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...

Lake Almanor, CA - By completing the third and fourth phases of the Lake Almanor Hustle CEI2* 120km endurance race in under an hour on Saturday, Andre Ruggeri and his own Falcon Je rode to a narrow victory. With a total time of 8:48:05 Falcon Je was less than ten seconds faster than Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising, and less than twenty seconds faster than third place finishers Heather Reynolds and RR Surprise Moment. RR Gold Dust Rising was awarded best conditioned horse. For more from...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge) Parker, CO - Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, was well attended and spectators lined the grass bleachers and VIP area on a mild summer day. Much needed rain could be seen far in the distance but Mother Nature held off the showers with perfect timing, letting go in a brief downpour as the victory gallop ended. Brian Curry, Vice President and General...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Le Conte siezed the 1.30m Open Jumpers Parker, CO - On the first day of week two of Summer in the Rockies at the Colorado Horse Park, staff, show management and competitors got serious about helping nearby communities ravaged by wildfires. The wildfires span 8,000 acres. A major fire is concentrated in the heavily wooded Black Forest area, northeast of Colorado Springs. Thousands have been evacuated and 80 to 100 homes have been destroyed in the blaze. "Right...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – The 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments began Wednesday, and riding on new turf footing, riders contested four FEI-level competitions. For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One...

It was quite a weekend of NCEA action, with two of the top three teams losing. My brief recap of each match is below. No.2 Auburn University def No.1 University of Georgia 12-8 Senior Stephanie Rucci helped lead No.2 Auburn over No.1 Georgia on Saturday (Sophomore Danielle Long) It was a little closer than last time they met, when Auburn won 13-7, but the Georgia Bulldogs couldn’t take advantage of being at home to get a win over the Tigers. Auburn jumped out to a quick lead in this one,...

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...

McLain Ward and Antares F (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - It was a very emotional night at Alltech National Horse Show as McLain Ward piloted his top mount Antares F to victory during the Alltech $250,000 Grand Prix, benefitting the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. The win comes just days after the passing of his father, Barney Ward, who had been Ward's most important supporter. Ward rode through his grief to beat six others in the jump-off, as the first to compete on his...

Jonathan McCrea and Twisther take the 1.45m Speed Stake (Parker/Russell-The Book LLC) North Salem, NY - The spectacular Old Salem Farm was the backdrop for sensational show jumping action on the second day of The American Gold Cup in North Salem, NY. Forty-six riders took to the field in the warm afternoon sun for the Danbury Porsche Audi $10,000 1.45m Speed Stake held in the Grand Prix ring. Jonathan McCrea edged out the competion on Twisther with a time of 66.156. "You know, I think I'm...

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma won the $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix on Saturday, August 4, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma were the winners in the $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix, sponsored by Purina Horse Feed, on Saturday, August 4, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival. In a three-horse jump-off, O’Shea and Instant Karma...