Laura Bowery and Vanhattan (The Book LLC) Old Salem, N.Y. - Although she had not competed for nine months, Laura Bowery didn't feel any jitters when she walked into the show ring this week. Having the ride on Vanhattan made it that much easier. She and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Manhattan owned by Kerry Anne LLC flew around the speed course, designed by Alan Wade of Ireland in 62.154 seconds to win the $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m. Second place in the class went to Wiplala and Richard...

Tina Konyot and Calecto V (MA Brakenridge/PSdressage.com) Lyon, France - The highly anticipated 2014 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final got underway Saturday afternoon at the Lyon Eurexpo. As 17 of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations performed the FEI Grand Prix Test before the Ground Jury of Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode, Dr. Jean-Michel Roudier, Thomas Lang, Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Gary Rockwell, Jacques van Daele, and Leif Tornblad. The U.S. combinations of Tina Konyot with...

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter made a steady, if unexpected, climb to the top of the leaderboard at the Carolina International CIC3* and Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. Little and “Demi” (Rubin-Royal/Patricia) weren’t the pair to beat until they clocked one of only two double-clear rounds on Hugh Lochore’s cross-country course, where time was of the essence. “I planned to start the course on both horses [including RF Smoke on the Water] as if I was going for...

Chester Weber and his team during the cones phase. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com) Ocala, FL - From a record 11th national title for four-in-hand’s Chester Weber to two-time NFL Superbowl linebacker Max Montoya scoring a win in the Intermediate Pair Horse division, this year’s Live Oak International Combined Driving had it all. Ocala, Florida, known as the ‘Horse Capital of the World’ saw hometown hero, Chester Weber drive Jane Clark’s KWPN geldings to an...

Ben Maher and Urico (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - British superstar Ben Maher added an unprecedented fifth grand prix win to his tally at this year's FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with a win in Saturday night's $125,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* aboard Jane Clark's Urico. Competing in the tenth week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, Maher topped Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala, and Daniel Deusser...

Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Laura Lee Montross, of Bedford, NY, took home another championship title with her own Nairobi Nights at the FTI WEF. The pair won the $5,000 Peggy Cone Adult Amateur Classic during World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week earlier this season at the FTI WEF, and followed up that win with a week ten division championship title in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over division on Friday morning. Nairobi Nights, a...

Chester Weber and his team during the 2013 Live Oak International (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - Never has an international-level equestrian competition in the Sunshine State offered so much for so many. The Live Oak International CAI/CSI-W 2*, March 19-23, at Live Oak Plantation, will provide spectators the chance to watch some of the sport’s most celebrated equestrian athletes. Top athletes entered to compete include 2012 British Olympic Team Gold Medalist Ben Maher, 2012 Olympic Bronze...

University of South Carolina junior Katherine Schmidt finished the regular season with a 21-2-1 hunt seat record, including a perfect 12-0 record in equitation over fences. Martin, Tenn. - No. 1 ranked South Carolina won 3-of-4 MVPs and overpowered Tennessee-Martin in its regular season finale on Saturday, as the Gamecocks defeated the Skyhawks, 13-7, at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion. South Carolina (11-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) wraps up the regular season with a program best 11-wins. "Very...

Nicole Lyvere and Wink (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla . - Nicole Lyvere of Denver, CO, topped the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 on Sunday morning at the FTI WEF. Lyvere and her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Wink were third in the under saddle, won two over fences classes, and were second in another over fences round to clinch the division title. The reserve champion of the division was Humor Me, owned and ridden by Stephanie Danhakl. Danhakl rode Humor me to second place under...

David Beisel and Ammeretto rose to the top in an excited jump-off at HITS Ocala on Sunday. They won the $50,000 Strongid© C 2X™ Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to cap Week VI at HITS Post Time Farm (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Nothing could dampen the spirits of David Beisel on Sunday. The rider hails from Goshen, Ohio and jumped a crowd favorite nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Ammeretto for owners Equine Holdings, LLC to a win in the $50,000 Strongid® C 2X™ Grand Prix,...