Rachel Boggus and Cassino Z (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Rachel Boggus and Cassino Z finished first in the Ariat National Adult Medal class during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The pair was ranked fourth with a score of 79 going into the test but secured their victory with a final score of 88. The top four called back for the test included week ten winner Sara Ballinger aboard Wanderprinz, who finished second with a final score of 87....

Lauren Hester got her first taste of HITS Thermal grand prix glory this week. She and Abigail were the pair to beat in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, as competition returned to HITS Desert Horse Park (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - It was a slow build to a big finish. Ten made the jump-off in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis, but it was 25-year-old Lauren Hester of Rancho Santa Fe, California who scored the win, riding Hester Equestrian, Inc....

Darragh Kenny and Twister (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week seven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Hermès, began on Wednesday morning at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Cavallo Farms, LLC's Twister in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper speed class. Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, set the speed track for the 1.45m jumpers in the DeNemethy Arena at PBIEC. Fifteen entries...

Jennifer Alfano and Rose Hill, just back from a colic surgery that took place last May, rode to a win and a coveted prize-money check in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala this weekend (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Jennifer Alfano got down to business at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, and won the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this weekend. Alfano of Buffalo, New York and Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill rode to a sweet victory and a $2,800 winner’s check....

There wasn’t a whole lot of NCEA team competition last week (many teams took the week off while they were represented at the WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge ), but some top teams are back in action this weekend. Check below for my take on each of the NCEA Matchups that'll be happening in the coming days. No.2 Auburn University vs. No.4 South Carolina University South Carolina heads to Auburn to try and rein in a reeling season. Working with three straight losses, and coming off...

Last year's riders in the Wellington Dressage Nations Cup. (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce details of the Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm to be held at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival on April 11-14, 2013. The Nations Cup will test a new format for the Pan American Games, which are scheduled for Toronto in 2015. Along with welcoming teams that can compete in the Pan American Games, the...

Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 have often been among the top finishers during the first two weeks of the HITS Desert Circuit. Yesterday, however, they were the ones to beat in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis. It came down to speed as Bond and Cadett topped a 14-horse jump-off. (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - The Grand Prix Ring at HITS Thermal was set with 15 jumping efforts for 42 horses Thursday, and the outcome came down to fractions of a second. In an electrifying...

Rusty Stewart and Bristol used experience and speed to top Lucy Davis in the jump-off of the $54,500 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, and take home the victory. Stewart currently sits atop the rider standings for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - Speed, scope, strategy and nerve were pushed to the extreme in the $54,500 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix CSI-W 2*, presented by Zoetis, Saturday night...

Quotable and Holly Orlando (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Quotable and Holly Orlando were named champions of the Sanctuary Regular Conformation Hunter division during the second day of competition for week four of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Orlando and Quotable have been a formidable pair since the beginning of the FTI WEF, collecting Green Conformation Hunter Champion titles four weeks in a row and earning championship and reserve titles in the...

Devon Kane, David Marcus, Mark Bellissimo, Allyn Mann, Matt Varney, and Michael Stone. (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL -The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) hosted its opening press conference Wednesday with a crowd of media in attendance to kick off this year's exciting line-up of top level competition. The AGDF circuit starts Thursday with CDI-W competition at the Wellington Dressage presented by The Dutta Corp. and includes another CDI-W, CDI-3*, CDI-5* and a...