Woodside, CA - James Alliston survived a bittersweet day at the Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice. It was a day of both exciting victory and disconcerting defeat for him. Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., did win the CIC3*, but with Tivoli (52.6), not with Jumbo’s Jake, the horse who’d been leading after the first day’s dressage and show jumping. And he also won the CIC2* on Mojo. Jolie Wentworth...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

Frankie Thieriot (McCool Photos) Woodside, CA - May 28, 2012 –Frankie Thieriot and Julie Flettner each rode faultless show jumping rounds to win the two divisions of the $15,000 Woodside Preliminary Challenge at the Woodside Horse Trials on May 25-27. Riding Uphoria, owned by Tory Smith, Thieriot, of Occidental, Calif., won the Horse Division with a score of 27.1 penalties. Riding her own Ping Pong, Flettner, of Petaluma, Calif., won the Rider Division with a score of 27.9. The 4th annual...

Allison Springer and Arthur (Photo by Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - On the second day of dressage at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone the results proved true to form. Familiar pair Allison Springer and Arthur topped the first phase scoring 39.8 - the only effort to break 40. Great Britain's William Fox-Pitt Parklane Hawk cruised to second place with a score of 41.3 and Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen settled into third with a lovely effort at the...

I received official notification in mid October from the USEF that I was selected to be the United States representative at the Young Rider World Cup Final. Watson and I were going to Frankfurt in six weeks! I took a deep breath and began to organize my thoughts-there was a lot of planning and organization to be done. I also knew that my trainer, Marcel van der Burgh was going to be very demanding before leaving for Germany. The next six weeks went by in a flash. I was back in school, training...

Oklahoma City, OK – The first go-round of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity ended today at the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. The show also welcomed the Adequan® North American Affiliate Limited Non Pro Championship. Reining fans can enjoy the show until December 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and Smart Merada Rey remain tied for the...

The first half of this day involved my computer, two cappuccinos and the hotel office. "Just be sure we kick some ass." Unfortunately Jon Holling's Eventing horse Downtown Harrison was withdrawn for veterinary reasons in Ocala this morning. But those were his words when I texted him my condolences. He's a friend and a class act, so we're all sad for him. Luckily we have Lynn Symansky to step into his shoes. She's a star. Interestingly she will be making her second Pan Am...

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos. Photo: www.stockimageservices.com. Lexington, KY - The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team have two cross-country superstars in their midst as both Boyd Martin on Neville Bardos, and Sinead Halpin on Manoir de Carneville looked poised and confident as they galloped through Burghley Park. These pairs represented an inspiring future American Eventing over a course that was deemed a 'throwback' as the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials celebrated its 50th...

Dressage CDI Verden in Germany hosted the 2011 FEI World Breeding Championships and the U.S. was represented in this prestigious event by dressage rider Jennifer Hoffman. Hoffmann and Florentinus V were eighth in the first qualifying competition for 5-year old horses with a score of 8.42, with Ratzinger Z, Hoffmann was tied for eighth in the 1st qualifying competition 6-year old horses with a score of 8.36. Hoffman qualified for the Finals in both the 5-and 6-year-old divisions, which was a...

Dressage CDI Verden in Germany hosted the 2011 FEI World Breeding Championships and the U.S. was represented in this prestigious event by dressage rider Jennifer Hoffman. Hoffmann and Florentinus V were eighth in the first qualifying competition for 5-year old horses with a score of 8.42, with Ratzinger Z, Hoffmann was tied for eighth in the 1st qualifying competition 6-year old horses with a score of 8.36. Hoffman qualified for the Finals in both the 5-and 6-year-old divisions, which was a...