Westport, CT – A short month and a half ago, Molly Ashe Cawley underwent serious back surgery, but this week anyone watching her ride at the Farifield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show would never have guessed. In her first time out since the surgery, Ashe claimed a victory in the $5,000 New England Hunter Derby aboard her talented derby mount Kenzo, owned by Kristen Abbatiello-Neff. The win in Connecticut comes as part of a string of successes for Norfield Stables LLC, which Ashe...

Lucador and Peter Pletcher (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Peter Pletcher and Lucador claimed victory for the second week in a row in the Fumero Law Pre-Green Level 2 Hunter division during week nine of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The five-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Brian and Sophie Baldwin of Sagamore Farm, dominated day one of competition, winning the under saddle and both over fences classes. Pletcher and Lucador wrapped up the division on...

Lili Hymowitz and Westside (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Lili Hymowitz dominated the Voltaire Design Large Pony Hunter division on the last day of competition for week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Hymowitz was champion of the division with Scott Stewart's Westside, a ten-year-old Warmblood gelding. The pair won both over fences rounds on day one of competition for the division and placed second under saddle. On day two, Westside and...

Lexington, KY- The dressage world turns its focus to Wellington, Florida this week as many top competitors from throughout the world wi Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (SusanJStickle.com) ll go head-to-head at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by Wellington Classic Dressage. This prestigious event will take place once again at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, January 24-26. The United States has a strong presence in this year’s competition as five Americans...

Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

Dale Dedrick (Ann Arbor, MI) rode her Bonifatious to a score of 64.619% in the Grade II Individual Test. Here are her thoughts; On her improvement over the Team Test: “It was a much more forward and obedient test; we still had a lot of Erik’s, ‘Oh, no what’s happening now?’. But I was much more prepared for it today, I knew he was going to pull and I was much more ready to attack the minute he tried that and I said, ‘no, no get in there, get in there, get...

The training session group in Texas. (Photo provided by USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - Continuing the Markel/USEF Young Horse training and observation session program, Twinwood Equestrian Center in Simonton, TX hosted the fourth session of 2012, April 14-15. Led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler, this was the first time a session has been hosted in Texas, an area that has proven to produce a wealth of successful young horses. "Texas and the surrounding area have consistently had high...

Cardi (Team Cardi LLC) Welsh Cob stallion North Forks Cardi recently piaffed and passaged his way to four impressive wins in Intermediaire II classes at the Festival of the Horse and the Golden State Dressage Show. Competing against all breeds in a field traditionally dominated by warmblood horses, this eleven year old Welsh Cob stallion, standing 14.3 1/2 hands high, produced his best ever score of 67% and also qualified for the Grand Prix Freestyle, earning a 62% for their Grand Prix ride....

Katy, TX - As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Nordic Lights Farm wrapped up the 2011 show season during the Final Chase Horse Show at the Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Eirin Bruheim claimed the winning honors during the $5,000 Open Jumper Mini Prix aboard Cicero 75, as well as the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship. Her sister Lene Bruheim was also very successful, earning top honors in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. Eirin and her talented mount Cicero...

Woodside Vaulters (courtesy of Woodside Vaulters). Denver, CO – More than 300 top equestrian vaulters in the United States came together this weekend at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO, for the USEF/AVA National Championships – and they did not disappoint. The Woodside Vaulters of Woodside, CA, gained the top spot on the podium in the Team Championships. The A team consists of Katharine Wick, Gabe Aniello, Allysa Bonora, Tessa Divita, Kathryn Jaggers, Siddartha Kreaden,...