San Juan Capistrano - April 19, 2010 - Turnout for the third and final week of the Blenheim Spring horse show series was again fabulous. Spectators and exhibitors alike enjoyed watching both the $10,000 The Chronicle of the Horse /USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday afternoon and the $35,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix late Saturday afternoon. The Derby festivities, including wine and cheese during the final round and a post-Derby party with guest DJ John Huntington of A&E’s...

Fifth Third Bank has joined the sponsorship ranks of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as both the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Experience and the Official Community Bank of the Games. Fifth Third Bank, as presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Experience, is supporting the showcase of the state’s tourism destinations to hundreds of thousands of Games visitors. The Kentucky Experience will be a series of spectacular pavilions encompassing over 25,000-plus square feet in the heart...

McLain Ward and Sapphire Look to go One Better in 2010 (Shannon Brinkman/ USEF Archives) Lexington, KY - With 10 riders representing the United States at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (April 15-18), the American assault on Geneva looks very strong. Led by 2009 runner-up McLain Ward and his legendary Sapphire, the 34-year-old will look to go one better in Switzerland than they did in Las Vegas one year ago. Fortunately, they won't have the fleet-footed Shutterfly to chase as the defending...

Lexington, KY – Stuck in a blizzard? Stranded in an airport? Or just can’t make it to South Florida? Don’t miss a second of the best show jumping in the country this weekend! The final two USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) book end the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by CN, from the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. It all takes place March 5 and 7 on UniversalSports.com, a partnership...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) convention will honor Saddlebred Stars of Saddle Seat Equitation in a unique setting on Friday evening, February 19. The Lexington Country Club on historic Paris Pike will be the site of the Cocktail Buffet beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. The new event was made possible this year when ongoing construction of the newly expanded Saddlebred Showcase at the American Saddlebred Museum in the Kentucky Horse Park prevented the usual Museum reception that...

Photo by Ken Braddick (A frisky Satchmo with rider Isabell Werth during the vet check.) All 16 horses that were presented for veterinary inspection were passed Wednesday to start in the €100,000 (US$138,000) Exquis World Dressage Masters at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Three German combinations, three Dutch, six from the U.S., three from Canada and one pair from Denmark will perform in the €10,000 (US$14,000) Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe Grand Prix at 1 p.m. It is the only...

Lexington, KY – You don’t have to be a record-setting quarterback, point guard or track star to letter in high school sports anymore. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is writing a new chapter in the recognition of high school sports — one that honors Equestrian athletes. The USEF’s High School Equestrian Athlete program will offer specially designed emblems and pins, exclusively for equestrian athletes in grades 9-12. “High school equestrians have earned their place among the most...

Photo Courtesy HITS (The beautiful Grand Prix arena at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, NY.) As riders gear up for the 2010 grand prix season, qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on September 12 in Saugerties, NY, is topping the list of priorities. Kent Farrington, Jimmy Torano, and McLain Ward were among those announcing intentions to become one of only 46 potential riders to vie for a top prize of $350,000 in September. With a limited number of spots available on...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce that one of their competitions has won a national award from the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). The HITS Ocala Winter Classic, which was held on February 3-8, 2009, was selected as the USHJA "A/AA" rated Member's Choice award-winning competition for Zone 4. "We are honored that our Zone 4 exhibitors selected the HITS Ocala Winter Classic for this award," said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. "I'm proud that their experience at HITS...

McLain Ward and his Beloved Sapphire at the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Gladstone, NJ -The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that the Whitney Stone Cup has been awarded to McLain Ward of Brewster, NY. The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded annually by the USET Foundation Executive Committee to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition, high standards of sportsmanlike conduct, while also serving as an ambassador for the...