Ainsley Vince and Frieda (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The sun rose over Deeridge Farms as trailers and cars rolled through the opened gateway and down the winding path lined with beautifully manicured banyan and royal palm trees. The fog lifted from the grand prix field to reveal the course that would challenge over 50 horses for the $24,950 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale. Saturday, it was Ainsley Vince of Canada who dominated the field, riding to the top of the leader...

Vaulting to be featured in the Middle East for the first time Sisters Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer, who placed first in the pairs (pas-de-deux) Vaulting event at the 2013 German Masters in Stuttgart last November, will be among the roster of world-class competitors who will gather in Doha, Qatar in March for the Second CHI AL SHAQAB. The siblings are the first vaulters from the United States to win a World Cup event. The prestigious event takes place at AL SHAQAB, the Arabian Gulf’s...

Audrey Coulter and Acorte (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its seventh week of competition on Sunday with a fantastic line-up of international show jumping and back-to-back wins for 21-year-old Audrey Coulter (USA) of San Francisco, CA. The day kicked off with the $280,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 4* with a win for Coulter and Acorte. The pair beat out the world's number one and two ranked riders, Scott Brash and Ben...

Lars Petersen and Mariett (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, Fla. - Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett have become familiar faces in the winner's circle at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), and Thursday evening was no exception. Petersen topped the FEI Grand Prix 4* presented by The Dutta Corp. with Marcia Pepper's 16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare with a score of 70.960%. For his win in Thursday's class, Petersen was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage...

Ben Maher and Cella (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - he world's best battled it out at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday night with a one-two finish for Great Britain in the $125,000 Fidelity investments® Grand Prix CSI 3* at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ben Maher and Scott Brash, the top two ranked riders in the world, finished on top of an impressive field of horses and riders in an exciting ten-horse jump-off. Maher, the...

Christian Heineking masters Leopoldo Palacio's course to win the $41,000 LEG Anniversary Grand Prix (Flying Horse Photography) Christian Heineking (GER) proved he was the only one who could answer Leopoldo Palacios’ questions in the $41,000 LEG Anniversary Grand Prix at the National Preview (Oct 30-Nov 3)—and he did it twice. Christian started the class with a bang aboard NKH Selena (NKH LLC, owner) and made the course look easy with a clear round within the time allowed. “I...

Los Angeles, California - Following the completion of Phases I and II of the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals West Olivia Champ (La Canada Flintridge, California) holds the lead heading into Saturday’s final two phases. Phase I After a demanding Flat Phase where USEF Talent Search Final judges Jimmy Torano and Mandy Porter worked the riders in groups of eight, Olivia Champ (Karen Healey Stables, Trainer) took the lead with a strong score of 90. On her heels was Jayme Omand...

Washington, DC - The 55th Washington International Horse Show CSI 3* (WIHS) is pleased to announce an increase in the prize money awarded this year in the open jumper and hunter divisions. WIHS will offer nearly half a million dollars in total prize money in 2013, more than a $70,000 boost from 2012! The official prize list for 2013 competition is now available online at wihs.org/prize-list/, featuring some exciting new changes to the schedule. The country's only metropolitan indoor horse...

A couple of top ranked NCEA teams traveled to Texas this past weekend and didn't escape with out scars on their records. Auburn lost its first match of the weekend to Texas A&M, K-State had a rough couple days, Georgia and South Carolina won big in their final home matches of the season, and Fresno State finally added a few marks to the win column. My quick recap of the weekend that was across the NCEA is below The Texas A&M Aggies looked like a revitalized team against Auburn on...

This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...