Lars Petersen and Mariett Loxahatchee, FL - Lars Petersen of Denmark scored a personal best for the season aboard Mariett to win the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W against a field of tough competition on a chilly and windy South Florida day. Petersen and Mariett earned a 76.400% with the judge at C, Axel Steiner, awarding them a 77.875%. The victory capped an impressive weekend for the pair at the 30th anniversary of the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, set at the...

Lexington, KY - The Florida Department of Agriculture has confirmed the positive diagnosis of Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) in horses in Florida. Six of the confirmed cases are linked to the HITS competition in Ocala. An additional horse in the Wellington area (with no identified direct or indirect connection to the Ocala show grounds) has been tested and found to be EHV-1 positive. The Florida Department of Agriculture has posted a detailed report regarding this situation and is updating the...

Daniel Deusser and Domingo (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week eight of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by G&C Farm, kicked off on Wednesday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for German rider Daniel Deusser and Stephex Stables' Domingo in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. Also showing on Wednesday, Hollow Creek Farm-sponsored Children's, Junior and Young Rider Welcome Stake classes were held with wins...

Lucas and Christopher Payne (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a championship win for Christopher Payne and Susan Moriconi's Lucas in the Pre-Green 3&4 Year Old Hunter division at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 was cancelled due to inclement weather. Week six, sponsored by Spy Coast...

Ashlee Bond and Wistful on their way to a win in the $54,500 HITS Grand Prix CSI-W2*, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal with their sights set on a 2013 World Cup appearance. They topped 24 for the win. (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - Before the start of HITS Desert Horse Park’s $54,500 HITS Grand Prix CSI-W2*, presented by Zoetis, course designer Florencio Hernandez of Mexico said that his goal was to have between one and three clear. He landed on the low side of that...

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Irish show jumper Shane Sweetnam is on a roll during week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with a set of back to back wins in Friday's $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed and jump-off classes to follow up a victory in Thursday's $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. All three wins were on Spy Coast Farm owned horses - the 1.45m aboard Everly Chin de la Pomme and Friday's 1.40m speed aboard...

A big weekend of NCEA competition had its share of upsets and near misses. At the end of it a few things seem certain: there will be a change at the top of the next NCEA Coaches Poll, and there will be plenty of competitive drama leading up to the NCEA National Championship in April. No.3 University of Georgia def. No.1 South Carolina University 11-8 The Gamecocks stole one from the Bulldogs in Bishop during the fall season. On Saturday the Bulldogs stole one back on the South Carolina home...

Janne Rumbough and Junior (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began this week with the National Opener Show on January 22-23. Dressage riders from all levels turned out to compete and get experience in the main Global Arena. The judge for the show was Margaret Freeman. The AGDF continues next week with the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. on January 31 - February 3, which kicks off the international dressage season at the...

Peter Pletcher and Ivory Coast (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher were named champions of the Second Year Green Working Hunter division after two days of competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ivory Coast, owned by Eva Bisso, and Pletcher led the division after day one of competition when they placed third and sixth over fences before winning the under saddle. Ivory Coast and Pletcher picked up another blue ribbon, this...

Two-time World Driving Championship silver medalist Chester C. Weber of Ocala, FL, won the FEI Four-in-Hand division at the 2012 Live Oak International (www.PicsOfYou.com) Ocala, FL - Live Oak International, the only equestrian event in North America to feature both world-class driving and show jumping, returns to Ocala, FL, from March 20 to 24, 2013. For more than 20 years, Live Oak International has been known for its international driving competition. This year, it will offer the highest...