Madison Goetzmann and Denmark (Photo: Shawn McMillen). Lexington, KY - The last day of the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships began bright and early with exciting competition in the Covered Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals brought the 2011 Pony Finals to an end. Leading the class from beginning to end with a solid two rounds over fences was Madison Goetzmann and Denmark to garner the championship prize. The...

Gonzalo Azcarraga and Richard Cimble (Photo: Horse in Sport). Del Mar, CA – An impressive 1.50M track set by Canadian Michel Vallaincourt tested 34 horse and rider combinations representing six countries in the $30,000 Racing Festival Grand Prix, presented by Royal Champion. On this idyllic Sunday afternoon at the Del Mar Horse Park, 11 pairs answered the questions asked on course and qualified for the jump-off. Of the 11, four were in the Azcarraga family, including every entry Jaime...

Peter Pletcher and Copperfield Credit (photo by Katie Anich/PMG). Traverse City, MI - Sun and a light breeze set the stage for a wonderful day for the hunters at Horse Shows by the Bay today. It was very busy in the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring, with over ninety rounds to be seen. As the professional hunter divisions came to a close this afternoon, several championship ribbons were presented, with Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, and Erynn Ballard of Hornby, OT...

Erynn Ballard and Fun 2 Fly (Photo by Robyn Keyster/PMG). Traverse City, MI - A few lingering clouds gave way to brilliant sunshine this morning at the Horse Shows by the Bay equestrian festival in beautiful Traverse City, MI. Held each year in one of the country's premier vacation destinations, Horse Shows by the Bay will welcome thousands of equestrians over the next four weeks. Hundreds of horse and rider combinations have arrived already, with many putting on powerful performances this...

Ehrin Rittmueller and Mr. Valentine (Photo by Diana Hadsall). Grass Lake, MI - For Ehrin Rittmueller, today’s win in the inaugural Hunter-Jumper Association of Michigan’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic aboard Diane Sheet’s Mr. Valentine was especially important and significant as not too long ago the future for the 10- year-old grey Zangersheide gelding was at best, very uncertain. “At one point in time this horse came close to being euthanized for his dangerous...

In a sport involving controlled movements and precise manoeuvres, Langley para-equestrian dressage rider Stephanie Ross is making leaps and bounds. Ross, 18, who has cerebral palsy, recently won three first-place finishes at her first international dressage competition (in California) in March and is on her way toward qualifying for the Canadian Paralympic para-equestrian team heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "As long as my riding stays up to par, I hope to be at the 2016 [Paralympics]," she...

Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. (Photo by Heather Bellock/PMG.) Katy TX - Today was another beautiful, sunny day for riders at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. This morning the professional hunter divisions wrapped up in the Main Indoor and awarded championship honors. Jennifer Alfano, Tamara Provost and Erynn Ballard secure championship honors with impressive performances. Jennifer Alfano took home the...

Elizabeth Boyd & Brunello. (Flashpoint Photography.) Conyers, GA Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. The Classic Company has two weeks of horse showing not to be missed, with increased prize money, new classes and an array of special events. “We’ve taken many of our exhibitors’ suggestions and made them into reality for the Summer Classics. I believe they’ll be as excited as we are with the results," Bob Bell of Classic said. Hunter riders will take center stage during the...

Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. (Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - In sunny California, the competition for a coveted spot on the U.S. and Canadian Pan American Games teams heated up during the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J, held March 31-April 3, 2011, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Despite a large and talented group of international competitors, there was no stopping Steffen Peters with what the judges deemed his new "super horse", Weltino's Magic. Peters and...

Scott Stewart and Empire. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - It was an important day for hunters at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sixty entries took their shot at a chance to compete in the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, one of the biggest purses in the world offered for hunter competitors. The class began this afternoon in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. With a large number of spectators standing by, each horse and rider combination took their turn over a course of eleven jumps,...