Woodside, California - Lauren Billys, of Sanger, Calif., guided Ballingowan Ginger to a four-fault show jumping round to grab the lead (51.0) in the CIC3* at the Woodside International Horse Trials. Debbie Rosen, of Calabasas, Calif., stands second on The Alchemyst (54.5), and Jolie Wentworth, of Crockett, Calif., stands third on Good Knight (58.2). The Woodside International Horse Trials are the first event in the 2013/2014 season of the Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series. Billys, 25, and...

Ben Asselin and Makavoy (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - Speed and power described the two competitions on the schedule Friday at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters'. Opening up the evening was the $205,000 Encana Cup 1.60m, and the fastest in the jump-off was Calgary's own Ben Asselin on Makavoy. The $75,000 ATCO Electric Six Bar featured four rounds of thrilling jumping as Martin Fuchs (SUI) cleared 1.95m for victory on Conte Della Caccia. The Spruce Meadows...

Jennifer Alfano and Candid (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The eyes of the hunter world are glued on the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show this week as the country's top horses and riders converge for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship Finals and the inaugural USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship. Today riders utilized the first day of the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) week show, running now through Sunday, August 18, to prepare for the...

Welcome to a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging moments on their journey...

Ammeretto and David Beisel (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - David Beisel and Ammeretto saved their best for last. After winning the first class they contested during the 2013 Horse Shows by the Bay Series on July 4, they finally picked up their second blue ribbon today during the $30,000 D-Braider Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix. "It was worth the wait, for sure," said Beisel, who also notched his first grand prix win aboard the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Numero...

Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The top riders in the country gathered to compete for the winning prize in tonight's $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, but in the 15-horse jump-off only the fastest and most accurate would have the chance at the prize money. Venezuela's Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra scored the lion's share of the cash after making a mad dash across the finish line in a scorching 43.662 seconds for the win. The...

Brittini Raflowitz and Elios rode to the top of the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake leader board at Equifest I, riding to the only double-clear effort of the class. Wayne, IL - Accuracy was key for Brittini Raflowitz and Elios this afternoon during the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake at Equifest I. The pair out jumped all fellow contenders as the only ones to post a double-clear effort, eventually leading the victory gallop in the Lamplight Equestrian Center's Grand Prix Ring. David...

Lexington, KY - The following horse-and-rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders, July 27, 2013 in Tarbes, France. The five following combinations will represent the U.S. at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders: Mary Kathryn Clark (Eatonton, GA) will ride Mustafa Tehrani's Chasing The Wind Chasing the Wind is a 2001 Arabian...

McLain Ward and Cadence (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - Despite having first ridden Cadence last week, McLain Ward had confidence in his new mount. They have had a string of top finishes at the 'Canada One' and 'North American' Tournaments, and today was their first victory. Ward was one of three that made it into the jump-off in the $50,000 Akita Drilling Cup 1.50m out of 36 entries. He was the first to go and put in an efficient round in 36.52 seconds with...

Mark Bluman of Colombia rode G&C Lagran to victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Mark Bluman of Colombia won the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, held Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival. The six-week equestrian competition is running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East...