The wind tried to take center stage during the High Prairie Spring Classic, but nothing could unseat Bjorn Ikast, who continued to take the High Prairie jumper division by storm. A virtual fixture at the Colorado Horse Park, Ikast brought back a stunning six horses to the jump-off in the $10,000 Riders Choice High Prairie Grand Prix on Saturday. “I am very pleased to have eight grand prix horses to ride now,” Ikast said. “They are all going very well. It’s great!” Of the 16 horse-and-rider...

Before a crowd of more than 500 people, as the bright sun set over the San Francisco Bay on Saturday evening, Tamra Smith and Kelly Loria jumped to victory in the two divisions of the $30,000 Preliminary Challenge, the feature of the Spring Event at Woodside. Loria, 16, of Lafayette, CA, rode Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds to top the 15-horse field in the Preliminary Rider Challenge, earning a check for $2,500 and a CWD Custom Saddle. Smith, 34, of Hemet, CA., rode CSI to top the 11-horse field...

Dressage rider and trainer Silva Martin, 29, became a citizen of the United States of America on Friday, May 30, in Philadelphia, PA. She was sworn in with 72 immigrants from 32 different nations. She now plans to apply to the FEI for permission to represent the USA in riding competition. Silva and her husband Boyd, 30, train out of Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect Farm in West Grove, PA. “I wanted to get the American passport because Boyd and I love living here and this is home for us now,” she...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) is pleased to announce it is seeking hunter seat competitors to take part in Team Morgan 2010. This year's competition will take place November 18-20 at Stephens College, in Columbia, MO. Competition will be against an equestrian team from Stephens College. Eight riders will be selected to become members of this year's team. Applicants must be at least 14 years of age, members of AMHA in good standing, and will be judged on several elements,...

The 28th Annual Piedmont Classic Paso Fino Horse Show in Asheville, NC, located in the beautiful Smokey Mountains of North Carolina will be part of Asheville Alive 2010. Mark your calendars now, June 24–27, 2010. Asheville Alive 2010 promises to provide something for everyone—intense competition, fantastic entertainment for families, a state-of-the-art facility for riders and premium hospitality and enhanced benefits for exhibitors, spectators, sponsors and vendors. Asheville Alive 2010...

Tickets to the eight world championships of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are selling quickly, with many sessions, particularly finals sessions, approaching sell-outs. Finals rounds are in highest demand across all sports, as these sessions determine the world champions. The Dressage Individual Freestyle and the Reining Individual Finals could be the first to reach full capacity. Less than 1,000 Level A tickets are available for the Dressage Freestyle on October 1 in the outdoor...

Photo by Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson (Mary Jordan, a Grade IV Para-Dressage rider used this competition as a practice before the selection trials at the end of June.) This year is the most exciting calendar year for the United States Para-Equestrian Team in history. It will be the first time ever that the para-dressage team will compete with all of the equestrian disciplines at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) in Lexington, KY. The hopeful WEG riders first stop this summer was May...

Photo by ESI Photography (Kelsey Hart and Agostino in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby. ) Two of the most decorated high-performance riders in the country became serious contenders to qualify for the unprecedented Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix after a pair of impressive outings at HITS-on-the-Hudson I in Saugerties, NY. First, in Friday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, it was Olympian Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Pamina L that took the blue ribbon in her first...

Riders4helmets website aims to encourage more equestrians to wear helmets Leading equine digestive health product Succeed® has teamed up with helmet advocate Jeri Bryant to launch an online helmet awareness campaign— www.riders4helmets.com . The campaign is designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets. The Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA) states that head injuries account for approximately 60% of deaths resulting from equestrian accidents. Approximately...

Mario and Urico Look for More Clear Rounds (Randi Muster Photo) Lexington, KY - The following horse/rider combinations have been named to represent the US in the Nations Cup at CSIO Schweiz St. Gallen in Switzerland on Friday June 4. Mario Deslauriers on Jane Clark’s Urico Beezie Madden on Abigail Wexner’s Mademoiselle Richard Spooner on Show Jumping Syndications’ Cristallo McLain Ward on Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild These four riders will take on the nine other teams in the third Nations Cup of...