Kevin Babington and Shorapur jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - When Kevin Babington first laid eyes on Shorapur he knew there was something special about the mare. Despite being told she was too hot for his liking, he had to try her. That first ride was a year and a half ago. Yet, Friday they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis as if they'd been together forever. “I was like a kid in a candy store the first...

Jay Land and Nepal (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - It's always been a family affair for the Lands, but with young riders Frances and Taylor Land usually picking up the spotlight, it was exciting to see father Jay Land in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Despite taking a few months off from the show ring, Jay returned ready to win as he laid down a flawless round aboard his veteran mount Nepal in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Richard Jeffery...

McLain Ward and HH Ashley were the top pair in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties (ESI Photography) Saugerties, N.Y. - McLain Ward was wearing his poker face Friday at HITS Saugerties and gambled his way to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis on new mount, HH Ashley. Second to go in a five-horse jump-off, Ward chased down speedster Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida, who posted an immediate Great American Time to Beat at 37.15...

Laura Linback and HH Dauphin (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wayne, Ill. - It was an electrifying final day of competition today at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the Showplace Spring Spectacular Series wrapped up with the $40,000 Weathertech Grand Prix. It came down to a two-horse jump-off, but Kelsey Thatcher and Athena rode to the win, leading the week's final victory gallop. Alan Wade built a technical track for the final day of competition, and with the nation's top riders ready to...

Gladstone, N.J. - The USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team kicked-off on Tuesday in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters, with 23 of the 24 entries completing the FEI Team Tests in their respective grades and earning the first 40% of their championship score. For the majority of the day competitors, officials and spectators enjoyed picturesque...

Victoria Colvin and Don Juan (Kendall Bierer) Miami, Fla. - A field of the nation's top 20 riders gathered at Sun Life Stadium for the inaugural $25,000 Hollow Creek Farm Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Victoria Colvin was the only rider to lay down a double-clear effort, taking home the victory with Don Juan. Nicole Bellissimo and VDL Dogan rode to the second place, while Venezuela's Emanuel Andrade was awarded third place. Steve Stevens and Leopaldo Palacios designed a course...

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter made a steady, if unexpected, climb to the top of the leaderboard at the Carolina International CIC3* and Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. Little and “Demi” (Rubin-Royal/Patricia) weren’t the pair to beat until they clocked one of only two double-clear rounds on Hugh Lochore’s cross-country course, where time was of the essence. “I planned to start the course on both horses [including RF Smoke on the Water] as if I was going for...

Ben Maher and Aristo Z. (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - It only took 42.48 fault-free seconds for Ben Maher of Great Britain to prove why he is show jumping’s reigning Olympic Individual Gold medalist as he boldly negotiated Jane Clark’s Aristo Z over Leopoldo Palacio’s eight-fence jump-off and, in front of a full house of spectators at its John Deere stadium, clinched this year’s $50,000 CSI2*W at the 2014 Live Oak International in Ocala, FL. “It was a fantastic...

Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com) Ocala, Fla. – A warm, sunny morning at Live Oak International set the stage for the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship sponsored by Ariat. The competitors had a large undertaking guiding their teams of horses through the seven-obstacle marathon course designed by Hartmut Kaufmann of Germany. The Ocala, Fla., venue saw a huge turnout of spectators present to see an exciting day of competition. Chester Weber maintained his lead in the FEI Four-in-Hand...

Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com) Ocala, Fla . – A foggy morning gave way to a sunny afternoon at Live Oak International as the three competitors in the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship sponsored by Ariat entered the John Deere Arena to perform their dressage test. The championship also serves as the USEF Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Held in conjunction with the FEI Four-in-Hand division sponsored by Seminole Wellness, Chester Weber currently sits...