Equestrians never forget their first ponies. Woolly or sleek, magnificent or mischievous, they are the teachers who reveal the most fundamental and enduring wisdom about life with horses: that it is joyous, that it is hard work, that it is a partnership which demands compromise but also makes us stronger. These special animals arrive from a remarkable variety of sources—sometimes handed down from siblings, sometimes expensively acquired, often bought cheaply from an auction or an ad or...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to introduce the 2017 Equestrians of Honor. Voting is now open online .The 2017 Equestrian of the Year will be awarded Thursday evening, January 18 at the Pegasus Awards dinner during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. Learn more about the eight 2017 Equestrians of Honor: Nancy Leigh Fisher Oconomowoc, Wisc. American Saddlebred The C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy is presented to those excelling in under saddle show breeds. In her final...

Leah Lang-Gluscic and A.P. Prime (Adam Brennan/picturesbyab.com) Leah Lang-Gluscic Leah Lang-Gluscic completed her first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2016 aboard A.P. Prime. “Last year was the first time that we attempted all the phases successfully. “Rolex is a spectacle, in the best way possible. You think you’re going to get there and it’s going to be this long week of waiting. But with A.P., in particular, I had such a huge fan base for him that I was occupied...

Andrew Kocher and Zantos II won Sunday's $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2* to wrap-up Week Five at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - Aug. 14, 2016 - Week Five's feature event at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), the $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2*, went to Andrew Kocher (USA) and brand new mount Zantos II. With only having ridden and competed the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding for less than a month,...

Maggie Jayne and Frosted Blue win the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Chicago Festival of the Horse (Allyson Lagiovane/Phelps Media Group) Wayne, Ill. - The final day of World Championship Hunter Rider week at the Chicago Festival of the Horse began differently than most. David Cormalleth played tribute to the late Russel Frey with a rendition of "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes before riders in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby entered the Grand Prix arena to compete...

Aaron Vale continued his winning streak at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival on Friday winning the $25,000 CWD Welcome Stake aboard Bonzini S. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Traverse City, Mich. - The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) capped off on Friday with the $25,000 CWD Welcome Stake, which saw 34 horses and riders battle it out for the coveted prize money. Wednesday's 1.40m Jumpers winner, Aaron Vale, and Thinkslikeahorse's Bonzini S came out on top to secure...

Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB, Canada – The Spruce Meadows Summer Series continues with the ‘Continental’ CSI 5* Tournament, and it was Eric Lamaze (CAN) who took home the first big win of the week in the Husky Energy Classic 1.50m with Check Picobello Z. Second place went to Tiffany Foster (CAN) on Brighton, while Sameh El Dahan (EGY) riding WKD Diva finished third. In the Wipro Cup 1.45m, Ray Texel (USA) rode Baldira to victory....

Iwasaki & Reilly's Small Gesture, ridden by John French, is awarded $7,500 in prize money, FITS Riding breeches, a WCHR jacket and silver platter, as well as the Horseplay Encouraged trophy, presented by Valencia Saddlery. (McCool) San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - In the $25,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular at the Blenheim June Classic I, Small Gesture dominated the first round scoring with an impressive 92 from not just one panel, but both panels of judges. Competing fifth out of 30...

John White Devon, Pa. - For 120 years, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has prided itself on the exceptional talent that pours in to compete at the oldest horse show in the country. Tradition is an important staple of this 11-day event, and the Carriage Pleasure Drive has been part of that tradition for 50 years. The well-known Drive is expected every Sunday before Memorial Day. Families, friends and locals line the streets and the Devon Horse Show grounds to watch and admire the beauty...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl won the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3* at the Kentucky Spring Classic. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Spring Classic's main event, the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3*, was an unforgettable one as Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl pulled off their third FEI win for the week. The win was extra meaningful to Minikus as it honored his dear friend and horsewoman Mary Rena Murphy. "I've been coming to the...