Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just ask Miami University of Ohio freshman, Tom Schoen, the 2010 recipient of the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship. Schoen rides on the Miami University Equestrian Team (MUET), representing his Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) teammates in the Walk Trot division, under coaches Heather Pinnick and Lori Cramer. Remarkably, the English Education major was not a rider before college. But it’s clear after listening to him talk about his passion for...

Randi Muster (Isabelle Caccamise and her medium pony, Better Than Good, won the title in the Medal Finals. ) Lexington, KY - August 15, 2010 - A mist of Show Sheen, check. A dab of hoof polish, check. A last pat for good luck, check. On Sunday, the clock began to wind down on the six-days of excitement that was the 2010 USEF Pony Finals National Championships. Still, as riders gathered for the final contest, The Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal, attention to detail was not lost. Over 190...

Tina Konyot and Calecto V (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – Tina Konyot closed out the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Grand Prix National Dressage Championship in impressive fashion to sweep the four legs of competition and stamp herself and Calecto V and win her very first National Grand Prix Championship. Konyot (Palm City, FL) and Calecto rocked to music by KT Tunstall and brought the full house down to Black Horse and the Cherry Tree at the USEF Foundation Headquarters. Over four...

Kayce Redmond and Latino (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – The final championship of the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions showcased some of the most exciting up-and-coming Grand Prix riders in the country. The ‘Brentina Cup’ for riders between the ages of 22-28 was designed to bridge the gap between the Young Rider ranks and the Grand Prix. Named for the legendary US Team horse, Brentina and donated by her owners Peggy and Parry Thomas, this division is designed to...

Meagan Davis and Bentley (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – The second Saturday of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions proved to be one of the busiest days of the six day championship. Three different USEF National Championships took place in the Dick and Jane Brown Dressage Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters. The National Young Rider Dressage Championship kicked it off and three superstar Young Riders swept into the top three places after the first half...

Randi Muster (Meredith "Maddy" Darst and Elation.) Lexington, KY - August 13, 2010 - The third day of competition got underway Thursday in the Walnut Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park during the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The event began with the model and under saddle phases for the Medium Pony Hunter division and was followed by the over fences phase for the Small Pony Hunter division to determine the Overall Small Pony Hunter Grand Champion....

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (Dr. Jennifer Feiner VMD of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute evaluating and treating an equine) Lexington, KY - August 12, 2010 - As the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ approach, preparation has begun for the arrival of the equine athletes at the Kentucky Horse Park. All elements are being carefully examined, from travel, to the quarantine facility to the well-being of equine athletes. Dr. Jennifer Feiner VMD, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, will...

Randi Muster (The 2010 USEF Pony Finals begins at the Kentucky Horse Park.) Lexington, KY - August 10, 2010 - The 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships got underway today with the Green Pony model and under saddle for each section of Large, Medium and Small Green ponies. With the large number of entries that qualified over the last year of competition turning out, each pony size was divided into multiple sections. The heat index was over 100 degrees for...

Cesar Parra and Olympia (SusanJStickle.com Photo) Gladstone, NJ – In his first opportunity to ride for a US National Championship, Cesar Parra capitalized on the chance and took home top honors at the USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship at the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions. A Colombian native, Parra began riding under the US flag in 2009, since then he has reaped the reward. “I wanted to go for it,” said Parra after his ride. “These are very good riders,...

SportFot (Ben Asselin earned the Junior Rider Gold medal at the NAJYRC.) LEXINGTON, KY - AUGUST 1, 2010 - On the final day of competition at the 2010 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, the jumpers ruled as the USHJA Jumper Championships brought to a close the five-day international event. The Juniors took to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Main Stadium first for the final two rounds of the five-round contest, and when the dust cleared in was Ben...