2014 AEGT competitor Laura Ashley Killian puts on a fire baton twirling show (Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - Mark your calendar and make your plans now for the highlight of the winter social calendar in Wellington, Florida. American Equestrians Got Talent will kick off in January 2016 for its second year and promises to be a hit, drawing together equestrians from across the disciplines to showcase their non-horsey talents and compete for a grand prize. Spearheaded by U.S. Dressage Team...

Riders selected for the 2014 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team in both three-gaited and five-gaited are (left to right) front row, Brooke Boyer, Kristen Smith, Maisie Benfield, Eleanor Rainbolt-Forbes and Quinn Mercier; back row, William Nalty, Emily Gutenkunst, Aleia Brown, Sydney Shaw, Nadine Van Zomeren, McGee Bosworth and Macey Miles. Fulton, Mo. –The top saddle seat equitation riders in the country will assemble this weekend when William Woods University again hosts the United States...

By Esther Hahn An enthusiastic crowd in Las Vegas cheered each rider who entered the arena at the South Point Hotel and Casino, but it was the American Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual that claimed the final winning praise by beating a field of 30 to claim the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI3* Las Vegas National. Peter Lutz (USA) and Robin de Ponthual claim victory of the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League...

McKayla Langmeier (RJ Walton/PhelpsSports.com) Lexington, Ky. - It is no secret that being drawn to go first in any major equitation championship is less than desirable. But when that rider is someone who knows her horse and knows her job, the results can be flawless. At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, 15-year-old McKayla Langmeier nailed the technical course presented by judges Chris Kappler and Ralph Caristo at the CP National Horse Show. Her performance left them in awe, and it made her the...

Temecula, Calif. – The Galway Downs International CCI3* got underway Friday afternoon with the dressage phase. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients are off to a solid start in the competition with Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett and Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman both in the top 12. Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook's Scarlett (Captured Moment Photography) Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Meadowbrook's Scarlett laid down a lovely test with a few minor bobbles to...

Conor Swail and Viva Colombia (SEL Photography) Lexington, Ky. - October 10, 2015 - On a tremendous Day Two at the Split Rock Jumping Tour's Bourbon International, Conor Swail made it two-for-two when he picked up the win in the $35,000 Amalaya CSI3* Speed Cup. Thirty-five horses vied for the top prize over a 1.45m course where not only speed was needed to go clean. FEI course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio set a technical track with some light jumps and stride options, and less than half...

I met Jan Ebeling in 2003, when he was a clinician at Larkspur in Littleton, MA. While riding in the clinic and observing him work with the other riders, I was impressed with his professionalism and brilliant teaching methods. He encouraged everyone to see the importance of the basic building blocks of dressage, such as straightness and rhythm, and how they related to a perfect shoulder-in and ultimately to the Levels. Jan focuses on the theories of classical dressage. While I still wanted to...

Stellenbosch, South Africa – The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Travel Team made the trek to Africa to compete in the 2015 South Africa Saddle Seat Invitational at the Mistico Equestrian Centre, September 16-19. The 11 U.S. athletes delivered fantastic performances against nine of South Africa’s top saddle seat equitation riders. Under the guidance of coaches Kelly Kraegel (Guthrie, Okla.) and Sarah Lawson (Rockport, Ind.) and assisted by 2012 Saddle Seat Gold Medal coach Kristen...

North Salem, NY - It was a perfect day at Old Salem Farm as the 2015 American Gold Cup got underway with some of the world's top athletes competing on the Grand Prix Field. With record entries, the highlight event of the day, the $8,000 Douglas Elliman FEI Open Jumper speed class was separated into two sections. Abigail McArdle with Cosma 20 and Heather Caristo-Williams aboard Wistful each picked up victories after clocking in under the 56 second mark. Rounding out the day, Ireland's...

Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice president of Longines (second left), and Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Cohen presented a Longines timepiece to Paul O'Shea, winner of the $40,000 Longines Cup at the Hampton Classic. (McMillen photo) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Paul O'Shea of Ireland recovered from what seemed a devastating crash in Friday's grand prix to win the $40,000 Longines Cup on Skara Glen's Dolphin on Saturday. His faultless jump-off round, in 41.52 seconds, handily...