Lexington, KY—The Young Riders were out to win last night as they took the arena for the Team medal competition in the CN North American Junior & Young Rider Show Jumping Championships presented by USHJA. It was just one of the many exciting events taking place at this year’s Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. The course proved to be more difficult than anticipated, with only one horse-and-rider combination turning in a double-clear round....

Let me just say wow. Hats off to Steffen Peters and Ravel. They owned Thursday. All of it. Just swooped down and claimed that Grand Prix victory like it was theirs for the taking. I can't think of a more deserving pair. A pair of kings, with a crowd of thousands roaring their approval all around the arena. As he and Ravel exited the arena, a palpable wave of adrenaline washed over all of us lucky enough to witness it. He hoisted wife Shannon up into the air and held her there, hugging her...

A new trend in horse showing? Last fall Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, looked at his budget for the 2009 show season and decided there had to be some changes made. From May 22 to May 24, Bell will produce his first “Boutique” horse show in Tryon, NC, at the Harmon Field location, virtually in the downtown area, which only added to the new “definition” the show manager has created for these new events. Boutique (boo teek)—A horse show that is fashionable and unique. Always held at...

Lexington, KY— Following the decision of the General Assembly FEI Registration has been mandatory for all riders and horses competing in FEI competitions since January 1, 2006. Beginning January 1, 2009, any points acquired at a Competition where the rider or horse are not registered for that Competition year will not be included in the cumulative points. Competitions may not let these riders and/ or horses compete. However, registration is not required for riders and horses who participate...

At a tense horse auction in Sugarcreek, OH last weekend, Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue left angry horse "kill" buyers no choice but to haul their trailers home empty. One hundred sixty three horses stood for sale that night facing the same grim future: a grueling trip to a painful slaughter in Canada or Mexico, then on to fill overseas dinner plates. But Pure Thoughts co-founder Jennifer Swanson and sponsor Victoria McCullough gave every one of those horses a second chance. "I have bought...

Horses Unlimited’s flagship stallion Pik L continued his winning ways at the 124th National Horse Show in Wellington, FL, with two wins at Intermediaire II. The handsome bay by Pik Bube II has won Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes at the most prestigious shows in the country and now continues into the large tour classes. His son Pikk Primero also competed and won in the young horse division. “I’ve never won at a show with both a stallion and his son or daughter,” said rider Mikala...

Elkton, MD - Just before the event horses got underway in the show jumping at Fair Hill International, four USEF National Champions were crowned in advanced combined driving. In the third and final portion, the cones, a carefully designed course tested driver control and steering as well as the horses’ attentiveness and training. In the National Pair Horse Championship, Larry Poulin and Lisa Singer were neck and neck throughout the entire weekend. Poulin, who had won the competition six times...

From a Press Release by Daniel Rieffer , Communications Manager, American Saddlebred Horse Association Louisville, Kentucky ¬– Elena Vail, a high school freshman from Stonington, Connecticut, came to the World’s Championship Horse Show last year with her father, Don, to watch a friend of Elena’s compete here. That day, watching her friend show on the green shavings, she proclaimed, “This is amazing. I’m coming here next year.” To which her dad emphatically replied, “Then, do it!” – letting her...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – And then there were five. The gold medal eventing and dressage teams shipped out early Monday morning, leaving the five show jumpers alone in the U.S. wing of the stables at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With 17 countries represented, the most of the three disciplines, the show jumping will be very competitive. Florida’s Lauren Hough and Casadora are riding the crest of a very successful wave, having just won the valuable CN Reliability Grand Prix at...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The first equestrian discipline at the XV Pan American Games came to a close with three medals for the U.S. The dressage team handily won the Team Gold and Chris Hickey with Regent and Lauren Sammis with Sagacious HF won the individual gold and silver medals. The dressage squad has passed the torch to the event riders. The six American riders, four of which are former Pan American Games medalists, are looking for a repeat performance of the 2003 Pan Ams which left them...