Lexington, KY -­ It's an annual event that calls to the hearts of pony riders all across the country. And to compete in this revered series of championships is to say "I made it!" among a young rider's peers. It's the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation's Pony Finals National Championships, and it's once again time to sound the call for the country's very best pony competitors to gather at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and throw down their gauntlets as...

Small Affair, shown here with John French, dominated week five of the Colorado Summer Circuit with two championships and two classic wins (Flying Horse Photography). Parker, CO -- Have you jumped at a mile high? If not, you are missing one of the most talked about horse shows of the year. With its expanded six-week schedule, The Colorado Horse Park has been the summer vacation spot with big money for both hunters and jumpers. Of course, this show is also about the parties, including...

Final Preparations My horse Verdicci and I have less than one week left to prepare for the 2011 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships! I can’t wait to represent Region 5 on the Young Rider Dressage team! I have dreamed of being a Young Rider ever since I was twelve years old, so four years later it is great to finally be stepping up to the “big leagues” after competing in the Junior division for the past three years. It is especially great since I thought I...

Christine McCrea on her favorite horse, Vegas, at the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF). Thanks to the USEF Facebook fans for these questions for U.S. Team Show Jumper Christine McCrea. For the next "10 Questions With..." visit www.facebook.com/USEquestrian Christine McCrea East Windsor, CT Age: 32 Victoria Kelley : What is your training schedule like? Tuesday through Sunday and I ride the horses. Monday is the day off for them and me. If I am going to a...

Lexington, KY – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, has joined the effort to provide financial assistance to Eventing rider Boyd Martin in the aftermath of the tragic fire on May 31, 2011, at True Prospect Farm in West Grove, PA. A fire at the farm, owned by Phillip and Evie Dutton, destroyed the barn utilized by Martin and took the lives of six horses while injuring five others. Three people living in an apartment near...

Calgary, Alberta, Canada - On top of the steady rain, riders in the CN Reliability Grand Prix had to face a difficult course that saw many downed rails, eliminations and few clear rounds. Out of the 26 riders, only four survived the difficult 1.60m course, including the ever difficult black CN planks and a triple combination. In the end, the first leg of the CN Precision Series went to Mclain Ward of the USA. Although both Ward and fellow American Rich Fellers had double-clear rounds, Fellers...

Eastern Selection Trial 5-year-old champion Lauren Chumley and Somer Hit (Photo by Pics of You). The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials 2011 qualifying season concluded last week at the Eastern Selection Trials in Leesburg, Va. The top five 5-year-olds and top five 6-year-olds that earned a minimum score of 7.8 from the three competitions will make up the short list of horses moving forward to the 2011 Markel/USEF Dressage National Championship at Lamplight in Wayne,...

Cathy Vecsey rode Mandaley Bay to roses in the Park ATR Championship. Ferrara Photography Inc. Columbus, Ohio - The first Ohio Buckeye Show was held in 1964. It lasted two days, featured 49 classes and was rife with horses bred by Al-Marah, Lewisfield and Cedardell Arabians. Al-Marah Laurie was the 1964 Buckeye Champion Halter Gelding, won the English Pleasure Championship with Bob Hart Sr. in the irons and the Western Pleasure JTR with Bob Hart Jr. Bob Jr. was 13 at the time. Arabian horses...

Lexington, KY - Building on the success of National Helmet Awareness Day 2010, the popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets.com has announced plans to host International Helmet Awareness Day 2011 on Saturday, June 11. Riders4Helmets has teamed up with leading helmet manufacturers to offer discounts on helmets to equestrians via participating retailers globally on this day. More than 300 retailers in the U.S. and eight retailers Internationally offered discounts on helmets from eight...

Bridgehampton, NY — In an effort to make a spectacular horse show even better, the management of the Hampton Classic has enhanced its facilities and schedule for this year’s 36th annual horse show in Bridgehampton, NY, August 28–September 4. Headlining the improvements for the horse show is the addition of a $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday afternoon, September 3. “We are thrilled to be able to give our top hunter exhibitors the opportunity to compete...