Photo by SusanJStickle.com (Steffen Peters and Ravel) Wellington, FL – Somehow it keeps getting better. After just collecting the United States Equestrian Federation's Horse and Rider of the Year accolades for 2009, US dressage superstars Steffen Peters and Ravel ran their streak to six major wins with a convincing effort at the Grand Prix at the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters. Ravel, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Contango-Hautain) owned by Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm appeared even...

With the 2010 season just weeks away, HITS, Inc., is preparing for full horse show circuits in Thermal, CA, and Ocala, FL. The 2010 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal will have six weeks of competition from January 26 to March 14, while the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will run two non-rated and six rated shows from January 19 to March 21. One of the best attributes of both venues is the availability of permanent stalls that are situated on the main show grounds in close proximity to the show rings....

Recently, Brookwood Farm hosted a unique five-day clinic with renowned rider and trainer Ray Texel that featured many different learning techniques. The clinic was held November 18-22, 2009, and while many clinics are two or three days, this longer format gave Texel and the participants more time to develop a unique rapport while working through many different challenges. Brookwood Farm is owned by trainers Rush and Caroline Weeden, who also hosted the 2009 $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby. "One...

Mother Nature gave exhibitors a fine weather send off for the finale week of the Atlanta Fall Classics. And what a busy week it was with NCE Championships, a $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, $10,000 Children’s and Adults Jumper Classic, and another $25,000 Grand Prix presented by EMO Insurance. The covered arena at the Georgia International Horse Park played host on Saturday evening to the Equestrian Travel sponsored National Classic Equitation Finals [NCE] with spectators enjoying...

The Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center are partnering in a new project to assist Kentucky's unwanted horses. Last week the Kentucky Horse Park became aware that some unwanted, pregnant Thoroughbred mares were in need of a home. The owner of the mares no longer wanted them, and sent them to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC), a 72-acre facility located in central Kentucky. The KyEHC is a model shelter for equines from across the state. No horse in need of shelter is...

In an exciting three-horse jump-off, Todd Minikus and Alaska were the fastest clear round to win the $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix World Cup qualifier presented by The Boeing Company. Kate Levy and Lirving du Volsin finished second, while Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D were third. Earlier in the evening, Samantha Schaefer was victorious in the WIHS Equitation Classic Finals. Saturday night's courses were designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, and out of the 29 entries in the class, only...

Minikus, Farrington, Johnson, and Kessler in Winner's Circle for Jumpers The 2009 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) CSI****-W is one of the most exciting equestrian competitions in the country, and it is one of only two shows in North America that offer a puissance, or "high jump" class. Friday night's $25,000 Puissance presented by Chevron Corporation saw a very familiar face for the awards presentation. Seven-time winner McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, was victorious in the class on...

The professional hunter divisions and the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions wrapped-up their second day of competition on Wednesday, October 21, at the Washington International Horse Show with the presentation of Grand Championship awards. Scott Stewart and Declaration led the way, earning the Green Conformation Hunter Championship, and going on to win the Grand Green Working Hunter Award, as well as the Grand Champion Hunter Award. After his excellent performance, Stewart also received the...

The 2009 Capital Challenge Horse Show will take place September 26-October 4 at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. This year's edition will feature the $40,000 North American Junior/Amateur Challenge Cup. The North American Junior/Amateur Challenge Cup will feature three rounds of jumper competition in a World Cup-type format. The first round, sponsored by Heritage Farm and Kate Considine of Willow Brook Farm, is a $5,000 Faults Converted class. The Time First Round...

Content provided by the Intercollegiate Dressage Association The 2009 Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s National Championship was one of many surprises. Hosts University of Findlay masterfully created a championship that was certainly worthy of the title and occasion. Kicking off events on Friday afternoon, Findlay’s 32-acre James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Complex became an Hawaiian paradise that quickly became over run with golf cart decorating and driving competitions designed to really...