Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...

Heather Blitz and Paragon (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Blitz and Paragon finished first in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* with a 72.313%, narrowly beating fellow American Cesar Parra and Van the Man who finished second with a 72.208%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor rounded out the top three with a final score of 70.646%. Judges for the class were: Linda Zang at E, Anne Gribbons at H, Mirabel Alonso at C, Joan Macartney at M, and Evi Eisenhardt at B. The three-day, three-test format...

Shelly Francis and Danilo (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo clinched another FEI Prix St Georges victory on Friday afternoon with a score of 72.579% in the class presented by Peacock Ridge. Francis and Danilo were the only pair to break 70% in the class of nearly twenty competitors. Judges for the class were: Cesar Torrente at E, Stephen Clarke at H, Anne Gribbons at C, Lilo Fore at M, and Raphael Saleh at B. Brittany Fraser (CAN) and All In secured a second...

Daniel Bluman and Apardi (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final was the last class of the day with a win for Colombia's Daniel Bluman and Apardi, a KWPN stallion by Corland x Kannan, owned by Ricardo & Alberto Simhon. Sixty-seven entries showed in the class with 12 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off where only three were able to jump double clear. Bluman and Apardi completed the short course in the winning 39.640 seconds. Laura Kraut and...

Lars Petersen and Mariett Loxahatchee, FL - Lars Petersen and Mariett proved they were consistently in the zone for the second time in two weeks when they delivered another one-two punch by taking the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI-W. The pair achieved the same laudable results just two weeks ago at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W, also at the IHS Champions Park at Equestrian Estates. Saturday's Freestyle impressed the judges...

Rachel Boggus and Cassino Z (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Rachel Boggus and Cassino Z finished first in the Ariat National Adult Medal class during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The pair was ranked fourth with a score of 79 going into the test but secured their victory with a final score of 88. The top four called back for the test included week ten winner Sara Ballinger aboard Wanderprinz, who finished second with a final score of 87....

John Bragg and Cansas were the ones to beat this week in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal and pocketed a total score of 172 for the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - It was a hard fought contest for the ribbons in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Friday, with 46 horse-and-rider combinations on course. At the end of the day, it was three top California riders in the first three slots, with John Bragg of Rancho Santa Fe and Cansas in first. Carleton Brooks of Pacific...

With their World Cup Finals fate already sealed, Santiago Medina and Monterrey EJC rode to the top of the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Santiago Medina was nothing short of regal when he entered the ring today at HITS Ocala. Donning a military uniform turned show coat, Medina and his own Monterrey EJC jumped their way to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, this afternoon. A captain in the Colombian Army,...

Nepal and Jay Land sail over the Nutrena oxer on their way to the Winner's Circle in the $35,000 Nutrena Grand Prix (Classic Company) Gulfport, MS - Jay Land and his own Nepal galloped away with the win in the $35,000 Nutrena Grand Prix Sunday under perfectly clear skies and seventy degree weather at the Harrison County Fairgrounds and Equestrian Center. Twenty horses took to the course designed by Michel Vailancort but only six returned for the jump-off. Devin Ryan of Long Valley, New Jersey...

Lauren Hester got her first taste of HITS Thermal grand prix glory this week. She and Abigail were the pair to beat in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, as competition returned to HITS Desert Horse Park (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - It was a slow build to a big finish. Ten made the jump-off in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, but it was 25-year-old Lauren Hester of Rancho Santa Fe, California who scored the win, riding Hester Equestrian, Inc....