Chris Nelson and Inside Out in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix (Photo by © ESI Photography ) CULPEPER, VA (October 6, 2010) -- HITS, Inc. capped off an exciting and record-breaking season when its 35th week of show-jumping competition came to a close on Sunday, October 3 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. The final week of horse shows for the 2010 HITS season was highlighted with a variety of special classes that had top-notch prize money for both jumper and hunter riders. Without a...

Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF.) Lexington, KY - The United States upped its medal count by two today in the FEI Reining World Championship presented by John Deere at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In the Individual Final, the U.S. took gold and silver when Tom McCutcheon on Gunners Special Nite, owned by Turnabout Ranch, and Craig Schmersal with Mister Montana Nic, owned by the Mister Montana Nic Syndicate, had the two best patterns...

Tina Konyot and Calecto V (SusanJStickle.com) Gladstone, NJ – With more than just a USEF National Championship title on the line in 2010, the competition was fierce in the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions as 15 horse/rider combinations also vied for selection for the US Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In glorious conditions in the recently renovated Dick and Jane Brown arena...

"What a mare, huh?" said Penny Brennon of her winning mount in the $5,000 Speed Derby. The mare in question is Cowgirl, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood that owner Debi Connor imported from Holland several years ago. With Brennon in the irons, Cowgirl won the $5,000 Speed Derby during the Rocky Mountain Classic (July 14-18, 2010) at the Colorado Horse Park. It was the second week in a row the pair topped the Speed Derby. "This is an amazing horse," Brennon said. "I didn't think we could have a...

The 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which kicks off with preliminary classes at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva tomorrow (Wednesday), has been blown wide open by the late withdrawal of Ireland's Jessica Kuerten. When three-times champion Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who gave birth to her first baby just six weeks ago, confirmed last week that she will not defend the title, then Kuerten's position as long-time favorite was further strengthened. But the Irish rider who topped...

Photo by Anne Gittins (Jeffery Welles and Armani) It was with speed and grace that Jeffery Welles was able to capture Saturday night's victory with his top mount, Armani, during a three-horse jump-off. The pair raced through the finish line in 44.36 seconds after completing a clear short course during the 2010 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm, at Raymond James Stadium. Peter Leone tried to catch his time with Select, who also left all the rails intact, but the...

Sappire Wins Again for McLain Ward (Shannon Brinkman/ USEF Archives) Wellington, FL - March 27, 2010 - Tonight's $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* drew the largest crowd in the history of equestrian sport in Wellington. More than 9,000 spectators came to see who would win one of the biggest show jumping purses in North America. Sapphire, ridden by McLain Ward (USA) and owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, came home with the win and repeated their victory from last year over...

Jimmy Fairclough Threads the Needle (Joanie Morris/USEF) Ocala, FL – An exciting day of marathon driving at Live Oak International presented by US Trust showcased some of the very best in the US vying for USEF National Championship honors for both Single Horses and Four-in-Hands. Jimmy Fairclough drove like a man on mission – and his perseverance prevailed. Driving Jane Clark’s team, the New Jersey driver started out confidently in the first hazard and got better and better as he guided his...

OCALA, FL —HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, wrapped up its third week of AA-rated show jumping on Sunday after an exciting series of classes and special events highlighted another fantastic week on the road to the Pfizer Million. The week saw HITS Ocala’s 2009 Leading Grand Prix Rider Tracy Magness make her anticipated return to the winners’ circle when she captured Thursday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude. "I...

Richard Spooner and Cristallo (Randi Muster/Mustphoto.com ) Wellington, FL – More than halfway home in the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and clear rounds are at a premium. McLain Ward and Rothchild won the Third Selection Trial presented by Fidelity Investments with the fastest time, but Richard Spooner found himself on top of the Selection Trials standings after a masterful round in blustery conditions with Cristallo....