Today looks like it will be a whirlwind of a day here in Leipzig. I suppose I should not mention wind or make any other bad weather reference, as I am sure everyone in Lexington is still recovering from yesterday’s foul weather/ tornado warnings. Anyway, back to the task at hand. The US riders have a lot of horseback riding to do today, between the two World Cup Finals, The EY Cup and the CSI3* I count that the US will make 27 trips into the competition arena. Yesterday all the US riders...

Lexington, KY - All 84 horses presented at the first Horse Inspection at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials were accepted by the Ground Jury without incident. This includes three American horses: Mandiba, BallyNoe Castle RM and The Good Witch. With their riders, Karen O'Connor, who contested her first Badminton in 1979, Buck Davidson, whose father Bruce was the first U.S. winner in 1995 and Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe who looks to cross Badminton off the list of CCI4*s to complete...

Lexington, KY - Eric L. Straus. (Photo courtesy Eric L. Straus) The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. announced today that Eric L. Straus has been appointed to the Board of Directors to fill out the term held by the late Eugene R. Mische. Straus brings a wealth of talent and experience to the National Horse Show Board of Directors. Straus is a recognized USEF judge, steward and FEI show jumping steward. Recently, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Straus served as...

Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano. (Photo by Rebecca Walton/PMG.) Katy, TX - It was all about speed for the final day of competition during the 2011 Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. Today rider's competed for the winning title in the $25,000 Seashore Acres Grand Prix. With 11 horse and rider combinations completing clear efforts during the first round, the jump-off was determined by speed, and Tracy Fenney had plenty of it. She raced around the course in...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy. (Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms' Jersey Boy have led the USHJA International Hunter Derby program since its inception, winning classes all over the country in the last few years and proving their expertise in the handy rounds and finesse over the jumps. Tonight was no different, as the pair jumped their way to victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the twelfth and final "Saturday Night Lights" event at the 2011...

Christina Kelly and Camirage. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - Friday night during week 12 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured the $30,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Zone Team Competition Final. The horses and riders were divided into sections of high, medium and low heights to jump, with each section awarding $10,000. In the highs, Charlie Jacobs, Gabrielle Bausano, Christina Kelly and Karen Polle jumped to victory. In the mediums, Katherine Steenberg, Madeline Cox,...

Lucy Davis and Nemo. (Flying Horse Photography.) Thermal, CA - The 20th Anniversary of the HITS Desert Circuit was a success from start to finish, with beautiful weather, great competition and record entries for the first time since 2007. The fifth season at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA, was a world-class show jumping experience for trainers, owners, riders and spectators, alike. All four of the FEI World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix took place before sold-out VIP and general...

Kent Farrington and Top Gun. (ESI Photography.) Ocala, FL - Sunday’s $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, was not only the season finale to the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, but also the 36th Grand Prix of the 2011 HITS Show Season, which marked the virtual mid-way point for the qualifying period for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Kent Farrington felt the need for speed, when he and Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun captured the win, to conclude...

Nick Skelton and Big Star. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 13, 2011 - The fifth week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with the $25,00 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic, and it was Nick Skelton (GBR) and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, who proved victorious over a field of 65 entries. Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, designed today's courses and set a first-round track that 11 combinations would clear....

Wellington, Florida - February 12, 2011 - In only its second year the FTI Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments® has galloped out of the gates to become one of the largest fundraising events in Palm Beach County with a goal of one million dollars to benefit 32 Palm Beach charities at an exciting Pro-Am show jumping family event on Saturday Feb. 19th, 2011. To be held at the prestigious Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida which has recently...