On August 1, the Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show came to an end after eight days of top-level horse show competition, a shopping expo and the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA) Annual Convention. This was the show’s 17th year in Albuquerque and is estimated to bring about $10.2 million to the city. The largest class, Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior to Ride, age 14-17, hosted 79 horses and was won by Kool Enuff, owned and ridden by Kirsten McKillop of Alamo, CA....

Janice Syphers had a lot to thank her mother for on Sunday morning as she exited the grand prix ring with a blue ribbon, a trophy and $1,500 in prize money for her win in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic at the Vermont Summer Festival. The 18-year-old won the $5,000 NAL Classic on Sunday, July 19, riding Star 32, a horse that is owned and usually shown by her mother, Saly Glassman. The timing had been right for a switch in riders, as Syphers found herself in need of a horse when...

The Vermont Summer Festival, the largest ‘AA’ rated hunter-jumper horse show held in New England, has a huge economic impact on the state of Vermont with an estimated $18 million spent throughout the duration of the six-week competition. With approximately 1,000 horses competing each week at the Vermont Summer Festival held July 1-August 9 in East Dorset, VT, and approximately 3,000 people related to the horse show visiting the area on a daily basis, the economic impact on the local community...

Balmullo’s Azalea (Concord River Roaringwater Bay x Courtney’s April Frolic, by Custusha’s Cashel Rock), shown as Ooh La La and ridden by young rider and new owner Sara Powell of Lexington, KY, qualified for the 2009 USEF Pony Finals at their first "A" rated show together. The pair were champions, winning all over fences classes as well as the conformation class, in the large pony division at the USEF "A" rated Lakeside Arena Winter Series show. Powell, who is 15, and Ooh La La are currently...

Lifelong horseman Art Gottfried passed away on Sunday, December 21, in the presence of his immediate family. Gottfried is survived by Rosalie, his wife of many years, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Ralphie. Gottfried was well known throughout the hunter/jumper sport for his lifelong involvement, and he was probably best known as a USEF Steward. Services for Gottfried were held on Friday, December 26, at the McCormick & Sons Mortuary in Laguna Hills. Rosalie asks that any...

The 34th Hampton Classic Horse Show will be held one week earlier than usual in 2009, running from Sunday, August 23, through Sunday, August 30. The date change, due to the USEF Competition Calendar rotation, is in effect for this year only and means that the horse show will not end on Labor Day weekend as it usually does. "We wanted to be sure to give exhibitors, vendors, sponsors and spectators notice of this change in date in order to make their plans now," said Executive Director Shanette...

The Palm Beach Steeplechase was declared a huge success by spectators, owners, jockeys and officials in its inaugural running at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday, November 29.. In almost perfect South Florida weather of clear blue skies and temperatures of almost 80 degrees, a crowd estimated at close to 4,000 celebrated the beginning of the winter equestrian circuit. In addition to five races with total prize money of $180,000 and sanctioned by the National...

Ocala, FL- The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary at the impressive Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC October 21-26. Since 1958 this international horse show has attracted top equestrians from abroad and the United States to compete in show jumping, Puissance (high jumping), the Grand Prix Dressage Invitational, the WHIS Equitation Finals and the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix. This year, U.S. Four-in-Hand Driving Champion, Chester Weber...

Already an active supporter of horse shows from the local to national levels and spanning from hunter/jumper and dressage to reining and Western pleasure, SmartPak™ announced that they have partnered with HITS for their upcoming winter circuits. The partnership spans both coasts with a sponsorship of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida and a sponsorship of the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA, two of the biggest horse show circuits in the United States. In preparation for the eight-week...

Tickets for the 50th anniversary of the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) are now on sale. The WIHS is the highlight of the equestrian calendar and one of the most prestigious competitions in North America. It features the top hunters and jumpers, including Olympic champions, competing for more than $400,000 in prize money. The event will take place Tuesday through Sunday, October 21-26, 2008, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Two sessions are held daily Tuesday though Saturday and...