Laura Chapot and Umberto on course in the $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – HITS-on-the-Hudson has been dubbed The Chapot Show as Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey won her third Grand Prix in a row when she produced the only double-clear ride in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Last Sunday during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, Chapot won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by...

So we got the competition started yesterday. Literally. Boyd was first in on Otis Barbotiere and did a great job with the French phenom. Still green, Otis tried his heart out and coped remarkably well with the atmosphere. Unfortunately the judges weren't all quite on the same page yet, as the caffeine in the coffee was seemingly NOT evenly distributed. There was a 7 point spread in his scores which in the sport of reining, for instan ce, would be cause for an audit.We got over that, but it...

Devin Ryan and Roman Saluut won the $30,000 Mount Equinox Grand Prix on Saturday, July 28, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Devin Ryan of Long Valley, NJ, scored his second consecutive grand prix victory at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival by winning the $30,000 Mount Equinox Grand Prix, sponsored by Hand Motors, on Saturday, July 28. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival, held at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT,...

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The first day of Eventing Dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games featured three of the five American horses. Boyd Martin was the very first rider in the ring on Otis Barbotiere and made the most of his first Olympic experience, having the best test of the horse's career so far. The venue is stunning and although the arena proved full of atmosphere, the three U.S. combinations handled the occasion admirably. Judged by the Ground...

Emma Wujek pictured on Simsalabim. Traverse City, MI - On the eve of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games Opening in London, England, Emma Wujek, a promising 11-year-old ambitious equestrian prodigy, showcased the natural polish, style and intensity of a seasoned equitation champion. These traits helped her capture the win in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (T.H.I.S.) National Children's Medal yesterday at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. The large...

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere at the first horse inspection (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The first of the three Olympic Equestrian Disciplines is set to begin on Saturday, July 28 after 74 horses were presented for the first horse inspection. The team from the United States drew second (behind Ecuador's individual) and were first to present their horses before the Ground Jury of President Anne Mette Binder, Nick Burton, and Gillian Rolton. The stunning Greenwich arena hosted horses...

Christopher Payne and Dominus swept the Performance 3'3" Hunters on the second day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. (Ashley N. Williams) Lexington, KY - The quiet morning greeted professional riders at the Stonelea Arena for the second day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, where spectators gathered to watch as top hunter riders competed for the championship prizes. Prince navigated Ace of Spades to the Performance 3'6" Hunter Championship with three blues. Christopher Payne led the way...

The sixth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder When on a horse, I wear a riding helmet. My students wear riding helmets. I ride and show western and dressage. The helmet/hat quandary, style vs. safety, the tradition or common sense conversation is therefore a subject near and dear to my heart. On March 22, 2012, I went into the hay barn to get a bale of hay to feed lunch in the barn. To make a long story short, despite my usual care in tipping bales, as I turned to leave the...

Bromont, July 22, 2012 - Nicolas Dello Joio completes the only double clear round of the BonjourQuébec.com World Cup qualifying event at the International Bromont today, Sunday July 22. A high-caliber event The course, designed by Venezuelan Leopoldo Palacios, was made up of 13 obstacles for 16 efforts, including 3 double combinations (2 jumps counting as one). The time allowed of 80 seconds proved to be a handicap for many riders who did not make it to the jump-off. Of the 26...

Cosmo and Laura Pfeiffer. Traverse City, MI - After observing Laura Pfeiffer win the featured 1.35-meter Open Jumper class on Wednesday during the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, you might have believed that Pfeiffer could have done it with one hand tied behind her back. Because she almost did. During the jump-off, as Pfeiffer tackled what would become the decisive and winning turn with her mount Cosmo, she had an equipment malfunction. "I think the difference was the tight, tight...