Quotable and Holly Orlando (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - The hunters have officially taken over the International Arena during week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Week seven showcases hunter competition at its finest as riders and horses go head-to-head as they battle to qualify for Saturday night's USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Holly Orlando and Kelley Farmer took home an...

Wellington, FL - Upon review of the process and after consultation with the FEI, it has been confirmed that the current rules regarding the elimination process were followed to the letter. Before she left the official equipment check area ringside, the rider was informed by the FEI Chief Steward that the Judge at C had made the decision based on Article 428.8 and Article 430.7.6 that the horse must be eliminated due to the evidence of fresh blood. On behalf of Wellington Classic Dressage and...

Laurie Stevens and Iceman (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Iceman and Laurie Stevens were triumphant for the second week in a row at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The duo received championship honors in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Older (Section A) division during week one before taking home the championship again in week two. Stevens, of Boca Raton, FL, and her eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding placed first and eighth over fences on...

Finalists for the 2013 PagePlay Equestrian Social Media Awards were announced today with the United States Equestrian Federation and USEF Network each recieving one nomination. Ten finalists have been nominated in each of the 33 categories and voting is now open to the public. Winners will be determined 75% from scores give by this panel of judges , and 25% from votes of the public. The United States Equestrian Federation is a finalist for the "Best Use of Social Media in North America" award....

Toronto, ON – It was a class, and a course, befitting a champion. Befitting the legacy of Hickstead. The inaugural $100,000 Hickstead FEI World CupTM Grand Prix tested each horse and rider every step of the way, and in the end, it was veteran Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood (Oxford Mills, ON) with her young horse George, who rode away victorious. The biggest Grand Prix class of the Royal Horse Show was renamed during last year’s event, in honour of Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s...

Alexandra Lawson is a 19-year-old freshman at Purdue University from North Salem, Indiana. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. I've spent most of my life in the small farm communities of Danville and North Salem, Indiana. My parents and maternal grandparents are grain farmers - farming about 5,000 acres in the surrounding area. When you grow up in farm country, you just naturally get involved with FFA and 4-H, and it was through 4-H that...

Emily Chapman is an 18-year-old from Tucson, Arizona who will be attending the University of Kentucky in the Spring of 2013. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. There is a misconception that equitation is easy, and that the riders who show in this division simply “sit pretty” on a horse. So people often ask why I chose to compete in the equitation division over other divisions. Well, because one of the primary goals of equitation...

Rebecca Hart receiving 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship Award from Ann Romney. Photograph (c)Sue Stickle Photography at SusanJStickle.com New York, NY - On Wednesday October 10th, U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart of Unionville, Penn. will be showcased on ABC's Good Morning America. Hart will accompany Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in New York's Times Square. Mrs. Romney and Rebecca Hart will be speaking about how horses have...

Andrea Bennett and Caliente earned double victories at the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, capturing the blue ribbons in the Children's/Adult Jumpers and Children's/Adult Jumper Speed Class. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Buffalo, NY - It was a brisk morning as the third day of the 66th Buffalo International Horse Show greeted competitors. Today commenced with a full morning of hunter action with horse and rider combinations competing to win top honors and prize money in their respective...

Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy made a clean sweep of the High Performance Hunter division at the Buffalo International Horse Show. Not only did the pair capture the division's championship, but they were also awarded the Grand Hunter Championship for their efforts throughout the professional division.(Kendall Bierer/PMG) Buffalo, NY - It was the second day of the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, and the competition was fierce as the hunter action continued. Today marked the closing...