Richard Spooner couldn't catch his breath. The Indio Desert Circuit's all-time leading money winner had five mounts in the $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix, and he brought three into the jump-off. Quirino 3 delivered Spooner another victory, posting the jump-off's best time of 39.36. Ezrah also had a clean-round at 40.08 giving him second place in the competition. His third mount, Airtime, smacked into jump 12, a white and blue vertical jump near the end of the course, leaving him sixth. In the opening...

The Gold Medal luncheon was held on February 5 in honor of the 2004 United States Olympic Gold Medal Team. Hosted by Harold and Kathy Kamine, the event brought together many of the incredible people that made Athens happen and those who continue to support equine sports. The Kamines arranged the party to unite the countless participants that were needed to make it to the Olympics. “Not all of us could be in Athens, so I thought, ‘What a great opportunity to have everyone together to watch the...

PhelpsPhotos.com (Brentina and Debbie McDonald) (Cincinnati, Ohio)—Among the regalia of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) annual meeting and black tie gala, Dressage Champion Brentina was named the inaugural Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year, the first time one horse has been selected among all breeds and disciplines as the year’s most exceptional horse. Owned by Peggy Thomas of Hailey, Idaho, Brentina is one of the most successful horses in the history of U.S. Dressage...

Lexington, KY – Ashley Alden, 17, of Deer Park, Illinois, riding American Saddlebred LA Blues, was crowned champion of the 2005 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final, held November 19, as part of the UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Missouri. Judges for this year’s final included Sandy Sessink of Eugene Oregon, Brent Jacobs of Georgetown, Kentucky, and Lewis Eckard of Hildebran, North Carolina. Smith topped the class of 24 entries in the two-phase...

Lexington, KY – Ashlee Van Raalte, 18, of Scales Mound, Illinois, will represent the United States in Bahrain, December 15-18, as she rides for the title at the 2005 FEI World Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders. The 2005 Championship promises to be the largest competition of its kind to date, and will play host to more than 150 expected entries from a record 33 participating countries. Van Raalte will compete on the 75-mile course with either “Saif Al Arab”...

Gladstone, NJ – Riding through the chill, the rain and the mud of New Jersey’s wettest weekend in months, Julie Welles of West Simsbury, Connecticut, was awarded the Championship title at the 2005 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East on October 8-9, proving she not only had the stamina required to win the multi-phase Finals, but the skill and ingenuity to make her riding skills shine, despite the elements. “I had a positive outlook coming in. I went in and rode the best...

After 30 of 33 events on the 2005 tour, it all comes down to one class in this year’s race for the titles of American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Rider, Horse and Rookie of the Year. Entering its 27th year, the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping is the world’s richest and longest running series of equestrian show jumping events. The AGA offers over $3 million in prize money on a tour that encompasses 30 events and 20 different equestrian market locations across the United States....

Lexington, KY — Effective October 17th, Courtney Barnett will take the position of Director of Reining for the United States Equestrian Federation. As Director of Reining, Barnett will assume responsibility for all high-performance and national aspects of the sport, including management of USEF championships and other events, as well as coordination with reining athletes. Barnett will work under the direction of Don Whittle, Director of FEI Affiliates. “Courtney will be a welcome...

San Juan Capistrano, CA – In an amazing dual victory of sorts, Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, California, and her horse In Sync, claimed their second National Championship victories respectively, at the fifth annual Show Circuit Magazine/USEF National Junior Hunter Championships, West Coast, in San Juan Capistrano, California, August 16-17. Stephanie won the 2004 Championships on the West Coast, riding Callaway, while her winning Thoroughbred gelding In Sync, trained by Archie...

(Lexington, KY) – Youthful enthusiasm, team spirit and riding skill were all in-sync last night for the young riders representing Zone 3 at the Adequan/USEF Pony Jumper Championship at the Kentucky Horse Park. The exciting and hotly contested competition was determined by just one rail as Zone 3 with 12 faults narrowly defeated Zone 2 with 16 faults and was awarded the Willow Grove Farm Perpetual Trophy. Zone 8 was third with 29 faults. Zone 3 was represented by Nellie Foosaner, 13, of...