Aaron Vale returned to the winner’s circle at HITS Ocala Thursday and piloted Zippo II to a victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to get the last week of competition at HITS Ocala underway (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – As the last week of HITS Ocala turns on the warm weather for a spectacular finale, Aaron Vale got the excitement started early on with a win in Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, aboard Zippo II, owned by 2VR...

Havens Schatt and Smiles (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Havens Schatt and Smiles had plenty to grin about after earning championship honors in the Lucas Equine Equipment Performance Hunter 3'3" division during week ten of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Schatt and Smiles, a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Bruce Duchossois, bested the division with consistent performances over two days of competition. Day one, the pair won the under saddle...

I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...

The top three teams with Artisan Farms' Carlene Ziegler and ringmaster Cliff Haines (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Thursday's competition concluded in the International Arena at PBIEC with the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, held in a Nations Cup format shown over two rounds of competition. With five teams of four competing, Team 5 was the winner. The team, made up of Wilton Porter riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet, Catherine Pasmore riding Freddy Star, Eugenio...

Beezie Madden and Simon (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The powerhouse U.S. show jumping team of Kent Farrington, Reed Kessler, Laura Kraut, and Beezie Madden earned victory in Friday night's $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ presented by G&C Farm, at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Teams representing seven different countries participated in the evening's competition with a win for Team USA over Canada in second and Germany in third. Week...

I am thrilled to say the Cowboy Dressage Judges Orientation was a huge success on Friday, February 15th in Medford, OR. A stellar cast of presenters spoke on various topics to fifty plus attendees, most of whom were women. I was surprised there were not more men since it is Cowboy Dressage, but was very happy to see that at least seven states were represented including two individuals from as far away as Wisconsin. Beginning with the video called “From Then to Now” and proceeding to...

No Worries and Devin Ryan (Flashpoint photography) Gulfport, MS - The Gulf Coast Winter Classic 's National Week saw a field of 21 jumpers gallop onto the breathtaking grand prix arena for the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome class, but this week it would be No Worries, owned by Barbara Rowland and ridden by Long Valley, New Jersey native Devin Ryan, who would end up in the winner's circle. Of the twenty one entries, the class saw ten of the horse and rider teams go clean in the first round....

Josephina Nor Lantzman and Chello Z topped a field of 52 to win $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal before the HITS Desert Circuit takes a week off and returns with four more weeks of competition February 19 (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - A week of thrilling show jumping competition culminating in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, brought HITS Desert Circuit III to wrap Sunday, concluding the first half of the 2013 winter circuit. The...

Lexington, KY - Lillie Keenan, of New York, NY, has been named the first Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for 2013. Keenan competes in the East Conference Junior division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Londinium. The month of January was very successful for Keenan and her riding partner, as they earned a 3rd place finish at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s first week, a 1st place finish at the Festival’s second week, and a 4th place...

This week I want to update you about some exciting new programs coming in 2013 for Western Dressage enthusiasts. As this discipline continues to develop, more tests are available, more shows are available, and more award programs vie for participation. The show and clinic calendars are filling up for the year and so much is happening. In January our local WSH Zone added year end awards for Western Dressage following the inclusion of Western Dressage as a subdivision of Dressage on the...