Stormy skies did nothing to dampen the spirits of pony enthusiasts as intense championship competition got underway Friday at the popular National Dressage Pony Cup, being held July 8-10, 2016 in Lexington, Ky. Competitors representing 23 different states from Maine to Texas competed in the first of two rounds of classes in pursuit of a stunning array of NDPC awards in Open, Adult Amateur, and Junior/Young Rider divisions, and showed off their pony power at all levels of competition from...

The Canadian Team in the Opening Ceremony Led by a Member of the Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club (www.22gates.com) The Plains, Va. - History was made on Friday as the Land Rover Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan® officially began with a poignant opening ceremony kick-starting the first-ever North American FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ . Athletes from five nations paraded in the Fleming Arena showcasing the teams and individual competitors who will participate in the historic...

Michael Hughes and Sans Soucis Z (The Book LLC) Lake Placid, N.Y. - Michael Hughes rode Sans Soucis Z to victory in the $30,000 Lake Placid Open Jumper Classic Friday at the 47th annual Lake Placid Horse Show, presented by Sea Shore Stables LLC. In the first round, 15 of 35 entries rode fault-free over the 15-jump course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. The first to return for the eight-jump tiebreaker was Andrew Kocher on Uppie De Lis and he set the mark to beat with a clean round in...

Her Majesty The Queen joins The Duchess as Her Royal Highness hosts a horsemanship demonstration by Brooke Ambassador Monty Roberts at the Royal Mews. (IJP Event Photos) Lexington, Ky. - Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has today officially extended her Presidency for Brooke - Action For Working Horses And Donkeys, celebrating 10 years of being president of the UK-based charity. Brooke helps to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in developing countries. In her time...

Haley Gassel and Quite Dark 2 (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - Friday night at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair was all about speed, and only one athlete had all the answers during the $25,000 Open Jumper Devon Speed Challenge sponsored by the World Equestrian Center. Haley Gassel and Quite Dark 2 were the only duo able to master the speed track and leave all the fences intact to capture the winning prize. "This is unbelievable," the young rider said, smiling. "People dream...

Kevin Babington and Mark Q (The Book, LLC) Devon, Pa. - The luck belonged to the Irish during the 2016 $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*. Kevin Babington and Mark Q repeated their 2011 victory in the Dixon Oval, beating Danielle Torano and McLain Ward in a three-horse jump-off for the lion's share of the prize money. A crowd of 9,000 spectators turned out for the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair's highlight event, watching as the best in the country competed over the...

Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - After a long road together, Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue will bring home the best thing of all: a Devon blue ribbon. The pair produced the only double-clear effort in the $7,500 North American League Adult Amateur Jumper Classic at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Their impressive performance was also good enough to earn the Adult Amateur Jumper Championship after two days of competition. "This is a...

Germany's Christian Heineking won the $130,000 Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix for the fourth time in five years riding NKH Selena (Lili Weik Photography) Omaha, Nebraska - Christian Heineking of Germany won the $130,000 Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix for the fourth time in five years, riding NKH Selena to victory at the fifth annual International Omaha. International Omaha is produced by the Omaha Equestrian Foundation (OEF) at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska,...

Omaha, Nebraska - May 7, 2016 - Christian Heineking of Germany won the $130,000 Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix for the fourth time in five years, riding NKH Selena to victory at the fifth annual Germany's Christian Heineking won the $130,000 Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix for the fourth time in five years riding NKH Selena (c) Lili Weik Photography International Omaha. International Omaha is produced by the Omaha Equestrian Foundation (OEF) at the CenturyLink Center in...

Canada's Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri on their way to winning the Grand Prix (SusanJStickle.com) Omaha, Nebraska - Karen Pavicic led a Canadian sweep of the top two places in the FEI Dressage CDI4* Grand Prix at the fifth annual International Omaha. This is the first time that International Omaha is hosting an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) approved CDI 4* Dressage competition alongside its CSI 3* Jumping competition. International Omaha is produced by the Omaha Equestrian...