Lexington, KY - USA Equestrian Trust is pleased to announce IRS-registered equine non-profit organizations will have two opportunities to apply for funding in 2013 as part of the foundation's grants program. The Trust's board expanded the grants program to two periods in 2012 and awarded nearly $335,000 in grants, an increase of almost 70 percent compared to 2011. To apply for funding, visit the Trust's newly revamped website at trusthorses.org. The site includes an extensive guide...

After a second-place finish in last week’s $5,000 offering, Jenny Karazissis stepped up for the cash and finished first in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, this time aboard Undeniable. Karazissis hopes to again make the trip east this year for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - It was a rewarding day for hunter riders in Thermal, as Desert Circuit III wound to a close with two big-money competitions on Sunday, which marked the conclusion of...

Ben Maher and Urico (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured another exciting "Saturday Night Lights" event with over 4,000 spectators looking on as Great Britain's Ben Maher won his second grand prix in a row for the winter circuit. Maher jumped to victory in the $82,000 Adequan® CSI2* Grand Prix aboard Jane Clark's Urico after also taking top honors in last week's $100,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI 2*...

Chrevi's Capital and David Marcus. (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued Friday at The Stadium for the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. Under the lights, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle dazzled with international riders going for the win. For the second day in a row, the top two spots were held by the same rider/horse combinations. The blue ribbon went to David Marcus (CAN) riding Chrevi's Capital (Chrevi's...

Shachine Belle and INXS clinch their first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala as they set their sights on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties this September. Until now, INXS showed in the amateur-owner hunters with his owner Robin Swinderman (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - For best friends Robin Swinderman and Shachine Belle, their 2013 goal is off to a picture perfect start. After competing her horse INXS in the amateur- owner hunters for the past several years,...

It all came down to speed in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Eduardo Menezes and Cruschka who had the speed and rode to the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA – It was by all accounts a stellar kick-off to the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit Friday, as 38 horse and rider combinations tested themselves in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Crisp weather and a light drizzle did...

The twenty fourth in a series of blog posts from Michelle Binder North American Western Dressage receives all kinds of questions at the website and on our FaceBook page. Last week Jen Johnson shared the following in a post and it generated a huge amount of material for consideration. She posted: “I received an email last night from a **** judge who had the following concerns about Western Dressage..... “The problem is that the western horse is going to have to be much quicker in...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

Temecula, CA - James Alliston, who won the featured CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event in 2011, has jumped into first and second places after cross-country day at this year’s event. With a faultless round on Tivoli, Alliston has taken over the lead (49.4), and by guiding Jumbo’s Jake, the horse he rode to victory last year, home just 2 seconds slow, he’s also taken over second place (52.6). Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni, the dressage leaders,...

Lexington, KY - The American Saddlebreds made a triumphant return into the fold of the Alltech National Horse Show on Wednesday night to the delight of the spectators. The favorite breed of enthusiasts like William Shatner and Carson Kressley, the breed is known for its style, stamina and its bold, high-stepping way of moving. Thursday evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, American Saddlebreds showed in Three-Gaited, Park Horse and Five-Gaited classes. "They're both three-gaited-...