Will Simpson and The Dude take first in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Friday, January 22, 2015 (ESI) Thermal, Calif. - Competition in the Grand Prix ring is heating up at HITS Desert Horse Park, as Will Simpson stretched his streak to three with a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix with Monarch International’s The Dude. Forty-one starters took to the SmartPak track but only thirteen left all the jumps up and qualified for the jump off. Simpson and The Dude, who won $7,500...

Lars Petersen and Mariett (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - For the second time early in the 2015 season, Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett, a 1998 Danish Warmblood mare, rose to the top of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) "Friday Night Stars" FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class presented this week by US P.R.E. Association. The duo scored a 75.325% to take the class, with Shelly Francis (USA) placing second on a 74.500% aboard Doktor, and fellow Danish rider Mikala Gundersen (DEN)...

Lisa Goldman and Centurion B take the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at the HITS Ocala January Festival (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - The $25,000 Smart Pak Grand Prix, held in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium, boasted 33 competitors vying for their share of the prize money. Goldman came out on top again, this time aboard Centurion B whom she has had since he was a 2-year-old. Eight riders advanced to the jump off over Esparza’s first round course of 15 jumping efforts. Goldman said,...

Will Simpson and The Dude take first place in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Friday, January 16 (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - With no faults and a time of 42.815 seconds, Will Simpson and The Dude, owned by Monarch International, won the first Grand Prix of the season at the HITS Desert Circuit. One of only three riders to go clear, Simpson prevailed in the jump-off with a time almost three seconds faster than his nearest competitor, Susan Artes and Zamiro, owned by Alix Fargo. With the...

Hunter Holloway and I Love Lucy jump to win the Brook Ledge Open (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - The $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome kicked off the 2015 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Wednesday with 15 eager to start their season with a win in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Six riders were able to shake off the winter blues by jumping fault-free in the first round over Ocala course designer Doug Russell’s inviting 1.40 meter course of 14 jumping efforts and two combinations. First to...

Gabriella Stumpf and Finally Love (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - Gabriela Stumpf (AUT) and Finally Love performed a lovely test to take the win with a score of 69.927% in the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle presented by MTICA Farm. Mary Bahniuk-Lauritsen (USA) and Wench De Jeu followed in second scoring a 68.675% and Jill Irving and Dio Mio finished in third with a total score of 68.625%. Stumpf, who has been partnered with the eight-year-old...

Allison Brock and Rosevelt (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - Allison Brock (USA) and Rosevelt topped the competition Thursday afternoon in the FEI Grand Prix presented by MTICA Farm, the first of the 2015 season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) during AGDF 1 CDI-W. The duo won the class on a 71.00%, followed closely by Tinne Vilhemson-Silfven (SWE) and Mikala Munter Gundersen (DEN) respectively. The first week of AGDF continues through Sunday, January 11, with the first...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the riders and schedule for the 2015 USEF Horsemastership Training Session presented by the USHJA. In its ninth year the prestigious clinic returns to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., December 29-January 3. The following 12 riders will participate in the five day training session which is sponsored by Adequan, Zoetis, Practical Horseman , Toklat, Ariat, and Equestrian Sport...

John Bragg and Social Hour (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - The Hunter Rings at HITS Desert Horse Park took center stage Friday afternoon during Week II of the National Sunshine Series. A fun and relaxed setting was ideal for those waiting to take flight in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Twenty-seven glided quietly over the course as competitors basked in the sun, enjoying moments of camaraderie about the trip they just finished. The course was set with intentions of giving riders a...

Asia Manning of HITS presents Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter with the $3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Final awards, including the Cymraeg Rainshower Memorial Trophy (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - Week I of the National Sunshine Series came to a close on Sunday afternoon as Augusta Iwasaki and Bit of Laughter took home first place in the $3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Final. The pair, scoring 87 and 80 for a total 167, was presented with the iconic Cymraeg Rainshower Memorial Trophy,...