A couple weeks ago a friend and I attended a WSH Dressage Show halfway across the state to ride the NAWD tests. The weather was gorgeous, the drive uneventful, the horses well behaved. The show was at a beautiful facility, with a qualified judge I trust to evaluate our western dressage horses. My stallion was perfectly behaved even in the warm-up area with the little ponies and their tiny children. Sounds like a perfect horse show weekend huh? It was, but for one thing. I was confused! For the...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl jumping their way to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - After two in-the-money finishes last week at HITS Saugerties, Todd Minikus and Quality Girl kicked off Week II grand prix action by topping a ten-horse jump-off in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. Minikus won the Week I $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome at HITS Saugerties and picked up sixth and eighth-place...

David Oliynyk and Generous claimed the $10,000 Fieldstone 3'3" Hunter Derby victory with a near-perfect score of 192 points during the Fieldstone Spring Festival. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - All eyes were on the hunter competitors as they took center stage on the Derby Field at the Fieldstone Spring Festival. The derby has always been an exhibitor and crowd favorite at the Fieldstone Show Park in Halifax, MA, and today's derbies were no exception. Riding to a nearly...

This article was originally published at www.useventing.com . Lynn Symansky and Donner won the Adequan USEA Gold Cup & PRO Tour Series CIC3* division at The Fork with a double-clear cross-country round on the final day of competition (Leslie Threlkeld/USEA Photo) Norwood, NC - An exciting day of cross-country in the final phase of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series CIC3* at The Fork in Norwood, North Carolina ended with a race against the clock. Tremaine Cooper’s...

Aaron Vale piloted Palm Sunday to the top of the leader board, scoring the quickest of only three double-clear efforts during the $25,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - In a speedy fashion, Aaron Vale piloted Palm Sunday to victory under the spotlights during the $25,000 Tampa Bay Welcome Stake at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The anticipation was tangible as eight riders moved into the heated jump-off this evening. Riders fought a battle to the top as they tried...

Rafael Jose Contreras of the Dominican Republic flies to the finish riding Valencio R.A.G. in the $33,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round at the Live Oak International on Sunday, March 24, in Ocala, FL. (Mark Astrom) Ocala, FL - A newcomer to the international show jumping ranks won the $33,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Winning Round competition on Sunday afternoon. The format saw the top 10 riders, regardless of faults, advance to a second ‘winning round’ where everyone starts with...

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna were the ones to beat in the at HITS Thermal in the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - With a first-place prize of $350,000 on the line, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rose to the occasion, piloting Bella Donna to a paycheck she will not soon forget as winner of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. The best...

Kate Conover of Ocala, Florida and Trendy on their way to a victory in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, which was presented Saturday at both HITS Ocala and Thermal (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - East Coast hunter riders went to bats with their West Coast rivals Saturday in the highly-anticipated $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, where Kate Conover rode to first and second-place honors. Conover, of Ocala, Florida, piloted Caroline Kellogg’s Trendy to the win and James...

Jared Petersen and Titus 2:11 have been unstoppable the last few weeks at HITS Ocala. After two $50,000 grand prix wins in a row, the pair rode to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Jared Petersen and his father, Derek, were walking on air yesterday afternoon. Their excitement not only stemmed from the fact that Jared had just piloted Titus 2:11 to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, but also because it was...

Shachine Belle and INXS clinch their first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala as they set their sights on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties this September. Until now, INXS showed in the amateur-owner hunters with his owner Robin Swinderman (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - For best friends Robin Swinderman and Shachine Belle, their 2013 goal is off to a picture perfect start. After competing her horse INXS in the amateur- owner hunters for the past several years,...