Las Vegas, N.V. - The Las Vegas National kicked off the show jumping highlights at the South Point Hotel & Casino's Equestrian Arena with Thursday's Markel Insurance Grand Prix Series Final. After competing in qualifying grand prix events throughout the year, the top twenty-five point earners were invited to compete in the inaugural finals. With add back from each horse's entry during the qualifying season, the purse for tonight's class had grown to $53,400. Kristin Hardin...

Lexington, Ky. - Patti Blackmore (Louisiana, Mo., Region 4) placed third at last year's Finals in the First Level Adult Amateur division, and this year she improved upon that performance to claim the Second Level Adult Amateur Championship aboard her own Hanoverian gelding Rubico (by Rotspon). As the only combination to break seventy percent, they earned a decisive win with a total score of 71.905%. "I breathed a sigh of relief after our counter canter portion of the test," laughed...

Del Mar, Calif. - With 43 competitors in the World Cup Qualifier, a thick competition of world-class athletes faced off on a course designed by Bernardo Cabral, from Portugal. Harrie Smolders (McCool Photography) The course for the Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix was a lovely mixture of lines and combinations with many tight roll back turns. "The course looked challenging, but fun," commented a spectator of Cabral's creation. The course allowed 10 into a tough jump-off, which included...

Jill Wilson receives the Leading Lady Rider Award for the sixth consecutive year (Al Cook - alcookphoto.com) Harrisburg, Pa. - It was a night of 'old tradition' at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show as 19 Hunt Clubs, including hounds, huntsmen, and horses, took over the main arena at the Farm Show Complex for Hunt Night, sponsored by Kinsley Construction. The competition was steep in the Field Hunters Competitions, in which each horse and rider competed over a course of eight...

Hayley Waters and Qurint helped Zone 4 win Gold (Al Cook) Harrisburg, Pa. - It was an exciting evening performance at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show as Zone 4 won the gold medal tonight in the $15,000 Randolph College/USEF Prix de States Team Championship at the Farm Show Complex. The USEF Prix Des States Team Championship is run as a modified Nation's Cup format. Each team member jumps two rounds, with the best three scores counting for the team total. The team with the lowest score...

Richard Fellers and Flexible win the Land Rover Grand Prix of Sacramento (Flying Horse LTD) Sacramento, Calif. - The exciting Land Rover Grand Prix of Sacramento, a World Cup and Thermal Million qualifying event. With 35 entries, the competition was tight and the riders left it all in the arena. They kept the turns very tight and nine riders completed the first phase with zero faults, advancing to the jump off. With nine riders in the jump off, only four went clean, including: Rich Fellers,...

William Whitaker and Upper Class (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta - Competition continued at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' with two great competitions for show jumping on the Friday schedule. William Whitaker (GBR) became the fifth rider in the Whitaker family to record a victory at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament. He and Upper Class were the fastest of three double clears to win the $210,000 Tourmaline Cup 1.60m. The $125,000 ATCO Electric...

North Salem, N.Y. - Rewind to a month ago and Kenny had yet to even show the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse. Now a few short weeks later, the pair has racked up an impressive track record, winning all four of their last four attempts. "He's an amazing horse," Kenny said. "He just keeps winning all the time. It's unbelievable." With three wins with Kenny already under his belt, today's 1.60m track, set on the beautiful grass field at Old Salem Farm, served as the next big test for...

Julie Welles and Twan (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) North Salem, N.Y. - The 2014 edition of the American Gold Cup CSI4*-W kicked off today at Old Salem Farm, and from the perfectly manicured jump field to the phenomenal weather and the equally phenomenal competition, there was no place better to be horse showing today - particularly if you were Julie Welles or Shane Sweetnam. Welles and Sweetnam each rode away with victories in the $8,000 Danbury Porsche Audi 1.40m Open Jumpers. With over...

Tammy Provost and Alliy Moyer's Libretto won the $7,500 International Derby Stake (Chicago Equestrian) Antioch, Ill. - The premiere Chicago Hunter Derby at Annali-Brookwood Farm presented by Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, kicked off with the $7,500 International Derby Welcome Stake and the $2,500 National Derby Welcome Stake sponsored by Lane Change Farm and Kensel, LLC. The weekend charity event features the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Canadian Pacific and the...