Laura Linback rode to the top of the Open Jumper leader board for the opening day of Equifest II, taking the 1.40m Open Jumper victory with Whittaker MVNZ (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Wayne, IL - The top horses and riders from across the country returned to the Lamplight Equestrian Center for Equifest II. The first day of competition commenced with the Open Jumper divisions in the Grand Prix Ring. Local resident Laura Linback led the way to the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper class, as well as the $500 1.25m...

McLain Ward and Zander (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB - The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments are in their third week and the competition is as tough as ever. Two FEI-level events were held Thursday at the 'Canada One' Tournament, which runs through Sunday, June 30. Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward and Wannahave sped to their second win in the summer series in the $33,000 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m. Ward won his sixth FEI competition of the Summer Tournaments in the $33,000...

I guess the beginning is a great place to start. I grew up in Maine, the oldest of five, to a father who was in the military and a mother who was a housewife until the youngest of my siblings was in Junior-High school. We grew up on the other side of middle-class, OK, we were poor. I grew up watching spaghetti westerns in black and white on Saturday afternoons. I always loved the intrigue of being a Cowboy, pushing cattle up the Chisholm Trail, fighting bad guys and Indians. Next to the pony...

Kristen Bumpus and Cupid (Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - The first day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival welcomed the top riders in the nation to the new and improved Fieldstone Show Park. After an overhaul, the Fieldstone Show Park kicked off the first day of the weeklong show with thrilling hunter and jumper competition. David Oliynyk rode to the top of the 1.15m Jumpers, while Kristen Bumpus piloted Cupid to the top of the ranks during the 1.25m Schooling Jumpers as she tackled the course...

Lexington, KY - The U.S. Olympic Committee supports Paralympic-eligible military veterans in their efforts to represent the USA at the upcoming Paralympic Games and other International competitions. Veterans who demonstrate exceptional sport skills and the commitment necessary to pursue elite-level competition are given guidance on securing the training, support, and coaching needed to qualify for Team USA and achieve their Paralympic dreams. Through a partnership with the United States...

Lauren Hough and Ohlala (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Thursday's busy competition schedule also featured a $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with the roster of top finishers including Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Let's Fly, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S. Course designer Alan Wade saw 52 entries with 16 clear rounds for the one round speed class. Once again, the rounds got faster and faster as some of the best went late in the line-up. Lauren...

Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Twenty-one-year-old Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, guided Stone Hill Farm's Vindicat W to the winning round in Sunday's $82,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic to conclude week nine of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies. Showing on a beautiful afternoon at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, Springsteen...

Kirsten Coe and Baronez (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week seven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Hermès, continued on Thursday in Wellington, FL, with the $30,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 featured on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). American duo Kirsten Coe and Ilan Ferder's Baronez were the winners of the class with the only double clear round in a jump-off of five...

Katie Dinan and Glory Days (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan and her brand new horse Glory Days were victorious in Friday night's $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, presented by Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte, during week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a nine-horse jump-off, Dinan and Glory Days won over Wilton Porter aboard Radio City and Adam Prudent riding Jack Daniels. Week six, sponsored by...

A big weekend of NCEA competition had its share of upsets and near misses. At the end of it a few things seem certain: there will be a change at the top of the next NCEA Coaches Poll, and there will be plenty of competitive drama leading up to the NCEA National Championship in April. No.3 University of Georgia def. No.1 South Carolina University 11-8 The Gamecocks stole one from the Bulldogs in Bishop during the fall season. On Saturday the Bulldogs stole one back on the South Carolina home...