Richard Spooner and Cristallo. (Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's seventh week of competition continued on Thursday afternoon with round seven of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series. Held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the class saw a total of 59 entries with 16 jumping clear to return for the jump-off. After arriving in Wellington just three days ago, California's Richard Spooner and his top mount Cristallo...

Ocala, FL - February 22, 2011 - The Ocala Winter Circuit had a record-breaking weekend as the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, had the largest Grand Prix starting field ever seen in Ocala with 50 competitors in the tack. Sunday's record came on the heels of Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, which set the record at 48 starters. Andre Thieme of Plau Am See, Germany, and his own Cesar captured the top prize in the $50,000 event to...

Beezie Madden and Prima. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden scored her second win this week at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby. She and Prima, owned by Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC, were the fastest over a challenging derby course on the grass field at The Stadium. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's sixth week concluded today and was sponsored by Fidelity Investments. The 2011 WEF will continue...

Taylor McMurtry and Just An Illusion. (ESI Photography©.) Ocala, FL - February 16, 2011 - The sun continues to shine in Ocala after a successful first AA-rated week of show jumping at HITS Post Time Farm. High-Performance and talented hunter riders once again pleased the crowd with awe-inspiring performances in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health and $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Young star Taylor McMurtry won her first Grand Prix ever aboard her own Just An Illusion...

McLain Ward and Antares F. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 10, 2011 - The fifth round of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was held on Thursday afternoon at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Grant Road Partners' Antares F. The pair was the fastest of three clear jump-off rounds in the class to win over 64 starters. Today's $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup grand prix was held over a course designed by Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary,...

Lexington, KY – The Executive Committee of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will meet to consider Extraordinary Rule Changes to clearly define the implementation of the Federation’s new helmet rule to breed competitions that offer dressage classes. The committee will meet later this month to discuss the changes, which will clarify the rule in the Andalusian, Arabian, Friesian and Morgan divisions of USEF Licensed Competitions. To review the latest memo regarding the use of...

Steffen Peters-Equestrian of the Year in 2009 (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - December 21, 2010 - And the winner is: up to you! Voting begins today for the coveted 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year, which, following decades of tradition comes at the end of the 2010 competition year and is announced when the horse world meets at the United States Equestrian Federation’s annual Pegasus Awards celebration in January. Known as the USEF Equestrians of Honor, eight stars of equestrian...

New AQHA executive director of shows Patti Carter-Pratt (Photo courtesy AQHA) As part of an effort to foster and guide the American Quarter Horse show industry in a direction that will ensure its continued success and longevity, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is excited to announce that Patti Carter-Pratt of St. George, Ontario, has been named to the new position of AQHA executive director of shows. "When I was tapped to manage and oversee AQHA's multifaceted competition and...

Gladstone, NJ - December 8, 2010 - This year during their fundraising event, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation recognized the Whitney Stone Cup recipient McLain Ward. The award is given to an active competitor whose consistent excellence in international competition, and whose standards of sportsmanlike conduct and contributions as an ambassador for the sport and for the USET, exemplify the Team's highest ideals and traditions. In 2009, Ward was unstoppable as he consistently...

Oklahoma City, OK – November 27, 2010 – The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) continued Saturday with the first go, third section of the $170,000 added NRHA Open Futurity at the 2010 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show being held now through December 4 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. With only four draws left in the third section, Shine Chic Shine, owned by Amabile & Strusiner of Grandview, Texas, kicked the competition up another notch....