Wellington, Fla - The Grand Prix Field at the Ridge at Wellington was alive with excitement today as the third week of the Wellington Turf Tour got underway. The 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers stole the show with Chile's Samuel Parot and Thea capturing the first win of the day, and Matt Williams, aboard Jameson, riding to the top of the ranks in the second. The Wellington Turf Tour will continue this Friday at the Ridge at Wellington as the 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix gets underway. Hailed as the...

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night (Libby Law Photography) Lexington, Ky. - The first U.S. horse-and-rider combination performed their dressage test Thursday for the FEI Nations Cup competition at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night took to the dressage arena in front of the judging panel of David Lee (IRL), Andrew Bennie (NZL), and Ciska Van Meggelen-Peek (NED) at the historic venue in Boekelo, The Netherlands. Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex,...

Well fall is under way and I am trying to clear a little writer’s block. The last shows of the year are winding down. We are headed for the last ones in our area the last two weekends of the month. Fall is time to evaluate progress and prepare for next season. Some of us set goals for training, some for clinics, some for next year’s show season. We look at our feeding programs, exercise programs, breeding programs and whatever else we are running. I always find myself thinking ahead...

McLain Ward stands center as the victor of the 2013 Gene Mische American Invitational, while second place Reed Kessler (right) and third place Sharn Wordley (left) celebrate their top three finishes in the class (V.Valenti/The Book LLC) Tampa, FL - For over four decades Raymond James Stadium has been home to the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G&C Farm. The class has made history as a tradition and landmark of the showjumping world, and Saturday was no exception. It...

Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK were the winners of the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa after completing a jump-off round with blazing fast speed of 36.576 seconds (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - It was a jump-off for all the nations today on the concluding class of the Tampa Bay Classic. The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center was alive with heated jumper competition as riders gathered to contend for the top earnings in the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. It was one of the last opportunities for riders to...

Ocala, FL - Following an exciting marathon day at the Live Oak International, Lisa Singer has grabbed the lead in the 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship with a score of 133.07. Drivers had near perfect weather as they contested the second phase of competition held on the picturesque Live Oak Plantation. Lisa Singer (Picsofyou.com) 0 Singer (Chadds Ford, PA) drove consistently over the championship level course which hosted seven intricate obstacles. Using the experienced gained representing...

Lori Sawyer-Lyons and Senna M (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Lori Sawyer-Lyons edged out the competition to win the Ariat National Adult Medal class during week five of competition for the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Sawyer-Lyons, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, rode Jimmy Torano's Senna M to first place. Sawyer-Lyons had a narrow margin of victory in a competitive class with the top three finishing only one tenth of a point apart. Sawyer-Lyons and Senna M...

Peter Pletcher and Ivory Coast (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher were named champions of the Second Year Green Working Hunter division after two days of competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ivory Coast, owned by Eva Bisso, and Pletcher led the division after day one of competition when they placed third and sixth over fences before winning the under saddle. Ivory Coast and Pletcher picked up another blue ribbon, this...

Michael Hughes wins the Region 1 ASPCA Maclay Regionals (Anne Gittins Photography) It was a full weekend for junior riders as the final four regions concluded their ASPCA Maclay Regionals. The anticipation was tangible as the nation's top riders competed for the chance to attend the prestigious ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals during the Alltech National Horse Show this fall at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Michael Hughes captured the first place honors for Region 1, with Lillie...

Donna Ponessa (West Windsor, NY) had a long time to wait before she was able to make her debut at the 2012 Paralympic Games. But she made it worth the wait as she piloted Wes Dunham’s Western Rose to a score of 70.235% in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Sarah Rodger, Gudrun Hofinga, Freddy Leyman and Anne Prain. Riding in Grade 1a competition, Ponessa produced a steady, rhythmic test with the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare to earn fifth place. Western Rose is well Donna Ponessa and...