Lexington, KY- The Platinum Performance /USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2011 and this year’s competition is a strong as ever. The championship style competition again hosts finals for the top up-and-coming junior and young riders on both the east and west coasts. This weekend all eyes will be on the U.S. Equestrian Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ for the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final – East. Two weeks...

Lexington, KY - The 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final - West is well under way at the L.A. International Jumping Festival, September 21-25, in Burbank, CA. The flat phase, first of the four phases took place Thursday night. The judging team of noted judge Sue Ashe and her daughter, international jumper rider Molly Ashe, tested the riders on their mastery of the skills needed to properly prepare a jumper for flatwork, including a demonstration of haunches in and a...

Chester Weber. Photo: Richard Moore. The 25th annual Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the U.S., is hosting the 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship. Four entries in the division include three Americans, Chester Weber, James Fairclough and Josh Rector, who are eligible for the championship and one Canadian, Eugen Hug. Weber, of Ocala, FL, got off to an early lead with a picture-perfect dressage test with...

Bridgehampton, NY - The Hampton Classic Horse Show was a tremendous success once again, despite a delayed start due to Hurricane Irene. Celebrities were on hand for this iconic end-of-summer event along with world-class equestrian competition, renowned shopping opportunities, family entertainment and a record-setting performance by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. Approximately 150 staff and crew worked from about 5:00 am till dark on Monday, and almost as long on Tuesday, to restore...

Saugerties, NY - Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas captured the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Centano at HITS-on-the-Hudson and rode to victory again on Sunday. After a win in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Timon, Fenney continues to make Texas proud as the road to the Pfizer Million nears its end. Fenney was one of 37 competitors on Sunday’s course designed by acclaimed international...

Lexington, KY - The U.S. Jumping riders have a big task before them in tomorrow's FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* Rotterdam. They take to the final leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series in the Netherlands and jump to maintain their position in the Series for 2012. Currently ranked seventh out of the eight teams in the Series, the U.S. needs finish at least three places ahead of Belgium tomorrow in the Nations Cup to earn a spot to return in 2012. Belgium is currently two points ahead of the...

McLain Ward and Sapphire on the cover of Unbridled Passion (Cover photo: Tony deCosta; Cover design: Tazuko Sugajima). Boston, MA - While many equestrians have heard of show jumping greats Ian Millar, McLain Ward, and Beezie Madden, few have heard the story behind the relationship with their equally famous equine partners. Unbridled Passion – Show Jumping's Greatest Horses and Riders (Acanthus Publishing 2011), a new book by Jeff Papows, explores these relationships and the...

Dublin, Ireland - The U.S. show jumpers dominated the final day of the Royal Dublin Horse Show by picking up three wins. Highlighted by Lauren Hough's major score in the Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland with Quick Study, the U.S. rebounded from a fifth place FEI Nations Cup finish on Friday with a trifecta of success. Hough dominated the star-studded field of 40, and she was one of only two riders to jump two clear rounds. Her second round time was three seconds faster than...

Lexington, KY - Sunny skies and warm temperatures returned to the Kentucky Horse Park for Sunday evening's $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. The nation's top horse and rider combinations gathered at the Rolex Stadium during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to compete for the winning title. At the end of the night, it was Germany's Christian Heineking and River of Dreams who led the victory gallop after an excellent double clear effort. Karen Cudmore...

Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z won the 1.40m Open Jumper class at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show (Photo: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com). Lexington, KY - It was beautiful and sunny for the opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today, riders gathered at the Walnut Ring to compete for top prizes in the Open Jumper classes. Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z were the big winners, claiming the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper class with the fastest clear effort. In the 1.35m...