Jennifer Alfano & Jersey Boy- USHJA International Hunter Derby (©Flashpoint Photography) Green Cove Springs, FL - The Jacksonville Winter Series wrapped up its three week run on January 29th with the naming of Circuit Champions and a lot of fond memories for those attending. Alexis Newman of the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association summed up the series, “We enjoyed a fantastic three weeks of shows that were marked with great exhibitor parties, superb competition, wonderful...

West Palm Beach, FL - The 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI4* presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach ended as it began with American dressage superstar Steffen Peters and Ravel storming to their second consecutive sweep of the event. Their dramatic freestyle was very difficult and they were rewarded by the judges with a score of 83.70% and recognized with a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a narrow victory, Great Britain's Charlotte Dujardin gave Peters and Ravel a...

Debbie Stephens and Swagger (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival started with a day full of competition, and the main class in the International Arena was the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. Debbie Stephens of Palmetto, FL, was victorious on Swagger, owned by Centennial Farm. Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The highlight jumper classes in week three are...

Wellington, FL - Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) was able to beat a field of 39 competitors to take the first round victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. He and Oh' D Eole triumphed in the jump-off over Charlie Jayne (USA) on Chill R Z and Darragh Kerins (IRL) with Hot Wheels. Today's grand prix marked the start of an exciting show jumping season, where riders will compete over 12 weeks to win bonus money in the...

New Orleans, LA – After decades of discussion, debate and consternation, the current increment system—the way points are calculated when a horse places in a class at a rated competition—was successfully revamped. “It’s something that’s not happened in our lifetimes,” noted United States Hunter Jumper Association President Bill Moroney with a smile. “This is a massive change. The beauty of this system is how easily it’s understood. This rule...

Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2. ManciniPhotos. Wellington, FL - Leslie Howard and her longtime mount Lennox Lewis 2 took home the first big win of the week at Equestrian Sport Production's (ESP) 2011 Holiday and Horses competition. The show kicked off on Wednesday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, highlighting the exciting $10,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Open Stake class in the International Arena. Wellington Equestrian Realty has been a great...

Alexandra Lawson and Imagine My Surprise. Photo by Howard Schatzberg. Kansas City, MO - Alexandra Lawson of North Salem, IN, rode James Williams' Imagine My Surprise to the championship win in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Medal Final presented by Elisabeth M. Goth. The final took place Saturday as part of the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, MO. "Winning the Medal is a dream...

Temecula, CA — Sara Mittleider and Harry Houdini put in a measured dressage test on Thursday, but the Trakehner gelding looked just as at home on the cross-country course today as he galloped around faultlessly to maintain their lead in the CCI1*. Mittleider, of Kuna, Idaho, was thrilled with her rising star, whom she’s only been riding for a year and half. “I was very impressed with the maturity and confidence he showed today. The footing was a non-issue, and I was so, so...

They say it never rains in Southern California, but the heavens opened up on the CCI3* competitors at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Still, the conditions didn’t prevent Buck Davidson, on Carl and Cassie Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM, from taking the lead in dressage, scoring 41.8. “’Reggie’ was fantastic,” said Davidson, of Ocala, Fla. “He just keeps showing up. I just couldn’t be happier with him—he just steps up and does...

Lexington, KY - The jumper action continued this evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, and speed wa s the name of the game as riders competed in the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake. The speedy veteran pair of Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui dominated the class with blazing time, beating second place finishers Nicholas Dello Joio and Notre Star De La Nutria by almost four seconds. Great Britain's Scott Brash and Bon Ami rounded out the top three with a quick...