Taylor Alexander, Tina Yates, Emma Heise, Emily Moffitt, and Chef d'Equipe Laura Kraut, with Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms, and ringmaster Christian Craig. (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week four of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) featured a busy schedule of competition, with jumper action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday. The $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic was held in the International Ring on the main show grounds,...

Chris Sorensen (second left) of Canada and Wriomf won the Equis Best Turned-Out Horse and Presenter Award at the Hampton Classic. (McMillen photo) Bridgehampton, N.Y. - Cesar Hirsch wants the horse inspection required at all FEI-recognized show jumping competitions to be a big deal, so this year his Equis equestrian boutique began sponsoring an award for the Best Turned-Out Horse and Presenter. Canadian rider Chris Sorensen, with Wriomf, was named the winner of the first Equis Best Turned-Out...

Kent Farrington and Waomi (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week seven of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Suncast®, concluded on Sunday with the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic featured in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). USA's Kent Farrington was the winner with Amalaya Investment's Waomi in a 17-horse jump-off over Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC's Tripple X III. Beezie...

Nicolas Pizarro Suarez of MEX riding Colasko (Spruce Meadows Media Service) Calgary, Alberta – The ‘Canada One’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with a win for Mexico’s Nicolas Pizarro Suarez and Colasko in the $125,000 Imperial Challenge 1.55m in the Meadows on the Green. Will Simpson (USA) and Geledimar were victorious in the $33,500 West Canadian Cup 1.50m earlier in the day. Cristina Larangeiro of Portugal was the course designer for Sunday’s...

Nicole Bellissimo and VDL Bellefleur (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The $25,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Semi-Final was held on Friday night, presented by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Fifty young riders under the age of 25 competed under the lights in the International Arena, with seven clear rounds to jump-off, and a win for 20-year-old Nicole Bellissimo of Wellington, FL. Riding Bellissimo LLC's VDL Bellefleur, an eight-year-old KWPN mare by...

Ben Maher and Urico (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week five of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Ben Maher (GBR) aboard Urico and Tiffany Foster (CAN) riding Victor in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. Held in a "California Split" due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed. FTI WEF week five, sponsored by Rolex, runs...

Kate Mullen & "Elnieta" win the HorseShow.com/CDS Dressage Seat Equitation Challenge on the first day of the CDS Championship Show (Jennifer M. Keeler) Rancho Murieta, CA - California is well-known as home to some of the best dressage horses and riders in the country, and many of those were on display as the first championship titles of the weekend were awarded today at the California Dressage Society (CDS) Annual Championship Show at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, CA,...

Lexington, KY - Each year a grant of $1,000 is awarded to a Junior Hunter Finals competitor for educational purposes. The grant winner is the applicant who constructs the best essay detailing how their competitive experience has affected them, and what it would mean to be awarded the grant. This year’s winner was Rachel Heist, a competitor on the east coast. Rachel competed in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 with her own horse Cordelanne. Rachel positive philosphy, as expressed through her...

The endurance community has just lost a champion, advocate, ambassador with the death of Anne Ayala. She compiled a record of over 3700 miles in her remarkable partnership with Overlook Nuryev, better known as Beau. Beau and Anne were the recipients of the 2000 AERC Pard'ners Award given annually to a horse and rider team that best exemplifies the unique bond between horse and rider. She was the visionary and driving force behind bringing the trail system at the Biltmore Estate up to the...

Scott Hassler evaluates a young athlete/horse combination in San Juan Capistrano (Sigrid Wolff/Cavallis) Lexington, KY - The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program wrapped up March with the second of two Observation Sessions held in 2012. Taking place March 3-4 in Loxahatchee, FL, the first session ran prior to the Palm Beach Dressage Derby. The second session was held March 28-29 in San Juan Capistrano, CA, prior to the Festival of the Horse. These two-day Observation Sessions allow USEF...