The Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials and CIC** came down to a nail-biting finish as Corinne Ashton and Dobbin, the overnight leaders, entered the ring and began their quest for the top honor. Dobbin dragged down one fence giving them four penalty points, leaving only five points between her and Mara Dean, who had completed a clear round. The cheers were deafening as Ashton managed to negotiate the remaining fences fault free and within the time allowed to finish victorious with a final score of 41....

Patty Stovel rode Shandor 41, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, to the win in Sunday's $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper Showday National. Jerry Dougherty of Geneva, IL, set a challenging first-round course that saw four horses advance to the jump-off. Stovel was the fastest of three double-clears with 40.69 seconds on the clock. Second place went to Megan Moran riding Quarnak De Longprec. Eliza Ferguson Shuford rode Larentino to third place. Beth Underhill finished in fourth place with...

The 152nd Upperville Colt and Horse Show Kick-Off Party on Friday, May 20, was a big success in raising money to benefit the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation. The party was from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the show grounds, and included a fun evening of dancing, fabulous food, a live auction and a silent auction. Music was provided by Johnny White and the Elite Band, who kept guests twirling throughout the night. The live auction consisted of neighbors and friends who have...

For the third time in four years, British leading lady rider Pippa Funnell dominated the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, leading from start to finish with Primmore’s Pride. An inspiring dressage test put them at the top of the leaderboard on day one. Whilst collecting time penalties on the cross-country, the combination jumped clear to retain the lead. In the show jumping when it mattered most, the pair jumped another clear round to secure the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy and the £50,000...

Bloomberg Leading Rider La Baule, France – The U.S. Show Jumping Team arrived in La Baule, France last week, locked, loaded and ready. Not only did they handily win the first Samsung Super League Nations Cup of the season by four faults over Great Britain, but team members also won three other classes and were well placed throughout the show. And at the end of the four days of competition it was the United States’ team member, New York City’s Georgina Bloomberg, 22, who was...

PhelpsPhotos.com (Kim Severson won the 2004 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Four-Star on Winsome Adante.) Lexington, KY – In a month where the average American wanders out to the garden wishing for Summer, equestrian sport has taken the lead—and the reins—to bring the country into full bloom. Leading us first to the entertainment capital of the world on April 20, the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals promises to feature some of the best show jumping and dressage the world has to offer. The United States...

Members of the show jumping team that won the Silver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games in Athens will compete in the jumper divisions and in two thrilling grand prix classes at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which runs May 26-June 4. In a thrilling duel for this year’s top honors, Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, Open Jumper Champion for four of the last six years, will take on Olympians Chris Kappler of Hunterdon in Pittstown, NJ, Open Jumping Leading Rider at Devon two years...

Some of the countries leading international riders head a strong cast of competitors for the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, April 8-10, in Chatsworth, GA. The event, now in its 18th year, will be hosting its first FEI World Cup Qualifier (CIC***-W) alongside Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions to offer a total purse of $30,000. Athens Olympic Silver medallist, Kimberly Severson, of Scottsville, VA, and Linda Wachtmeister’s 12-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding, Winsome...

Barbara Kearney's G.G. Valentine and two-time World Championship Hunter Rider Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, finished their show season as winners at the 2004 Syracuse Invitational Horse Show. Held at the OnStar Center in Syracuse, NY. for the second time, the best riders came to compete from throughout North America. Alfano and G.G. Valentine took home the Working Hunter Championship to cap off their extraordinary 2004 season. "G.G. was just super for me," stated Alfano, 36. "She is one of...

The American Hunter Pony Classic Auction will once again be held in conjunction with the 2004 USEF Pony Finals. The auction will be held August 3, 2004, in the Reel Arena at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. This elite auction is the leading auction market place for Pony Hunters in North America. "This is the best group of ponies we have ever offered," said Tim Jennings, Director of Marketing at Professional Auction Services, Inc. Ponies will be available for viewing beginning Monday,...