Ocala, FL – HITS is pleased to announce that the quarantine that has been in effect at the HITS Ocala show grounds for the past three weeks will be lifted Wednesday morning, March 13, in time for the season finale. On Wednesday at 8am, restrictions on horses entering or leaving the show grounds will be lifted, and the Ocala Celebration (HITS IX) will kick off with a bang. “We are pleased to be in a position to highlight all the great classes and events that are on the schedule for...

After riding to second in last week’s Sunday grand prix, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Malou found their way to the top spot in yesterday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - The $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, won’t be easily forgotten. Fifty-five top horse-and-rider combinations took to Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo’s course Sunday afternoon and 10 of the most competitive made it to one...

Since 1906, the National Western Stock Show in Denver has been the Super Bowl of livestock shows. On January 24th at this year’s show, Cliff Swanson, along with the Western Dressage Association® of Colorado , presented a two hour clinic in the basics of Western Dressage. Drawing from his skill set clinics, Cliff was able to demonstrate what he normally teaches in five or six half-day clinics. Cliff explained the history of dressage, as he began with a demonstration of aids,...

Rusty Stewart and Bristol used experience and speed to top Lucy Davis in the jump-off of the $54,500 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, and take home the victory. Stewart currently sits atop the rider standings for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - Speed, scope, strategy and nerve were pushed to the extreme in the $54,500 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix CSI-W 2*, presented by Zoetis, Saturday night...

The U.S. team following the Opening Ceremonies (R. Millin) Parys, South Africa – On Thursday, December 6, competition got underway at the Saddle Seat World Cup. Riders in the Three- and Five-Gaited sections of the U.S. team competed in the initial stages of the rail and pattern work. Both sections of U.S. riders had strong performances on the first day of competition. The Five-Gaited section riders Hunter Chancellor (Evansville, IN), Angela Darrow (Hartland, WI), Drew Taylor Hewitt...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

Felix Vogg (FEI/Jean Morel) Switzerland’s Felix Vogg has won the FEI World Cup™ Eventing 2012 title. The 22-year-old finished the World Cup season on 86 points, level with Belgium’s Karin Donckers, but under the series rules, in the event of equality, the rider with the highest placing is declared the winner and Vogg’s second place finish in Strzegom (POL) has secured him the title and the winner’s cheque of €9,000. Felix Vogg competed at three World Cup...

Paige Johnson and Chiron S won the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix Victory at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - t was the final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, and the excitement was high as the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix got underway in the Rolex Stadium. It was a bittersweet finale to the fourth week of the Kentucky Summer Series, with 41 entrants competing for the top prize. Paige Johnson and Chiron S were one of only four to...

Taylor Land and Nepal. (Sue Weakley) Zionsville, IN - The final day of the competition continued today at the 2012 Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair. Once again, perfect weather drew in a large audience from the Indianapolis area for an exciting day of show jumping at Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN. Veteran course designer and judge, Phil DeVita, produced a challenging course for the competitors for the highlight of Traders Point, the $60,000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis....

Peter Leone and Tuvalu (Tammy Hardy Photography.) Hampton Falls, NH – Speed was the word of the day at The Jumper Classic®, presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America. In the $3,500 DG Ventures Speed Derby, Olympian Peter Leone piloted Tuvalu, owned by Alison Finger, to the fastest clear round for victory. Located in the beautiful town of Hampton Falls, NH, The Jumper Classic is New England’s premier equestrian event. This elite level competition attracts the...