Gold medalist Joe Fargis and will continue in the fall with 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Gold medalist McLain Ward. The clinics will benefit the USET Foundation in their pursuit...

Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa clinched a berth in the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas with a win Saturday night aboard his Olympic mount Rufus in the $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Spy Coast Farm, at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington. Michelle Spadone of Califon, NJ, on the Belgian Warmblood mare, Melisimo, who has never seen a World Cup Final and was a last-minute addition placed second in the competition with 45 starters from nine countries. Among them were...

Exhibitors who made their way to the desert for the start of the 2009 HITS Desert Circuit will be treated to a perfect week of Southern California weather and an exciting week of equestrian competition that started on January 20 at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. All of the show rings will be action-packed for the next eight weeks as junior, amateur and professional riders start off a new year of competition. Some will be riding new mounts purchased in the fall, while others will be...

Lexington, KY— This year’s USEF Horses of Honor have been decided and your vote will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. With the 2009 USEF Annual Meeting around the corner, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar...

Southern Living magazine recently photographed Silver medalist combined driver Chester Weber at his farm in Ocala, for an upcoming article in the magazine. Known for bringing readers the best of everyday life in the South, Southern Living journeyed to Weber’s Live Oak Stud for a chance to capture the magnificent farm and the man behind the name that has become synonymous with combined driving. The article and photos will appear in the Florida People and Places section of Southern Living and...

Lexington, KY— Following the decision of the General Assembly FEI Registration has been mandatory for all riders and horses competing in FEI competitions since January 1, 2006. Beginning January 1, 2009, any points acquired at a Competition where the rider or horse are not registered for that Competition year will not be included in the cumulative points. Competitions may not let these riders and/ or horses compete. However, registration is not required for riders and horses who participate...

The world-renowned Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will open its arenas to one of the most unconventional competitions in its more than 113-year history as it welcomes Mustang Magic January 23-24. Mustang Magic, developed from the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions, will debut at the 2009 Stock Show and feature 13 trainers from across the country that have already shown their mettle as Mustang trainers. The trainers are as unique as the horses they are training, with...