Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle negotiate the table bank (The Book LLC) North Salem, NY - The $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem featured a field of 35 competitors as they galloped through a course of 15 numbered obstacles and 18 efforts on a course that included the Devil's Dyke and table bank designed by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Any rails down added four seconds to a rider's final time, so speed was imperative in today's class. Going 29th in the order, Beezie Madden...

David Oliynyk and Generous swept the first day of the Performance Working Hunters (Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - Beautifully set courses greeted hunter exhibitors for the first day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival. The professional hunter divisions kicked off the competition in the two main hunter rings, where David Oliynyk, Thomas Hern, and Kristen Bumpus all rode their mounts to top honors in the Performance Working Hunter and Pre-Green Hunter divisions. Competitors were thrilled to...

Meagan Nusz and Dynamo (Phelps Media Group) Lexington, KY - It took precise riding and a talented mount to be at the top of the standings during today's $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Richard Jeffery's challenging track yielded only two clear rounds, but set the stage for a speedy jump-off between Meagan Nusz and Reed Kessler. Nusz had all the answers aboard Dynamo to capture the top honors. The duo clocked in just fractions ahead of Kessler, who was...

This article was originally published at www.useventing.com . Lynn Symansky and Donner performed a lovely show jumping round to lead the Adequan USEA Gold Cup & PRO Tour Series CIC3* at The Fork with cross-country up next (Leslie Threlkeld/USEA Photo) The margin of error is slim in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series CIC3* division at The Fork. Phillip Dutton and Bruce Duchossois’ 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mighty Nice, the leaders after dressage, plummeted to 19th place...

Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

The sixteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder In an attempt to acknowledge the current diversity within the discipline, show organizers have started offering exhibitors the opportunity to ride ANY test they want to ride, from any organization that has published tests. A buffet of western dressage is now available with something for everyone. The show organizers want to meet the needs of the competitors and in so doing really have taken the first step toward acceptance and...

Meg O'Mara and Vancouver Jacksonville, FL - The highly-anticipated third and final day of the first Southeast Medal Finals featured the ASPCA Mclay Region Three Finals. A group of 37 skilled riders determined to master Alan Rheinheimer's course competed for today's top prize. Traveling away from the in gate, the course opened with a bold oxer to oxer line. The track turned to the left and over a vertical on the far short end of the arena. From here the riders were asked to rollback to...

A final assessment has been carried out on the all-weather footing at Greenwich Park, and given approval by the FEI. Debbie Jevans, LOCOG Director of Sport, who was present at the assessment, commented: “With support from the FEI, the contractors and our own team have done a great job to get the make-up of the surface right, and we now believe this will be a world class surface for the equestrian athletes in a stunning Olympic venue.” The surface was changed after last year’s...

Lillie Keenan and Avalon (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - On the final day of the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS), the Junior Hunter and Amateur-Owner 3'3" Hunter divisions wrapped up their competition. With multiple blue ribbons in the Large 15 & Under Junior Hunters, Lillie Keenan and Avalon took home the Junior Hunter Grand Championship. Earlier in the day, Tina Furey and French Kiss were the winners of the Amateur-Owner 36 &...

Lindsay Mutschler and Fielding won the Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. (AnLi Kelly-Durham/PMG) Devon, PA - As the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS), rolled into its tenth day of the heat wave, the Amateur-Owner Hunters attempted to beat the hot weather early this morning. Taking center ring for the day's first presentation was Lindsay Mutschler and Fielding, earning the Amateur-Owner Hunter...