Lisa Goldman and Centurion B (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Lisa Goldman won three grand prix during her first appearance at the Ocala Winter Circuit last year, and hasn’t skipped a beat since. She returned with a bang this week, winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to kick off grand prix competition at this year’s circuit. Riding for her family-owned Red Coat Farm in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, Goldman piloted Centurion B to the win. Last year, Goldman and...

Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with with a busy schedule of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The afternoon featured Round 2 of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, which was held in a "California Split" due to the large number of entries. The competition awarded two sets of placings, each with...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal Calif. - With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will...

Scott Stewart and Lucador (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley's Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division. Reserve champion for the division was High Regard,...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Federation (USEF) has named Kai Handt as the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor. The Search Committee, chaired by Eric Straus, USEF Para-Equestrian Eligible Athlete Committee, and USEF Para-Equestrian High Performance Kai Handt (USEF Archive) Committee recommended Handt for this position. Handt (Wylie, Texas) has a great depth of experience in the equestrian world as a competitor, trainer, and coach. Since August of 1985, Handt...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla - Torrents of rain and claps of thunder welcomed riders to the fields of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) early Wednesday morning. However menacing, the inclement weather did not deter the field of 30 riders from entering into a heated battle in the 1.30-1.35m Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour. Kevin Babington and Shorapur returned to the second week of competition with their sights set on victory, tackling...

Laura Kraut and Bonito R (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Wednesday morning with a win for Laura Kraut (USA) and Bonito R in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.40m speed class. Jack Hardin Towell, Shane Sweetnam, and Samuel Parot also got wins on the first day of week two competition. FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday,...

Lexington, Ky. - For 2014 the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA) have revised the Eventing 18/ Advancing Athlete program. Riders wishing to participate in the program will be required to complete an application and will be observed at pre- determined eventing competitions throughout the spring and summer of 2014. The goal of this program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United...

Tim Maddrix pilots Claudia Styslinger's KT Cher to the win in Saturday night's $10,000 Open Jumper class (A&S 2014) Pensacola, Fla. - The Pensacola community packed the stands Saturday night in the covered arena at the Escambia County Equestrian Center to watch some top show jumpers compete for the $10,000 Open Jumper purse. Eighteen horse and rider combinations took to the course designed by Classic Company's Official Course Designer, Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana. "I...

Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain's Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV in the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, concluded today. FTI WEF 2, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, run January...