Sheri and Honky. Photo: AHA. One of the most popular spectator classes at any show, particularly a national one, is the native costume class. Horses and riders bedecked in colorful tasseled costumes with glittering accents canter and gallop about the ring in a spectacle reminiscent of their Bedouin ancestors charging over sand dunes. Successful competitors must not only have brilliant motion but manners, as they are required to walk quietly. Often competitors will cross-enter in another...

The North American Young Rider’s Championship was a great success! Everyone (myself included) seemed to have a great time, and the endurance Basecamp was full of positive things to say about the Horse Park and staff. Though it was hot, everyone was in great spirits, and the 75 mile race went as well as anyone could have hoped. I only got to see 55 miles of the trail, but what I saw of it, I loved. It was an amazing experience to ride parts of the WEG course, and see some of the beautiful...

Endurance photo finish on a hot Kentucky summer day. Photo: SusanJStickle.com. Lexington, KY - For first time in the event's history, the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North played host to the North American Young Rider Endurance Championship. The competition included both CEI2* and CEI4* divisions which were completed yesterday, and team medals were presented today in both divisions. CEI4* In the CEI4* divisions, Team USA...

We arrived at the venue today! Our horses had already arrived, so we dove into our first day at the Kentucky Horse Park! We arranged team shirts, walked out our horses, and began organizing for the race this Friday. It was hard work, since we had just come back into the humidity, and I’d done a 120 kilometer race two days before, not to mention the jet lag! But the trip with the United States Endurance Team for the Trial Run of the Endurance World Championship was worth it! I ended up in...

The 2011 US Show Jumping Young Rider Tour officially begins tomorrow! I am too excited to sleep. I spent the day in London with my family where we tried to fit all the essentials into 24hrs. We rode the London Eye, went to Harrods (where there is an equestrian department with tack and Pikeur gear!!), and ate at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants of course. They still have two more days in London, but tomorrow morning I am taking the Eurostar Train to Brussels to meet the horses at Bonheiden...

Charlotte Jacobs and Bring It On (Photo by Heather Bellock for Phelps Media Group). East Aurora, NY - Junior rider Charlotte Jacobs had an impressive weekend as she competed in Saratoga, NY, during the first week of the St. Clements Horse Show. Jacobs, who has just returned from a successful trip to the European Youngsters Cup Competition in Leipzig, Germany, had an extremely successful first show back in the United States. Throughout the week, Jacobs was awarded various winning titles,...

Lexington, KY (April 24th, 2011) – The popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets.com has partnered with generous sponsors to offer the largest ever giveaway of riding helmets with a combined value of over $6,500, in addition to a highly sought after iPad2. Visitors to the Rolex KY 3DE (April 28-May 1) may visit the Riders4Helmets area in the “old” indoor arena to register for the giveaway, receive helmet safety literature, and, have the opportunity to participate in...

Ellen Toon and Invincible. (ESI Photography© .) Saugerties, NY - For the first time in the history of the HITS Winter Circuits in Ocala, FL; Tucson, AZ; and Thermal, CA, three extraordinary Hunter events took place at nearly the same time on Saturday night and awarded $40,000 in prize money from coast to coast. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix, a two-round Hunter classic, was by far one of the most exciting classes on the schedule this winter and the ticket for riders looking to earn their way to the...

Thermal, CA - February 8, 2011 - Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, OR, put an exclamation point on Desert Circuit II when he rode Harry and Mollie Chapman's McGuinness to the blue ribbon in Sunday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Winning Sunday's feature class was icing on the cake for Fellers who, less than 24 hours earlier, captured Saturday night’s $50,000 Strongid C 2X CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal...

Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 won the $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, CSI 2* (Sportfot©) Wellington, FL - The third week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has concluded at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. In addition to 12 rings of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, there was plenty happening on the grounds. $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, CSI 2* Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star 11, owned by G&C Farm of Wellington, FL, captured the top prize in Saturday...