Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate on their way to a $50,000 HITS Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - As the curtain closed on Week VII at HITS-on-the-Hudson, riders descended on the Grand Prix Ring to try their luck in Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix. The team to beat was Neshanic Station, New Jersey equestrian Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate, co-owned with Mary Chapot. Chapot has been the winningest rider on the Grand Prix tour at HITS Saugerties this season, with 12 wins...

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z Win $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier (Shawn McMillen) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward edged out 17-year-old Lucy Deslauriers to win the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier, presented by Longines for the second consecutive year at the 41st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. Deslauriers went second of the eight who reached the jump-off by riding clear over the Alan Wade-designed first-round course. She set the mark...

Wayne, Ill . – Some of the finest evolving dressage horses received quite the praise during the first day of the 2016 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships today. Justine Wilson and Hero BHS hold a small lead in the four-year-old division. Christian Hartung and Desario have a slight edge in the five-year-old division, and Adrienne Lyle and Horizon are on top of the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges division. Today’s tests counted 40% towards their...

I have been very lax and much has happened. Another medal for the U.S. Equestrian Team, but set against the extreme disappointment of having to withdraw Cortes 'C'. There have been a high number of clears in all rounds of the jumping competitions; I am sure there will be those that argue that it is a bad thing and some that will say it is a good thing. Whatever the eventual diagnosis, it sure as hell put the pressure on for the second round of the team jumping competition! I am not sure...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The Rio 2016 Olympic Games show jumping competition came to a climatic close at Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center on Friday, ending in a jump-off to determine the Individual medals. With two clear rounds, Kent Farrington and Voyeur earned a spot in the jump-off for the U.S. along with five other combinations. Farrington and Voyeur ultimately placed fifth overall following two rails down. Teammates McLain Ward and Azur finished tied for ninth and Lucy Davis with...

Lucy Davis, Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, and Beezie Madden (Shannon Brinkman Photo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team won the Silver medal in a down-to-the-wire competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wednesday. The team of Lucy Davis and Barron, Kent Farrington and Voyeur, Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C', and McLain Ward and Azur finished the two-round competition with five faults. France won the Gold with three faults, while Germany and Canada tied for...

Kelley Farmer and Baltimore on their way to a $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - Summer’s highly anticipated stop on the HITS USHJA International Hunter Derby Tour made its appearance at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Hunter royalty descended on the Grand Prix Ring at HITS Saugerties to compete for a sweet slice of the prestigious payday. Kelley Farmer has worn the crown in the first three HITS $100,000 Hunter Derbies on the tour: Ocala Winter Circuit...

Sophie Michaels and Balouba (Kendal Bierer/PhelpsSports.com) Traverse City, Mich. - The first portion of the 2016 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival has drawn to a close and from those that came to compete in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive for Morrissey Management Group's (MMG) second-year production. From excellent reviews for the upgraded footing to the wonderful hospitality and fabulous food in the VIP Tent, those that made the trip to the Upper...

Well wasn’t that just an interesting 36 hours… Sorry I have not been in touch for a while but Friday, for us was about finishing up at the venue and then trying to pull together a bunch of loose ends in other areas prior to a hydrogen bomb going off under our world of semi serenity – i.e. the Team and the horses starting to arrive. For other Nations, Friday evening through to Saturday morning marked the first horse flight arrivals at times that would have made the Special...

Nick Novak and Climbus win the $25,000 Welcome Stake at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week IV. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - Nick Novak finally overcame his five-year drought on Friday afternoon at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF). For years, he has fallen just shy of the victory, taking the backseat to the winner's circle. During Week IV of GLEF, the drought came to an end for Novak, and as the old saying goes, "when it rains, it pours." Novak...