K.C. Montgomery (Shawn Flarida RC Fancy Step) Oklahoma City, OK – The 2010 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championships, which also served as the USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan US Reining Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, featured fierce competition with a national title and a ticket to the World Equestrian Games on the line. The Oklahoma State Fairgrounds main coliseum was rocking on Saturday night and when the dust settled Shawn Flarida held on to his lead and had the best two...

Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Shakira do Jacare and owner Sarah Owen during the retirement ceremony.) Shakira do Jacare, the brilliant 14-year-old Brazilian-bred chestnut mare owned by Sarah Owen and Muny Sunk Stables officially retired from the sport of show jumping in an emotional ceremony during the 2010 Atlanta Summer Classics. Dubbed the “Queen of Speed” by her competitors, Shakira’s presence alone at many a grand prix was enough to rattle the nerves of most seasoned jumpers. However,...

Wayne, IL-June 27, 2010- It was another beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center where the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials are occurring for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Riders and their top mounts entered the arena in front of spectators, their peers and international judges. The three judges included Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR). Saturday was the individual competition, which will be counted alongside Friday’s team tests,...

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation welcomed internationally renowned dressage rider and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Developing Dressage Coach Debbie McDonald to Hamilton Farm for the second of three Developing Dressage Clinics this past weekend, June 12-13, 2010. Aiding the development of this nation's up-and-coming dressage riders, the two-day clinic led by McDonald provided important guidance and insight to the nine riders who were invited to participate based upon...

The wind tried to take center stage during the High Prairie Spring Classic, but nothing could unseat Bjorn Ikast, who continued to take the High Prairie jumper division by storm. A virtual fixture at the Colorado Horse Park, Ikast brought back a stunning six horses to the jump-off in the $10,000 Riders Choice High Prairie Grand Prix on Saturday. “I am very pleased to have eight grand prix horses to ride now,” Ikast said. “They are all going very well. It’s great!” Of the 16 horse-and-rider...

Photo by James Leslie Parker (Philip Richter and Glasgow.) Philip Richter returns to the Devon Horse Show to defend his championship on Glasgow in Amateur Owner Jumpers on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5. The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 27-June 6, benefits the Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated almost $14 million. New footing in the Dixon Oval at Devon has been installed by Equestrian Services International, which has provided the footing for the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong,...

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show got underway on May 12 at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. A brief thunderstorm rolled through during the day's competition, but in the afternoon the sun started to appear and riders had the opportunity to compete for top prizes in the Main Stadium. Pablo Barrios of Venezuala took home two blue ribbons after winning the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class with G & C LaGran, and capturing the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.45m victory aboard G & C Quick Star....

Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening. The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream...

Photo by SusanJStickle.com (Canada's Belinda Trussell and Anton won the opening class in the WEF Dressage Classic, the FEI Grand Prix CDI***. ) The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) featured four disciplines in its tenth week of competition on March 17-21. The week featured the $75,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix CSI** and the WEF Dressage Classic, CDI***, along with a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. The week ten title sponsor was Equine...

Photo by Randi Muster (Daisy Farish aboard Ballou in the Small Pony Hunters.) The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Week Nine, held March 10-14, 2010, featured many winners in the equitation, hunters, and jumpers, including the leader in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI***, presented by CN. The week nine title sponsor was CN. Double H Farm's Night Train sped to the win with Olympic Gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI***,...