Kevin Babington jumps to his second grand prix win at HITS Saugerties VI (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - Kevin Babington and Shorapur were on the brink of their second grand prix win in a row at HITS Saugerties as they approached the fifth fence of Sunday’s jump-off. They were on track to best 15 contenders when Babington’s martingale got caught on his rein. “Once I got my tack sorted out we had already added three strides,” said Babington. “I knew her...

Sofia Roberts and Brownland's Mr. Mack (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows have seen large numbers of entries all summer, but this weekend those numbers skyrocketed in the pony divisions. The 2014 US Pony Finals competition kicks off at the Kentucky Horse Park in just two days, and hundreds of ponies and young riders took advantage of the opportunity to prepare for the prestigious Pony Finals at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Among them were two Pony...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When Kevin Babington first laid eyes on Shorapur he knew there was something special about the mare. Despite being told she was too hot for his liking, he had to try her. That first ride was a year and a half ago. Yet, Friday they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis as if they'd been together forever. “I was like a kid in a candy store the first...

Juan Pablo Gaspar and Puetras So What (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - The South American contingent has had a strong showing during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, and Sunday was no exception. Mexico's Juan Pablo Gaspar proved that speed is the name of the game when he took home top honors in the $7,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. Gaspar and his new mount Puetras So What were faultless over the jump-off track with a two...

Team medals at the 2014 NAJYRC (SusanJStickle.com) Lexington, Ky. – The 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) saw five days of exciting competition for its 40th anniversary. Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from July 15-20, 211 riders from Canada, the Dominican Republic, , Mexico, and the United States across four disciplines demonstrated how far their hard work had gotten them. Historic wins...

Shannan Gossman and Ever So Clever (AnLi Kelly-Durham/Phelps Media Group) Parker, Colo. - Summer in the Rockies at the Colorado Horse Park came to a close today, but not before the Amateur Owner Hunters took their last trips of the circuit in the Olson Family Main Hunter Ring. Taking home the Amateur Owner 3'3" Hunter Championship this morning was Shannan Gossman and Ever So Clever, a pair that is starting to mesh in the show ring. In the Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunters, it was Amy Gallagher...

Karen Cudmore and Super Bad (Phelps Media Group) Parker, Colo. - Karen Cudmore and Super Bad nab the $2,500 1.40m In the 1.40m Open Jumpers There was only one double clear ¬- Super Bad was super good today, expertly ridden by Karen Cudmore and owned by Blair Cudmore of Omaha NE. Cudmore and her daughter Brooke often swap rides on their horses. "I took over the ride on Super Bad for the past month and a half and Brooke's now been riding Shea," she said. "She helps me with things and I...

Traverse City, Mich. - The best proved to be the last after a thrilling jump-off during the $40,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix, held as the featured jumper class on July 13 at Horse Shows by the Bay. Michael Dorman had that envious position in the 14-horse jump-off, and he used it to his advantage aboard Zephyr, the same horse he rode to top honors during the $40,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City last week. "I changed my plan a little bit after I saw the last few go," he said. "I figured...

Laura Graves and Verdades (Laura Graves and Verdades) Fritzens, Austria - The United States closed out a strong showing at CDI4* Fritzens on Sunday as seven members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team went to task in Grand Prix competition. In the Freestyle, Steffen Peters led the U.S. effort that saw the Americans take three of the top four placings, while, in the Grand Prix Special Laura Graves was the top placing of four U.S. riders within the...

Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta - The Spruce Meadows 'North American' Tournament continued with wins for two of this summer's top riders as well as an exciting first for a young up-and-comer in the International Ring on Friday. Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Fine Lady 5 topped the $50,000 LaFarge Cup 1.50m, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Chin Quidam VDL won the $33,500 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m, and Wilton Porter (USA) and Diamonte Darco were victorious in...