Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna were the ones to beat in the at HITS Thermal in the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - With a first-place prize of $350,000 on the line, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rose to the occasion, piloting Bella Donna to a paycheck she will not soon forget as winner of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. The best...

Kate Conover of Ocala, Florida and Trendy on their way to a victory in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, which was presented Saturday at both HITS Ocala and Thermal (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - East Coast hunter riders went to bats with their West Coast rivals Saturday in the highly-anticipated $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, where Kate Conover rode to first and second-place honors. Conover, of Ocala, Florida, piloted Caroline Kellogg’s Trendy to the win and James...

Jared Petersen and Titus 2:11 have been unstoppable the last few weeks at HITS Ocala. After two $50,000 grand prix wins in a row, the pair rode to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Jared Petersen and his father, Derek, were walking on air yesterday afternoon. Their excitement not only stemmed from the fact that Jared had just piloted Titus 2:11 to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, but also because it was...

Shachine Belle and INXS clinch their first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala as they set their sights on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties this September. Until now, INXS showed in the amateur-owner hunters with his owner Robin Swinderman (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - For best friends Robin Swinderman and Shachine Belle, their 2013 goal is off to a picture perfect start. After competing her horse INXS in the amateur- owner hunters for the past several years,...

Lauren Hough and Ohlala (©ManciniPhotos) Wellington, FL - The Holiday and Horses CSI 2*-W show continued Thursday with another big class for show jumpers, the $33,000 Holiday and Horses Opener Grand Prix presented by Horse Gym USA. The grand prix is a FEI ROLEX ranking class, and the winning amount of points Thursdya went to Lauren Hough and Ohlala. They were the only double clear round to capture victory. The Holiday and Horses show continues through December 2 and is rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder It was an exciting weekend for western dressage in the Pacific Northwest November 2-4. On Friday the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) voted to add Western Dressage as a new discipline on the roster of events offered by the organization statewide. WD has been added as a sub-category of dressage and will utilize NAWD Official Rules and Tests for the 2013 show season so WD classes may now be added to any WSH approved Dressage show...

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive captured the Overall Grand Junior Hunter Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show. (Shawn McMillen) Lexington, KY - The Alltech Arena was filled with top junior talent as riders showcased their mounts during the handy and stake classes Saturday afternoon at the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition. Victoria Colvin and Inclusive were awarded the Large Junior 15 and Under Championship for their efforts throughout the division. They were also presented...

The eleventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder If I go to a restaurant and order lemonade, I do not expect to receive a glass of ice water with a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass. When I am thinking about what western dressage is to me, I envision a discipline as fully flavored as that glass of lemonade. In fact, my vision for the future of western dressage as an independent and unique equestrian discipline may be more like strawberry lemonade! As a dressage instructor and...

Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville (Shannon Brinkman) Stamford, England - On a day when quick clear rounds were at a premium, Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) proved that she is amongst the best in the sport as she maintained her dressage lead at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Halpin is competing at the historic event on a Land Rover Training and Competition Grant and has spent the summer honing her skills in England as part of the program. Captain Mark Phillip’s demanding cross...

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville sit in first place with a score of 36.3. (StockImageServices.com) Stamford, England - The U.S. riders made a bold statement after the first two days of dressage at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials slotting three riders into the top 15. The three Land Rover Competition and Training Grant recipients who have spent the summer training and competing in England produced top tier results in the first phase. Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Allison Springer...