Las Vegas, N.V. - The first of three legs of competition in 2015 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final got underway this evening in the Thomas & Mack Center Arena in Las Vegas, N.V. Forty athlete-and-horse combinations from 19 nations went to task over Anthony D'Ambrosio’s 13 obstacle course in the Speed Leg, which utilized the faults converted format. The U.S. contingent of 11 combinations had some unfortunate moments, but landed five in the top twenty including Rich Fellers who...

College Station, Texas - Top-seeded and second-ranked Georgia won the 2015 Southeastern Conference Equestrian Championship on Saturday at the Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex at Texas A&M University. The Bulldogs defeated the host and third-seeded Aggies 12-5 in the championship round to take home Georgia’s first league crown since the SEC began sponsoring equestrian in advance of the 2012-13 season. UGA improves to 11-4 on the season, while Texas A&M drops to 8-6. “What...

Duluth, Ga. - Merial, a leader in the animal health care industry, announced today it completed its acquisition of LEGEND® (hyaluronate sodium) and MARQUIS® (15% w/w ponazuril) from Bayer HealthCare. Merial had announced the agreement with Bayer on December 17, 2014. The addition of these two products to the Merial portfolio solidifies the company’s position as a leader in performance horse health care. “We are committed to providing horse owners with proven, safe and...

Angel Karolyi and Wings, owned by McLain Ward, Win the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, Sunday, March 8, 2015, at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - HITS Ocala VIII finished up with the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, held in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Sunday. Angel Karolyi of Aiken, South Carolina, riding McLain Ward’s Wings was the only rider to have two clear rounds for the win. Karolyi went last in the jump-off and took a chance by going...

Kent Farrington and Willow (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - - Week nine of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Willow in the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. Alan Wade (IRL) finished the week with another strong track for the horses and riders in the 1.50m competition, with 64 entries and nine clear rounds. A tight 73-second...

Sharn Wordley and Popstar Lozonais (Shannon Bower/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - The seventh week of the Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour kicked off in its usual fashion-with blazing speeds and top tier competition. Conor Swail and Sharn Wordley faced off on the open turf field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, each fighting a battle against the clock in an attempt to rise to the top of the ranks. Conor Swail (IRL) was the first rider of the day to post a clear round, riding...

Will Simpson jumped clear and fast to take first place on S.F. Arlantha (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson has virtually shut out the field of Grand Prix riders so far at HITS Desert Horse Park. Simpson, riding S.F. Ariantha, claimed his fifth consecutive victory with a first place finish in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Friday. S.F. Ariantha, a new mount for Simpson, is owned Olivia Cox-Fill. Thirty-five riders competed in the class and 11 returned for...

Derek Petersen and Cassevel win the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Derek Petersen of Archer, Florida, riding his and Maddie Skimming’s Cassevel, came out on top in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday at HITS Post Time Farm, after placing second in the same class during the first week. The Brook Ledge Welcome included two combinations set in the course designed by Foster, and proved to be a challenge for the competitors. Only two, Petersen with...

Will Simpson and The Dude take first in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Friday, January 22, 2015 (ESI) Thermal, Calif. - Competition in the Grand Prix ring is heating up at HITS Desert Horse Park, as Will Simpson stretched his streak to three with a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix with Monarch International’s The Dude. Forty-one starters took to the SmartPak track but only thirteen left all the jumps up and qualified for the jump off. Simpson and The Dude, who won $7,500...

William Simpson and Katie Riddle jump to victory in the $50,000 (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Will Simpson won his second Grand Prix victory in the first week of HITS Thermal Desert Circuit I, this time on Katie Riddle, owned by Monarch International and the Von Heidegger family, in the $50,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix. Simpson and Katie Riddle jumped with no faults in both the first round and jump off, with a time of 43.070 to win $15,000, topping a final field of 12 riders on...