a guest blog post fom Mary Cox The following three ideas may take being somewhat adventuresome but trust me, the result will make it all worth it ! First, research a local stone fabricator in your area. A fabricator makes the template and cuts the stone for granite, marble or stone countertops. Once you’ve located one, pay them a visit and remember to put on your best “I’m a Tack Hoarder – help me” face. Then ask them very sweetly if you can do some “Dumpster...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) are partnering to sponsor a program that will reward participants competing Thoroughbreds on the Eventing circuit in New York in 2012. Called Career2, the initiative will promote the retraining of retired Thoroughbred racehorses for second careers in Eventing, a sport best described as an equestrian triathlon featuring dressage, cross-country and show jumping. The New York circuit is...

Mario Deslauriers stood proud and center on the winner's podium as Molly Ashe-Cawley was presented with the silver medal, and Beezie Madden took home the bronze. The three provided the only double-clear efforts of the night, taking the top spots on the leaderboard. (V.Valenti/The Book LLC) Tampa, FL - It was a night of nail-biting excitement as 32 of the nation's top riders went head-to-head in the 2012 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm at Raymond James...

Wellington, FL - Two rounds of jumping for the USEF National Show Jumping Championships took place on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center - and for the 30 horses returning for the penultimate round, there was also selection for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games on the line. Alan Wade’s course was a serious one this evening, and it was compared to some of the biggest championship tracks in the world. Clear rounds were hard to come by in both...

Wellington, FL - Eight was the magic number for clear rounds at the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championships at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Of the 37 starters, eight managed clear rounds over Alan Wade's course during Week 11 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. This event also serves as the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. There is plenty on the line over the four rounds of jumping at the end of which a...

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Cantano (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The $32,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held under the lights on Saturday night at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a win for Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Cantano. Twenty-six entries showed over a challenging course set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, and the pair completed the only clear round for the win. With just one faultless round, no jump-off was necessary....

Lynne Poole (CAN Grade IV) and Frisbee (Lindsay McCall) Del Mar, CA -Para-Equestrian Dressage riders concluded the 2012 Rancho Valencia CPEDI3* on Sunday performing their Freestyle routines. With the pressure of earning a qualifying score for the 2012 London Paralympics Selection Trials behind them, riders were able to relax and enjoy their final competition day at the Del Mar Horse Park. Topping the Grade IV Freestyle competition was Lynne Poole (CAN) and her Welsh Cob Frisbee with a 66.167%....

Scott Brash and Sanctos van het Gravenhof (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Great Britain's Scott Brash guided Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof to victory in Saturday night's $200,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by The Bainbridge Companies at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). In a suspenseful jump-off, Brash beat out Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo, and Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, who finished second and third. Sponsored by the Bainbridge Companies,...

Erynn Ballard and Timber Ridge Heat Up the Hunter Ring Eric Lamaze and Coriana van Klapscheut (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Canada's Eric Lamaze and Coriana Van Klapscheut, owned by Artisan Farms LLC, emerged victorious in Thursday afternoon's $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). With 82 starters and a ten horse jump-off, the pair beat out Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverley Widdowson's Carlo 273, who finished second and David Will...

Hayley Barnhill and Caliber Raise the Bar in WEF Open Hunter 3' Kent Farrington and Voyeur (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Kent Farrington earned a victory for the United States on Thursday with his brand new mount Voyeur, owned by Amalaya Investments, in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in Wellington. Showing in the International Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the pair out jumped fellow Americans Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partner's Nougat Du Vallet, who...