Elizabeth Benson and San Remo VDL. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The 4th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships, presented by Artisan Farms, were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the class saw an exciting win for 16-year-old Elizabeth Benson of Whitehouse Station, NJ, trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables....

Oklahoma City, OK – Two of the nation’s top NRHA Processionals are coming to Colorado for the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Regional Clinic Series May 21-22. NRHA Professionals Randy Paul and Tracer Gilson will once again share their expertise to benefit Reiners of all ages and experience levels at Skyline Ranch in Carbondale, CO. NRHA Professional Randy Paul reached one of the industry’s great milestones by becoming a Million Dollar Rider in 2008. Paul has had a long and...

Oklahoma City, OK – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Regional Clinic Series is coming to Santa Fe, NM, May 14-15. NRHA Professionals Stefano Massigan and Marco Ricotta will hold a clinic for reiners of all ages and experience levels at the Santa Fe Equestrian Center. Massignan, an NRHA European Futurity finalist and multiple Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Futurity, Derby and Maturity finalist, recently relocated to the Southwest with his wife Ky. Their new operation...

Sandy Ferrell and Moshi. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is well into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The sun was shinning along with strong gusts of wind as the Green Conformation Hunters made their way into the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning. Sandy Ferrell was aboard the new entry from Stephanie Riggio, Moshi, for the championship...

Last March I made my inaugural visit to Wellington, FL and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for CSIO week, which included the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by CN. My partner in crime, Melissa Davis, and I set-up our Merchandise “Fort” and sold-out of nearly all the USA and patriotic coats, polos and hats we’d shipped down. Unseasonably chilly temperatures for Palm Beach...

Daisy Farish and Elation are the Gotham North Small Pony Hunter Champions. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 6, 2011 - Numerous championships were awarded in the pony hunter divisions. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, hosts some of the fanciest ponies in the country. Today, the Gotham North Small Pony Hunters were among those awarded. Loads of spectators, including many pony riders and their accompanying family members, filled the areas surrounding...

Lexington, KY — The USA Equestrian Trust is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for financial grants to non-profit equine organizations to be funded in 2011. Go to https://www.trusthorses.org/grant/request.html and fill out a grant application for the USA Equestrian Trust Grant Program. The deadline is May 2 at 5 p.m. (EST). Despite the continued economic struggles, the Trust's board was pleased to grant nearly $135,000 to seven applicants in 2010. Past recipients of grants...

John Long and Craig Ferrell, M.D. (Riders4Helmet) Lexington, KY - The Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium held this month in Wellington, FL, was deemed a huge success by participants at the event. Representatives from USEF, USDF, USEA, USHJA, Racing, Polo, Helmet Manufacturers, Helmet Testing Authorities, Leading Equestrians and Medical Experts came together at the symposium with the goal of improving rider safety and went away pledging to work together across the disciplines to do just that....

Meagan Davis and Bentley (Bill Davis) Lexington, KY - At the FEI World Cup Dressage Final for Young Riders, Meagan Davis and Bentley proved their mettle against 14 of the best Young Riders in the world and became the first U.S. pair to qualify for the Freestyle A-final. Competition got underway on Thursday with the Young Rider Team test (Prix St. Georges), which served as a warm-up class. After a challenging warm-up, Davis rode into the arena with confidence and Bentley settled into the test to...

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Ashley (Courtesy of the Washington International Horse Show) Oct. 28, 2010 –Brazilian show jumping superstar Rodrigo Pessoa blazed to wins in Thursday’s open jumper classes. Dressed as a Formula One race car driver, he and Palouchin de Ligny won the $20,000 Gambler's Choice Costume Class, and earlier, with HH Ashley, he won the $30,000 class. Plus Kristin Glover and Chase Boggio winners. $20,000 Gambler’s Choice Costume Class (Thursday Evening) The Gambler's Choice Costume...