Stormy skies did nothing to dampen the spirits of pony enthusiasts as intense championship competition got underway Friday at the popular National Dressage Pony Cup, being held July 8-10, 2016 in Lexington, Ky. Competitors representing 23 different states from Maine to Texas competed in the first of two rounds of classes in pursuit of a stunning array of NDPC awards in Open, Adult Amateur, and Junior/Young Rider divisions, and showed off their pony power at all levels of competition from...

Michael Hughes and Sans Soucis Z on their way to a $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - The $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix served as the grand finale of HITS-on-the-Hudson II, closing out the weekend with an exciting opportunity for riders to snag a piece of the week’s largest prize purse. Michael Hughes of Allendale, New Jersey, and Sans Soucis Z, owned by Caroline Lloyd, proved to be the team to beat. HITS has witnessed Hughes develop from...

Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - After a long road together, Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue will bring home the best thing of all: a Devon blue ribbon. The pair produced the only double-clear effort in the $7,500 North American League Adult Amateur Jumper Classic at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Their impressive performance was also good enough to earn the Adult Amateur Jumper Championship after two days of competition. "This is a...

Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate on their way to a $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - The weekend sounded off with a bang at HITS-on-the-Hudson I, and there was no shortage of excitement in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix. Four horses and riders returned to test the jump-off course, designed by Marina Azevedo of Campinas, Brazil, in Friday’s class. It was once again Neshanic Station, New Jersey, equestrian Laura Chapot and her mount Thornhill Kate, who...

TJ O'Mara and Kaskade (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group) Devon, Pa. - As the sun rose over the Dixon Oval, TJ O'Mara rode into the ring ready to make the most of his final junior season at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. The rising talent did just that, riding away with his first blue ribbon in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search. O'Mara was also awarded the Honey Craven Perpetual Memorial Trophy for delivering the highest-scoring round in the Talent Search....

Nayel Nassar and Lordan on their way to a $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup - Jumping Thermal win. (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calif. - As the crowd gathered to watch the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Thermal on Saturday, February 13, an impressive lineup of horses and riders from around the globe gathered to jump for the final West Coast qualifying opportunity and a $100,000 prize purse. As the last qualifying opportunity on the West Coast, riders were hungry for the opportunity...

Aaron Vale and Quidam's Good Luck (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - The Sunday Grand Prix at HITS Ocala get better and better. The competition between Lisa Goldman of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, and hometown hero Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida, is heating up and the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix had the crowd screaming for their favorite pick to win. There was no shortage of excitement as Andrew Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, had the crowd on their feet to the final fence. In a thrilling jump-off,...

Wellington, FL - January 31, 2016 - Leida Collins-Strijk (NED) and Don Tignanello took a clean sweep of Small Tour competition at the third week of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), earning wins in all three classes presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute. Collins-Strijk and Don Tignanello completed their dominating week this afternoon, earning a 75.792% in the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle to take top honors. Michael Klimke (GER) and Djamba Djokiba followed in second place...

Conor Swail and Viva Columbia. (The Book) North Salem, N.Y. - Sometimes it is good to have friends in the right places, and for Conor Swail, a friendship with Ilan Ferder has resulted in the ride on his now top mount Viva Colombia. The Irish athlete piloted the 10-year-old mare to victory in the $85,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier CSI4* presented by Windsor Show Stables. The pair bested a 14-horse jump-off, beating second place finisher Ali Wolff on Casall and third place finisher Peter Lutz on...

Lyman, Maine - Para-Equestrian Dressage riders are looking forward to Carlisle Academy's Para-Equestrian Pipeline Training Camp scheduled August 25-28, 2015. Carlisle Academy in Lyman, Maine, a Premier Accredited PATH Center and national leader in grassroots development for para-equestrian sports, has been the educational link for developing athletes and coaches. Experienced international para-equestrian clinicians, therapists, and coaches with their riders will congregate for training and...