Photo Courtesy SHN Payback, Inc. (Novalis, by Jus De Pomme and out of a G Ramiro Z daughter, is one of the champion Stallions available through the SHN Payback program at half price.) The SHN Payback program offers 350 champion stallions at half price, and awards cash prizes for Sport Horses. The SHN Payback program is in full swing for its third year, offering donated stallion services at half price to raise money for Sport Horse prize money. Every stallion in the program is a champion, or the...

Equestrian Sport Productions had five strong weeks of their Spring Circuit through April and May, which included three "AA" rated, one "A" rated and one "C" rated shows. It featured three $25,000 grand prix classes, the $2,500 Derby Style Huntland Pony Classic, Low and High Junior/Amateur classes on the grass at The Stadium, and the $5,000 Driftwood 3' Derby Style Hunter Classic. While the spring shows have finished, exhibitors who want to compete in the summer months at the best horse show...

As a member of the press, I especially enjoy press conferences. Of course, prior to these events I try to think of things that I’d like to ask or have explained in more detail than what is on the surface. Today, the World Equestrian Games Foundation held a press conference during a lunch break of the first day of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to bring the press up-to-date on preparations for the big event. One thing I especially enjoy about press conferences is the...

Very good news for the international equestrian community as FEI TV (www.feitv.org) will offer live streaming and extensive Video on Demand coverage from the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, the Rolex Three Day Event in Lexington, KY. The provisional schedule for the live broadcasts is as follows: Cross-Country - Saturday, April 24, 2010: 15:00-22:00 CEST / 13:00-20:00 GMT; Jumping - Sunday, April 25, 2010: 19:00-20:30 CEST / 17:00-18:30 GMT. Please check www.feitv.org for broadcasting times...

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has concluded, following its 12th week of competition on March 31-April 4. The week featured the $50,000 Chronicle of the Horse /United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby, along with a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. The week twelve title sponsor was Lifestyle Lift®. Louise Serio rode to the biggest victory of her career when she piloted Castlerock, owned by Bryan Baldwin, to the win in the...

Lebanon, OH-based Wilhelm Genn has done it again, winning both the $25,000 Nordic Lights Grand Prix and the $25,000 Budweiser Grand Prix during the fifth week of the 2010 Gulf Coast Winter Classics. International great Dave Ballard took up the reins of course designing for the double prix week. For Thursday’s $25,000 Nordic Lights event the co-creator of the 2008 Olympic layouts built a 15-effort test full of curves that had some riders struggling to keep the horses balanced, add to this...

Photo by SusanJStickle.com (Steffen Peters and Ravel) Wellington, FL – Somehow it keeps getting better. After just collecting the United States Equestrian Federation's Horse and Rider of the Year accolades for 2009, US dressage superstars Steffen Peters and Ravel ran their streak to six major wins with a convincing effort at the Grand Prix at the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters. Ravel, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Contango-Hautain) owned by Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm appeared even...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Holiday Fundraiser, presented by Succeed® and Wellington Classic Dressage, was a great success as spectators had the opportunity to experience the one-of-a-kind equestrian event featuring performances, exhibitions and team competitions with Olympians and many top equestrian stars. A benefit for the USET Foundation, the fundraiser was held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, on December 11-12, 2009. Through generous...

During the weekend of November 5-8, 25-year-old Kerry Tracey of Watkinsville, GA, led the victory gallop at the final SmartPak Equine/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Training Three-Day Event aboard her homebred Thoroughbred/Appaloosa gelding Chasing The Music. Although the entries were low for this long-format division, which was held in conjunction with the Rocking Horse Fall Horse Trials (Altoona, FL), the competition was fierce, and Tracey moved up from fourth after dressage to...

On Saturday, the best horses and riders from the hunter divisions competed for the top prize in the $15,000 WIHS Hunter Classic Derby at the Washington International Horse Show. After two rounds of competition it was Scott Stewart, of Ocala, FL, and Way Cool that led the victory gallop after they earned a total score of 170.9. Earlier in the day the Washington Pony Equitation Classic Finals were held, with Madeyln Keck and Tango receiving the top call and earning the blue ribbon. The champions...