Blythewood, S.C. - With the No. 1 seed on the line for the 2014 SEC Equestrian Championship on Saturday against No. 2 Auburn, the top-ranked Gamecocks got dominating performances from their hunt seat and western teams to defeat the Tigers, 12-7, at One Wood Farm in the final SEC regular season meet of the year. The Gamecocks improve to 10-2 overall, 4-2 in SEC play, while Auburn drops to 8-4 overall, 3-3 in SEC play. South Carolina clinched the No. 1 seed on Saturday, and the Gamecocks will...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal Calif. - With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will...

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $35,000 Welcome Cup at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic's Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount...

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...

Allie Slusher and Last Call Win at Galway Downs (Josh Walker/USEA) Dressage This week, at the final CDI-W in the United States, Jan Ebeling secured his trip to the 2011 Reem Acra World Cup Final with Rafalca. The pair won the Grand Prix at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W in Burbank, CA on a score of 69.298%. Guenter Seidel and U II were second with 65.830% and Shannon Peters rounded out the top three with Odyssey on a score of 65.766%. Ebeling kept the winning going, scoring again in the Grand...

Marta Renilla’s exhibition ride at Pin Oak. (Shawn McMillen Photography.) Katy, TX – Week two is underway at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious shows in the United States and the first designated as a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Heritage show. Andalusians, Lusitanos and crosses of these bloodlines with other breeds have been part of this multi-breed show for seven years. Pin Oak’s new international hospitality sponsor, Haras Dos Cavaleiros,...

Dressage American dressage rider Catherine Haddad capitalized on an eighth place finish in the Freestyle at the final Reem Acra/FEI Western European League World Cup Qualifier in s' Hertogenbosch, to earn a trip to the Final on Winyamaro. Haddad, who is based in Germany, has had consistent results throughout Europe at these important Qualifiers and will be representing the United States in Leipzig, Germany at the 2011 Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Final April 27 - May 1. Please visit the USEF World...

Kreuth, Germany – More than 50 horses were shown in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity Non Pro go round today. The Level 4 and 3 Non Pro competition was dominated by PC Sliderina For Me with Manuel Cortesi (ITA) in the saddle. The 18-year-old was one of many brilliant Italian riders in this field. He rode PC Sliderina For Me (Dualin For Me x The Slide Suprise) to the Italian Reining Horse Association Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Championship last year and placed third...

Lauren Barwick. (Photos courtesy Lindsay Y McCall.) Del Mar, CA - Canadian Para-Equestrian Team member Lauren Barwick dominated the Grade II division at the 2011 Dressage Affaire at the Del Mar Horsepark during the CPED13* Para-Equestrian Dressage competition, riding away with the blue ribbon on Off To Paris and the red on Ferdonia 2 in the Individual Test. Barwick also took home top honors in the Freestyle, riding Ferdonia 2 to first place with a high score of 75.167% and earning second on Off...

Lauren Hough Wins with Quick Study (Joanie Morris) Wellington, FL – The $150,000 Wellington Realty Grand Prix came down to a battle between 12 horse and rider combinations after 46 started over the CSIO4*course in the International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Top horses and riders brought the eighth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival to a close – as the only CSIO in America showcased some of the very best in the world. When the dust settled over Steve...