Last week, courtesy of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, we began our tour of the top 10 poisonous plants to watch for in your horse’s pasture, based on a list compiled by the American Association of Equine Practitioners . Part 1 of this two-part series spotlighted five toxic plants to keep an eye out for in your horse’s pasture (click the plant name to see an image and additional information): bracken fern , hemlock , water hemlock , tansy ragwort , and Johnson grass / Sudan...

Atherton, Calif. - Saturday is a special day at Menlo Charity Horse Show (MCHS) from the Leadline to the $40,000 Bentley Los Gatos and Bentley San Francisco Grand Prix; there truly is an event for everyone. Don DeFranco has been on the MCHS committee since 2007 and began sponsoring the Leadline Class in memory of his father, V. James DeFranco a pediatrician and family practitioner, who passed in May 2013. “He was a very charitable man and did a lot of good for a lot of people and I just...

Ocala, Fla. - As the curtains closed on Ocala Week VII, jumpers competed for a blue-ribbon victory in Sunday's $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, $7,500 U-Dump Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and $1,000 S.A. Comunale Adult Jumper Classic. Harold Chopping and Basje winning the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix. (ESI Photography) $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix In an exciting ten-horse jump-off, Harold Chopping from Southern Pines, North Carolina, riding Basje, owned by Kendra Bullington, scored...

Freddie Vazquez and Esprit De Vie win the $30,000 Showplace Grand Prix at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Wayne, Ill. - It was only two months ago that Freddie Vazquez and Esprit De Vie were paired up for a whirlwind journey to Toronto, Canada for the 2015 Pan American Games. The 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare gave him all her heart, never saying "no" to Vazquez, and although they did not medal at the Pan American Games, Vazquez came away with a...

McLain Ward and Zander (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week ten of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a win for McLain Ward (USA) and Zander in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10. The win marks the 25th 'WEF Challenge Cup' victory for Ward over the years of his illustrious career. FTI WEF week 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, runs March 12-16, 2014. The week will feature the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45 on Friday,...

Minneapolis, Mn. - The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America (WPCSA) held its 2014 Annual General Meeting over the weekend of February 22-23, 2014 in Minneapolis, MN. The cold weather around the country may have created travel difficulties but attendees received a warm welcome from the Welsh of Minnesota! Society members from across the United States joined in Society business and committee meetings, award banquets and presentations. Welsh of the Year Announced! The Welsh Pony & Cob Society...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The Town Branch Bourbon $50,000 International Open Jumper Speed took center stage earlier this evening,where the first section of the class proved to be the best of the day. Candice King, of Wellington, FL, was the first to show over Conrad Homfeld's winding speed class aboard Quality Stud's Antigone Quality. Despite the pressure of being the pathfinders, King and Antigone Quality were perfect over each fence...

Reed Kessler and Wolf S (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - The 'North American' Tournament continued today, and it was Reed Kessler (USA) and Wolf S who took the highlight victory of the day in the $50,000 Lafarge Cup 1.50m over Lauren Tisbo (USA) with Catharina 9. Frances Land (USA) and Vieanne were very fast to win the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m as the first ones in the jump-off. The 'North American' Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features...

Louise Serio and Casino (The Book LLC) North Salem, NY – The first week of the Old Salem Spring Horse Show continued today with championships in the professional hunter divisions as well as opening classes for the Open Jumpers. The show goes through Sunday, May 12, and the second week will be held on May 14-19 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Moshi, owned by Stephanie Riggio and ridden by Sandy Ferrell, was champion in the combined Conformation Hunter division. Their top placings...

Scott Stewart and Empire. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - It was an important day for hunters at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sixty entries took their shot at a chance to compete in the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, one of the biggest purses in the world offered for hunter competitors. The class began this afternoon in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. With a large number of spectators standing by, each horse and rider combination took their turn over a course of eleven jumps,...