Michael Leon continues his winning ways in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Flying Horse Photography) Burbank, Calif. - Michael Leon, who earned a big check in the 2013 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus, is no stranger to winning. He started off the 2014 show year by dominating the $2,500 LAEC Opener USHJA National Hunter Derby at The LAEC Opener Horse Show (Jan 17-19), and if he and Freedom (Anna Sophia Lotman, owner) win a second derby together at LAEC this season, he’ll earn another...

A five-part series to learn more about the exciting new discipline of Western Dressage Part 1: What is Western Dressage? When most equestrians think of "dressage", they envision the graceful harmony of beautiful horses with riders clad in top hats and tails, dancing together through musical freestyles in an Olympic stadium. But now, an increasing number of competitors entering dressage arenas will be wearing Western hats and boots with their horses outfitted in stock saddles. What's going...

Becky Gochman and Sambalino (Shawn McMillen Photography, www.shawnmcmillen.com) Washington D.C. - The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition on Wednesday and awarded championship honors as well. The Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” championship was awarded to Becky Gochman of New York, NY, riding David Gochman's Sambalino. The pair earned the Frank Counselman Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Friends of Frank Counselman. Gochman was also...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. Arabian Sport Horse Nationals September 18-22 Lexington, Virginia The Arabian Horse Celebration September 18-21 Louisville, Kentucky Dressage NEDA...

Rainier, the Overall Grand Champion and Champion Best Young Horse - East in the 2013 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship, with handler Richard M. Taylor (Richard Clay Photography) Lexington, KY – The top young horses from across the country displayed their qualities in hopes of claiming a title at the 2013 Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship. Judges Sharon Stewart-Wells of Ruidoso, NM and Deborah Sands of Encinitas, CA traveled to both coasts...

Ramiro Quintana and Bialda win the 130m Jumpers in the rain at Silver Oak. (Tony DeCosta) Hampton Falls, NH - In a rain shortened schedule on Friday at the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament in Hampton Falls, NH, Ramiro Quintana and his talented young jumper Bialda raced to his second victory in as many days, topping a field of just sixteen to win the 1.30m Jumpers Time First Round class on the grand prix field at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center. A not heavy, but steady rain fell throughout the day...

Overall Grand Champion Samantha Sommers and Small Affair at the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships - West (Captured Moment Photography) Lexington, KY – The top junior hunter riders on the west coast met at Showpark Facility in Del Mar, CA, July 22-23 for the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West. The riders were separated into 15 & Under and 16-17 divisions, as well as Small Junior Hunter and Large Junior Hunter, and competed in three phases: Classic...

Kristin Hardin and Aran are too fast to beat in $10,000 Circuit Opener Grand Prix (Sheri Scott) Woodside, CA - The jump-off of the Woodside Circuit Opener (June 19-23) Grand Prix was a case of fast, faster, fastest, and it was veteran Kristin Hardin on the inexperienced Aran (Pamela Levin, owner) who topped the 24-horse field over Danny Foster’s challenging track. Only four horse and rider combinations managed clear rounds over the demanding course, with the combination toward the end...

Venezuela’s Victor Segovia and Romeo (pictured here competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL) won the $60,000 Country Heir II Grand Prix on Sunday, June 16, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. (Jack Mancini) Lexington, KY – Victor Segovia of Venezuela jumped to victory in the $60,000 Country Heir II Grand Prix on Sunday, June 16, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The 36-year-old topped a competitive field of 24 to take the win aboard Romeo, a...

Tony Hitchcock of HITS presents Christine McCrea and Avenir with top honors after the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - Excitement surrounding Week I of the HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Circuit reached a climax Friday afternoon when 26 riders took to the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium to get grand prix competition underway at HITS-on-the-Hudson with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. Christine...