Seventeen-year-old Spencer Smith headed into the 2014 fall season looking to produce strong results in the U.S.’s most prestigious equitation finals. The Wellington, Fla., native did just that as he earned the 2014 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals victory at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and finished fifth in the ASPCA Maclay Final at the National Horse Show to earn the Wilson Dennehy Equitation Trophy. Additionally, he competed in the finals at the Platinum Performance/USEF Show...

Devon, Pa. - Ashley Holzer and her bay mare, Tiva Nana, winner of Friday’s Grand Prix Qualifier, thrilled the crowd with their freestyle dressage performance that earned a score of 76.125. Their movements were challenging. For instance, they moved from canter to piaffe to passage without missing a beat of the epic, orchestral music. Apparently Ashley had made a last minute decision to enter the freestyle competition. She says that the electric atmosphere at Devon worried her mare a bit...

Final preparations are underway as 370 horses are about to descend upon the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Ca. for what is expected to be a record-breaking dressage competition at the 47th Annual California Dressage Society (CDS) Annual Championship Show, September 25 - 28, 2014. With an increase of more than 100 horses from last year, organizers predict that this will be the largest West Coast championship show in history, with nearly 1500 rides scheduled in six rings of non-stop...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following High Performance Summer/Fall Training Lists for the 2014 season. The following riders will participate in Training Sessions with U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor. Training Session dates and locations will be announced at a later date. To learn more about the Squad for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and alternates to the Squad click here . Global...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that two horse-and-rider combinations have been awarded Land Rover Competition Grants to compete at the Saumur CCI3* in Saumur, France, May 22-25, 2014. The following combinations will receive Land Rover Competition Grants (in alphabetical order): Elisabeth Halliday (East Sussex, United Kingdom) has withdrawn Deborah Halliday's HHS Cooley from the Saumur CCI3* due to a slight veterinary concern....

from https://www.gobulldogs.com/ Fresno, Calif . - The Fresno State equestrian team upset No. 2 Baylor with a nail-biting 8-7 victory on day one of the Bulldog-hosted tournament against SMU and Baylor. "More than excited is the best way to put it right now," interim head coach Eric Hubbard said. "We've been riding really well, so we knew we could do it at home, and the girls proved it today." Both teams competed neck-and-neck throughout the entire competition. Tied 7-7, the last ride...

Lexington, KY – The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following High Performance Winter/Spring Training Lists for the 2014 season. The following riders will participate in Training Sessions with U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor. Training Session dates and locations will be announced at a later date. Global Talent Combinations that currently possess the ability to win anywhere in the world. Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and the Mr. Medicott...

Tina Di Landri and Avargo (McCool Photography) La Canada, Flintridge, CA - Two of the Flintridge Autumn Classic's most eagerly-awaited events have concluded. Saturday's Land Rover of Pasadena Grand Prix saw a total of 38 horses and riders, with ten going fast and clean enough to return for the jump-off. Edge-of-the-seat action continued as the top three finished within a second of each other. Tina recalls her great ride of the evening, "At first when I was walking the course, I was...

Well fall is under way and I am trying to clear a little writer’s block. The last shows of the year are winding down. We are headed for the last ones in our area the last two weekends of the month. Fall is time to evaluate progress and prepare for next season. Some of us set goals for training, some for clinics, some for next year’s show season. We look at our feeding programs, exercise programs, breeding programs and whatever else we are running. I always find myself thinking ahead...

Valkenswaard, Germany - A good weekend in Valkensward ended well for U.S. riders. Though an American didn't end up on top of the Valkenswaard CSI3* Elm Rock Grand Prix, one did take 3 of the top five slots. Finishing in 2nd were Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) and Elm Rock Partners, LLC's Royce, finishing about a second behind them in 3rd were Nicholas Dello Joio (Wellington, FL) and EM Horses Carlos V.H.P.Z. Megan Nusz and Amalaya Investment's Vesuviuis finished in 4th place. For...