Kent Farrington and Zidane (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Lexington, KY - Capturing a ribbon was no easy task during today's $20,000 Bluegrass Classic at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Forty-two entries gathered at the Rolex Stadium to compete in the 1.45m Open Jumper event, but when 23 qualified for the tiebreaker the results came down to a foot race. Besting the clock and the course was Kent Farrington aboard Zidane, breaking the beam at 38.879 to take home the winning prize. Ramiro...

Reed Kessler and Mika (Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The top horses and riders from across the country have returned to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for the start of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The first day of competition kicked off with the Open Jumper divisions in the Rolex Stadium. Olympian Reed Kessler led the way in the 1.45m Open Jumper class aboard Mika with a double clear effort, while the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed...

(l-r) St Lawrence Univ, Skidmore College, and Stanford Univ (LA Pomeroy) Harrsiburg, PA - "Sharing is better than losing to her," joked Mary Drueding, coach of defending Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Collegiate Cup team, St. Lawrence University, about good friend and even better rival, coach Cindy Ford, whose Skidmore College team turned up the heat in the homestretch like true Thoroughbreds on the first Saturday in May and brought the 2013 Collegiate Cup at the 40th annual IHSA...

This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...

Quotable and Holly Orlando (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - The hunters have officially taken over the International Arena during week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Week seven showcases hunter competition at its finest as riders and horses go head-to-head as they battle to qualify for Saturday night's USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Holly Orlando and Kelley Farmer took home an...

Wellington, FL - Upon review of the process and after consultation with the FEI, it has been confirmed that the current rules regarding the elimination process were followed to the letter. Before she left the official equipment check area ringside, the rider was informed by the FEI Chief Steward that the Judge at C had made the decision based on Article 428.8 and Article 430.7.6 that the horse must be eliminated due to the evidence of fresh blood. On behalf of Wellington Classic Dressage and...

Laurie Stevens and Iceman (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Iceman and Laurie Stevens were triumphant for the second week in a row at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The duo received championship honors in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Older (Section A) division during week one before taking home the championship again in week two. Stevens, of Boca Raton, FL, and her eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding placed first and eighth over fences on...

Finalists for the 2013 PagePlay Equestrian Social Media Awards were announced today with the United States Equestrian Federation and USEF Network each recieving one nomination. Ten finalists have been nominated in each of the 33 categories and voting is now open to the public. Winners will be determined 75% from scores give by this panel of judges , and 25% from votes of the public. The United States Equestrian Federation is a finalist for the "Best Use of Social Media in North America" award....

Toronto, ON – It was a class, and a course, befitting a champion. Befitting the legacy of Hickstead. The inaugural $100,000 Hickstead FEI World CupTM Grand Prix tested each horse and rider every step of the way, and in the end, it was veteran Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood (Oxford Mills, ON) with her young horse George, who rode away victorious. The biggest Grand Prix class of the Royal Horse Show was renamed during last year’s event, in honour of Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s...

Alexandra Lawson is a 19-year-old freshman at Purdue University from North Salem, Indiana. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. I've spent most of my life in the small farm communities of Danville and North Salem, Indiana. My parents and maternal grandparents are grain farmers - farming about 5,000 acres in the surrounding area. When you grow up in farm country, you just naturally get involved with FFA and 4-H, and it was through 4-H that...