This article was originally published at www.useventing.com . Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch take the top prize for the second year in a row (Brant Gamma photo). Laine Ashker downplayed her chances of a winning the Advanced at Millbrook Horse Trials for the second year in a row all weekend, but she and Anthony Patch remained cool under pressure and rode a beautiful show jump round to defend her title in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. With less then two points separating Ashker from...

Isabel Coleman and Pistol (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Summer Classic concluded with another day of perfect weather as riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the NAL/WIHS Adult and Children's Jumper Classics, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation. Isabel Coleman proved that age is just a number when she sped to victory in the Children's Jumper Classic aboard 22-year-old Pistol, and Sydney Crenshaw had the fastest jump-off of the day with Camera...

Luciana Diniz & Lady Lindenhof (Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - Before a buzzing VIP lounge and packed stands, the final CSI5* class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard - the Prix VDL Groep - was won by one of the most popular riders on the Tour, Luciana Diniz (POR), with her golden mare Lady Lindenhof. Second went to the experienced combination of Marc Houtzager (NED) with Sterrehof’s Uppity and third to Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) with Cocoshynsky....

Westport, Conn. - Thanks to Ariat International and the dedication of three volunteers in the Champions Equine Service program, three well-deserving charities devoted to horse welfare and the horse-human bond are receiving grants. Individuals who volunteer a minimum of 24 hours in a year for an equine charity on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network are recognized as Champions and automatically entered into a drawing where the winners have the opportunity to select their charities to...

Sofia Roberts and Brownland's Mr. Mack (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows have seen large numbers of entries all summer, but this weekend those numbers skyrocketed in the pony divisions. The 2014 US Pony Finals competition kicks off at the Kentucky Horse Park in just two days, and hundreds of ponies and young riders took advantage of the opportunity to prepare for the prestigious Pony Finals at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Among them were two Pony...

Alfano and Jersey Boy won the Handy Round and the Overall in the International Hunter Derby (ChicagoEquestrian) Wayne, Ill. - Chicago is a great place to show in the summer and the weather did not disappoint today for Equifest II’s Derby Day at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Sunny skies and a nice breeze made for a pleasant day for riders and spectators. The feature classes were the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $5,000 National Hunter Derby. Lamplight Equestrian Center...

Undeniable ridden by Jenny Karazissis (by Jenny Ross Koning for PhotoLyte.com) Washoe Valley, Nev. - Jenny Karazissis came home with top honors yet again in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility in Washoe Valley, NV. Karazissis and Undeniable continued as reigning champions after winning both classes this weekend at the Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby. As a two-day standalone competition, Franktown Meadows featured the $2,500 USHJA National...

Shannon Dahmer and Lakota Lace (Phelps Media Group) Parker, Colo. - A horse of a different color has been attracting notice at Dressage in the Rockies for more than just his spots. Lakota Lace, an 11-year-old Appaloosa/Percheron/Quarter Horse gelding, picked up back-to-back wins in the Intermediaire I at the Colorado Horse Park. In his first time out at that level, Lakota Lace scored 68.816 percent on Friday, winning the FEI High Percentage Championship, and 67.895 percent on Saturday. Trainer...

This article originally published at www.USEventing.com . Laine Ashker & Anthony Patch Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch are sitting comfortably atop the Advanced division leaderboard at the Millbrook Horse Trials (Millbrook, N.Y.) in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. It's not an unfamiliar position for them, as they won the Advanced division here in 2013. The track suits “Al” and Ashker knows how to bring out the best in her longtime partner, an off-the-track...

Lisa Wilcox and Denzello (Peter Martin-Turner/Spidge Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photography) Hickstead, United Kingdom - The United States produced improved performances in the Grand Prix Special on Saturday at CDIO3* Hickstead to earn a fourth-place finish in FEI Nations Cup competition. The team of Lisa Wilcox, Brian Hafner, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, and Susie Dutta finished on score of 414.611 in the competition that combined scores from the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special. To find...