Layla Choate and Plus One Chex (Waltenberry Photography) Oklahoma City, OK - Youth reiners in three age groups competed in the USEF National Youth Reining Championships at the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City Saturday evening. Layla Choate, Elizabeth Cosper, and Karl Johnson left the Adequan Arena with titles. In the 19-21 age division there was no lack of drama. When competition ended with Layla Choate (Hazel, KY) and Plus One Chex and Michael Pope (Theodore, AL) and Whizota locked in a tie at the...

Chef d'Equipe Missy Ransehousen and Lateran (Lindsay Y. McCall) Katy, TX - April 26, 2012-The inaugural day of the Houston Dressage Society Spring Classic I & II CPEDI3* kicked off with the FEI Para-Equestrian Jog. Fifteen horse and rider combinations stepped forward to be evaluated under FEI Veterinarian Dr. Mike Tomlinson and Technical Delegate Carlos Lopes, FEI "4*", FEI PE "5*" (POR). Every Para-Equestrian horse passed the veterinary check securing each of their times for Friday's...

The training session group in Texas. (Photo provided by USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - Continuing the Markel/USEF Young Horse training and observation session program, Twinwood Equestrian Center in Simonton, TX hosted the fourth session of 2012, April 14-15. Led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler, this was the first time a session has been hosted in Texas, an area that has proven to produce a wealth of successful young horses. "Texas and the surrounding area have consistently had high...

Things are nearly in full swing here in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The jumping horses all jogged yesterday and looked quite well. As I type they are familiarizing in the main arena. They also had the option to get in the ring yesterday afternoon. Some just flatted while others jumped the mini-course (I say mini because there were just 6 numbered jumps but set at heights that were anything but small). Flexible, Cortes ‘C’, Baronez, Indigo and Uceko (who was quite fresh for Kent) took...

Claudia Billups and Quick N Easy earn the victory during the $10,000 American Invitational Stake Welcome Presented By CWD at the Tournament of Champions. Billups earned both top spots with her mounts as the only rider to successfully master the first round course. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - It was a muddy morning as the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center welcomed numerous horses to the third day of the Tournament of Champions. Luckily, the jumpers were able to dodge the effects of the inclement...

Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com) Ocala, FL - Record crowds turned out Saturday to watch the marathon phase of the Live Oak International Combined Driving event. Harmut Kaufmann's course challenged the 78 drivers who tackled the technical and option-filled hazards along the route. On a marathon score of 80.86, Chester Weber has secured a formidable lead in his bid for a record-breaking ninth USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship title. "My team was fantastic today," explained Weber following...

Wellington, FL - Two rounds of jumping for the USEF National Show Jumping Championships took place on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center - and for the 30 horses returning for the penultimate round, there was also selection for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games on the line. Alan Wade’s course was a serious one this evening, and it was compared to some of the biggest championship tracks in the world. Clear rounds were hard to come by in both...

Wellington, FL - Canadian Paralympic competitor Lauren Barwick and her mount Off To Paris had a stellar day of competition the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF)Stadium show grounds in Wellington, FL. Barwick was an avid equestrian from a young age, growing up riding in Pony Club, three-day eventing, fox hunting, and competing in jumpers. In 2000, a one-hundred-pound bale of hay fell...

Alix Szepesi and William (Susan J. Stickle) W ellington, FL - Alix Szepesi of Hamilton, MA took top honors on Tuesday, March 6, the first day of the Global Dressage Festival National Challenge. Szepesi, who is currently based in Wellington, rode William to an outstanding score 77.432% in the USEF First Level Test 2-Open at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Susanne Dutt-Roth of Canada also scored well earning 77.000% in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1-Open riding D2....

Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Jody Schloss, 39, of Toronto, Canada had another banner day at the Global Dressage Festival National Challenge on Wednesday. The Para-Equestrian rider received the highest score on Inspector Rebus receiving 72.500% in the FEI Para Test of Choice class at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Schloss rode her first horse at 11-years of age. She left the sport for a while, but then returned to riding as...