Ellen Toon and Invincible. (ESI Photography© .) Saugerties, NY - For the first time in the history of the HITS Winter Circuits in Ocala, FL; Tucson, AZ; and Thermal, CA, three extraordinary Hunter events took place at nearly the same time on Saturday night and awarded $40,000 in prize money from coast to coast. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix, a two-round Hunter classic, was by far one of the most exciting classes on the schedule this winter and the ticket for riders looking to earn their way to the...

Hope Glynn and Sabrina Hellman's Woodstock. (Flying Horse Photography©.) Saugerties, NY - The Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final is the talk of the town this season and its key to qualifying, the Devoucoux Hunter Prix, continues to be one of the most popular offerings at the HITS Winter Circuits in Ocala, FL, Thermal, CA, and Tucson, AZ. Never before has a purse of this magnitude been offered for hunters, and never before have so many talented riders at all levels of their careers had the...

Taylor McMurtry and Just An Illusion. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - February 16, 2011 - The sun continues to shine in Ocala after a successful first AA-rated week of show jumping at HITS Post Time Farm. High-Performance and talented hunter riders once again pleased the crowd with awe-inspiring performances in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health and $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Young star Taylor McMurtry won her first Grand Prix ever aboard her own Just An Illusion...

Steffen Peters and Ravel. (Photo by Susan J. Stickle.) Wellington, FL - February 14, 2011 - Eight North American riders have been invited to the 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place on March 9-11. The invitations include the world's leading American and Canadian dressage riders, Steffen Peters and Ashley Holzer. Peters, riding Akiko Yamazaki's gelding Ravel, won the individual Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle...

Shannon Brinkman (McLain Ward and Sapphire.) Lexington, KY - The top 30 horse-and-rider combinations going for the Gold medal in the World Jumping Championship presented by Rolex at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games battled it out in the Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park on Friday night in a two-round competition. The U.S. Team was represented by the world-class grand prix duo and two-time Olympic Gold medalists McLain Ward and Sapphire who have had an exceptional year in 2010....

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the following horse/rider combinations to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held September 25-October 10, 2010, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The following horse/rider combinations have been named to the team (in ranked order): Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Sex/Breed/Owner Tina Konyot/ 48/Palm City, FL/Calecto V/12/S/Danish Warmblood/Tina Konyot and John Byrialsen Todd...

Driving The first of two Mandatory Outings for the drivers on the Short List for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was held over the weekend at the Carolina Horse Park in Southern Pines, NC. Drivers Bill Long, Cindy O'Reilly, Gary Stover, and Casey Zubek worked under the guidance of US Coaches Peter Tischer and Michael Freund in a competition format. International Judge Johan Lange was also on hand to lend his expertise. All teams passed the vet check and proved over the three days that...

Kayce Redmond and Latino (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – The final championship of the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions showcased some of the most exciting up-and-coming Grand Prix riders in the country. The ‘Brentina Cup’ for riders between the ages of 22-28 was designed to bridge the gap between the Young Rider ranks and the Grand Prix. Named for the legendary US Team horse, Brentina and donated by her owners Peggy and Parry Thomas, this division is designed to...

Dressage Dressage riders on the West Coast competed under the California sun this weekend at the Dressage Affaire CDI3* held at the Del Mar Horse Park. Steffen Peters continued to demonstrate his dominance in U.S. dressage, winning in all seven of his outings. With 2009 Horse of the Year, Ravel, Peters blew away the competition winning by nine percentage points in both the Grand Prix (77.660%) and Grand Prix Special (77.375%). Adrienne Lyle and Wizard put in two excellent performances to finish...

Photo by Randi Muster (Laura Kraut and Cedric) Lexington, KY – Following the completion of the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team in Wellington, FL, the United States Equestrian Federation's Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming the following 15 horse/rider combinations to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY September 25-October 10, 2010. As per the Selection Procedures, the top nine horse/rider combinations are...