Thermal, CA — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has received unanimous approval from the USEF Discipline Committee, the USEF Executive Committee, and the FEI to offer four CSI2*-W World Cup Qualifiers at the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA . “We are happy to continue our 20-year tradition of hosting World Cup Qualifiers at the HITS Desert Circuit,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “The four World Cup Qualifiers held in Thermal attract great...

Once an actual “village,” a series of buildings and stalls requiring 22 people to set up, the Paso Fino Village is now a miniature version of this extraordinary display. The Village is designed to give visitors an overview of the Paso Fino horse. Each year, the Village travels to horse expos, trade shows, fairs, rodeos and many other venues to promote the breed. Paso Fino owners, trainers, and breeders are always on hand to provide clarity and additional information about the Paso...

Hunt Night Leading Lady Rider Award Winner Jill Wilson and All Aboard (Al Cook Photo) Harrisburg, Penn. - It was a night to remember for Jill Wilson as she swept the competition and claimed blue ribbons in the hunters over fences, under saddle, and team events at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Hunt Night sponsored by Kinsley Construction. Wilson, of Louisa County, Va., also won the Leading Lady Rider Award for her overall performance aboard Sally Lamb's All Aboard, a 16-year-old...

The roster of horses at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, reads a bit like this, “16-hand Thoroughbred gelding, 17-hand Thoroughbred-cross, 17.1-hand Irish Sport Horse, 17-hand Selle Francais, 16.3-hand Oldenburg, 16.1-hand Holsteiner, etc.” It paints a picture of a sport dominated by Thoroughbreds, Sport Horses, and Warmbloods. But one Half-Arabian gelding is also making his mark in the top levels of three-day eventing. Technically he is an...

As a member of the press, I especially enjoy press conferences. Of course, prior to these events I try to think of things that I’d like to ask or have explained in more detail than what is on the surface. Today, the World Equestrian Games Foundation held a press conference during a lunch break of the first day of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to bring the press up-to-date on preparations for the big event. One thing I especially enjoy about press conferences is the...

It was with speed and grace that Jeffery Welles was able to capture Saturday night's victory with his top mount, Armani, during a three-horse jump-off. The pair raced through the finish line in 44.36 seconds after completing a clear short course during the 2010 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm at Raymond James Stadium. Peter Leone tried to catch his time with Select, who also left all the rails intact, but the duo's time of 44.87 seconds would fall just short...

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) was full of top competition during week eight, held March 3-7, 2010. The week featured the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games #3, #4, and #5, presented by Fidelity Investments, and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by CN, along with a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. The week eight title sponsor was CN. The $150,000 CN U.S. Open Grand Prix, CSIO**** was...

The Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show came to a close on Sunday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Saturday morning began with an exciting victory going to Maggie Jayne and Thomas Edison in the $25,000 Tapestry Farm Leading Rider Series Final Grand Prix. The top three open jumper riders in the 2009 Showplace Leading Rider Series battled against the clock as the only entries to qualify for the jump-off, and Jayne was the fastest by almost four seconds to take the top...

Jeffery Welles Claims $7,500 Prudential Douglas Elliman 1.45m Open Jumper Win Jeffery Welles did it again, winning his second major class this week at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Welles, of Wellington, FL, piloted Tango to top honors in the $7,500 Prudential Douglas Elliman 1.45m Open Jumper class. On Tuesday, he won the $7,500 1.40m Open Jumper Class aboard his veteran mount, Armani. The 34th Hampton Classic, one of the nation's premiere show jumping competitions hosted hunter/jumper...

Team Gold medalists—Zone 8—from the Team Jumper competition. (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY —Last night the joint was, as they say, jumpin’. Day three of the five-day USEF Pony Finals National Championships kicked off this morning with Phase I for the Regular Pony Hunters (model and under saddle), moved on to the Small Pony over fences class, and segued by sunset into the rousing 2009 USEF National Pony Jumper Team Championship. This year’s Small Pony Hunter title...