Paragon He’s only eight years old but he’s the talk of the dressage world. Yesterday people came to watch him school because they had seen him on YouTube and they wanted to see him in person. Luckily for the U.S. he’s on our team at the 2011 Pan American Games, after claiming reserve championship honors at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Owned and ridden by Heather Blitz, the lanky 18- plus-hand chestnut gelding has jaw-dropping movement in...

Elkton, MD--More than 100 horses, 77 of which were from the United States, were presented to the Ground Juries Wednesday afternoon at the Dansko Fair Hill International, where 45 horse-and-rider combinations will compete in the CCI3* and 62 in the CCI2*. Three horses were held for re-inspection: Tipperary Liadhnan, ridden by Thailand’s Nina Ligon, and King Billy, ridden by Laura VanderVliet, in the three-star; and Elizabeth Spencer’s Firewater in the two-star. Only Monte Carlo,...

The stars were out at the L.A. International Horse Show (Sep 21-25), particularly at the $50,000 L.A. International Grand Prix, a World Cup Qualifier, where performances in the ring kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Sixteen riders tackled Michel Vaillancourt's course in LAEC's indoor arena, but it was the youngest of them all, Saer Coulter (Markus Beerbaum, trainer), who was the only rider to go double clear and clinch the top title. The excitement started early in the class,...

Hayley Barnhill and Asparagus. Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. Upper Marlboro, MD – Hayley Barnhill, of Collierville, TN, earned an exciting victory today as she topped the North American Equitation Championships at Capital Challenge. Barnhill’s win was followed by a top finish for Pilar Flournoy, of Topanga, CA, in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals. The day concluded with the North American Amateur Equitation Championships with a victory...

Devon, PA - More than 35,000 spectators enjoyed the equine entertainment and education provided by more than 700 horses (and their riders) at this year’s Dressage at Devon. Tuesday through Thursday featured the breed division in which young horses, from weanlings to six-year olds, shown both in-hand and under saddle, had their day in the sun (or in the rain depending on the time of day). Friskiness dominated the younger classes as their handlers worked hard to show off their charges. The...

Garfield and Scott Stewart won an over fences class in the High Performance Hunters. Photo: Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. Upper Marlboro, MD - Class winners were honored today in presentations at the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show. This was the start of the professional hunter divisions, and many beautiful pairs graced the ShowPlace Arena. While the more experienced horses competed indoors, the Future Hunters showed in the outdoor ring. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince...

Devon, PA – Dressage enthusiasts wait all year for Dressage at Devon where professional riders from around the world compete in the Dixon Oval and Gold Ring. Eagerly awaited, however, is the talent and experience shown in the Saturday classes – providing the standards to which dressage riders strive. The Next Generation Tanya Strasser-Shostak, from St. Adele Canada, and her 6-year-old Reserve Champion Oldenburg stallion, Cappuccino Tyme, teamed for a win in the FEI Pony Team Test...

Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo: SusanJStickle.com. Gladstone, NJ - The third day of the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions meant the second day of the USEF Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship. The results remained unchanged as Steffen Peters won his third class in a row taking the top spot in the Intermediaire I test on Weltino's Magic with a score of 76.421%. He fought back from a couple of mistakes early on and overcame a couple of...

Laura Chapot on course with Mary Chapot's Umberto in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — As excitement builds for the return of the coveted Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and the debut of the first ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final next weekend, HITS show jumping action returned to Saugerties this week for the last leg of the qualifying season. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, opened the Grand...

McLain Ward placed first and second in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to take over the lead in the Hagyard Challenge Series standings (Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG). Lexington, KY - McLain Ward continues to hold the lead in the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series after claiming the first and second place honors in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. The talented rider completed double clear rounds aboard Pjotter Van De...