Mario Deslauriers on Cella, owned by Jane Clark in 30,000 Pennsylvania National “Big Jump” Open Jumper class (Al Cook Photo) Harrisburg, PA – Mario Deslauriers rode Cella, owned by Jane Clark of New York, NY to victory in the $30,000 Pennsylvania National “Big Jump” Open Jumper class, sponsored by M & T Bank, at the 66th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Thursday evening. “Jane has been so great to give me all these nice horses,” said Deslauriers also...

If determination had a nickname it would be Steffen Peters. He knew what he had to do to win individual Gold based on the score that teammate Heather Blitz received in the Freestyle on Wednesday – and beat it. Weltino’s Magic never put a foot wrong and when you imagine someone ‘going for it’ – you are picturing Steffen at the Guadalajara Country Club. But he wasn’t alone in his brilliance, Heather and Paragon were awesome too, and that horse evokes so much...

The eventers landed without incident, bringing two mares and three geldings in hopes of defending the Gold Medal the U.S. won in 2007. They handled the trip and the transfer to Club Hippica easily. Club Hippica is currently hosting Modern Pentathalon so there is a temporary pool in the covered arena. That ends today and then it’s all eventing out there. The U.S. horses are a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Little Absolute Liberty is a nippy little bay mare by Aberjack that Buck...

The first half of this day involved my computer, two cappuccinos and the hotel office. "Just be sure we kick some ass." Unfortunately Jon Holling's Eventing horse Downtown Harrison was withdrawn for veterinary reasons in Ocala this morning. But those were his words when I texted him my condolences. He's a friend and a class act, so we're all sad for him. Luckily we have Lynn Symansky to step into his shoes. She's a star. Interestingly she will be making her second Pan Am...

Upper Marlboro, MD - The Capital Challenge Horse show wrapped up another year of fantastic competition today and finished with younger junior and children's hunters. Victoria Colvin swept the junior hunter awards today by winning all four tricolors. She and Scott Stewart's Ovation were awarded the Grand Junior Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, while the Grand Children's Hunter Championship went to Rosebud and Audrey Layman. The Capital Challenge...

Gladstone, NJ- Fourteen-year-old Lillie Keenan, of New York, NY, was a front runner today in the first two rounds of competition for the 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East. Held at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, the Talent Search Finals celebrate a momentous 30th anniversary this year. With Finals held each year on the east and west coasts, this program has produced some of the country’s top jumping riders, including McLain Ward,...

OXFORD, PA - The Dansko Fair Hill International is right around the corner, marking the culmination of the Bit of Britain Jersey Fresh Fair Hill Challenge. Lisa Marie Fergusson has her sights set on claiming the $15,000 prize by competing in the CCI 3* aboard her teammate Smart Move. John Nunn, owner of Bit of Britain, wanted to create a challenge that really gives upper level competitors some incentive to compete at two outstanding events. He also thought a hefty cash prize would be a nice...

The stars were out at the L.A. International Horse Show (Sep 21-25), particularly at the $50,000 L.A. International Grand Prix, a World Cup Qualifier, where performances in the ring kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Sixteen riders tackled Michel Vaillancourt's course in LAEC's indoor arena, but it was the youngest of them all, Saer Coulter (Markus Beerbaum, trainer), who was the only rider to go double clear and clinch the top title. The excitement started early in the class,...

Upper Marlboro, MD - Eight championships were awarded today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, honoring the best hunters in the country. Sandy Ferrell piloted Showman, owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman, to the championship in the $9,000 Second Year Green Working Hunters. In the $10,000 High Performance Hunters, Hunt Tosh and Dr. Betsee Parker's Rosalynn earned the top tricolor. Along with those two rated divisions, championships were given in five Future Hunter divisions and the...

Upper Marlboro, MD - In a day full of exciting classes, John French and Small Affair, owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, repeated their victory in the $15,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Victory in the $5,000 WCHR Emerging Professional Challenge sponsored by Seashore Acres Products went to Tara Metzner of Los Angeles, CA, riding Dogwood Hill LLC's Rumba. ?? To watch an interview with John French about his second straight win, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pljcS4UNZXU. ?? To hear...