Washington, D.C. - The 2014 WIHS Equitation Finals concluded Saturday evening with a win for Michael Hughes (18) of Allendale, NJ. Hughes rode Jordyn Rose Freedman’s Finnick through the first two phases of competition, finishing with a score of 88.50 in the hunter phase and 90.25 in the jumper phase. Returning for the final work-off sitting in second place overall, his ride aboard Mckayla Langmeier’s mount Skyfall scored a 93.50, giving a three round total of 272.50 for the win. He...

Kim Carey and Legato (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, Mich. - When Kim Carey traveled to Europe to look for a new horse for client Michelle Carroll, they went with high hopes. But after a long and fruitless search, they faced a trip home horseless. Then, the night before they were to leave, Carey heard about one more prospect. "The people we were with said, 'Oh, you don't want to go see that horse.' A couple of good trainers had looked at it and didn't like it. I said,...

Melissa Orlick-Zbierski and Viekie won the $20,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at Showplace Spring Spectacular III, presented by LUXMAX U.S.A (Phelps Media Group) Wayne, Ill. - The fifth day of the Showplace Spring Spectacular III opened to blue skies and strong jumper competition as the Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers took the limelight in the LUXMAX U.S.A Grand Prix Ring at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. Seventeen horse and rider combinations faced off in the $20,000...

Nicole Lyvere and All In (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Parker, Colo. - Nicole Lyvere has been on a mission to take her riding and her horses' training to the next level, and it paid off at Summer in the Rockies II as she dominated the Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunters, earning champion and reserve champion honors on Wink and All In. Lyvere and her hunters earned many top placings at Summer in the Rockies in 2013, and they have maintained a busy horse show schedule since then, traveling with Cindy...

Gladstone, N.J. - Drastic changes in weather proved to be the theme of the second day of the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp as Young Rider, Junior, Pony Rider, and Intermediaire I competition was all on tap at the USET Foundation Headquarters, until thunderstorms cut the day short. Friday began with Young Riders and Juniors performing their respective Team Tests in deluges of rain in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena and then, following the lunch break, rain was...

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. – Heather Caristo-Williams has her sight firmly on redemption in this year’s $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final after an unlucky rail in the first round of the 2013 Final. A Saugerties local, Caristo-Williams and Cornetto Royal are back in top contention after winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifier this weekend. “Cornetto Royal’s first experience in the hunter ring was during last year’s hunter prix qualifiers,” said...

Old Salem, N.Y. - Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy made it their 27th win in an international hunter derby at Old Salem Farm, taking the top spot in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. They scored 179 in the first round and sat in second place going into the handy round. With a dominating, 200-point performance in the handy, they easily took the win by 22 points. Watch an interview with Jennifer Alfano Second place went to Amanda Steege on Loxley, owned by Finale Partners LLC. They...

Jeffery Welles and Bilion (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wellington, Fla. - The final week of the Wellington Turf Tour kicked off today at Deeridge Farms. It was a heated competition, with some of the nation's top riders, both professional and amateur, going neck to neck for the top awards in the 1.30m-1.35m Jumper classes and the YJC Finals. Jeffery Welles and Bilion once again rode to the top of the leader board in the first 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, proving exactly why he sits at the pinnacle of...

Ramiro Quintana and Largo (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wellington, Fla. - The Ridge at Wellington's Turf Tour returned to the International Polo Club Palm Beach wednesday for its sixth week of competition. The 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers kicked off the halfway point of the series, where Ramiro Quintana piloted Largo to the pinnacle of the rankings in the red class, dominating the standings as all other contenders attempted to match their speed. It was Philip Richter and his veteran mount Ray Ray that...

Lexington, Ky. - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2013, six horses have shown the world these qualities and more. On January 11, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year, both a national and international horse will be crowned. The six champions...