Haley Gassel and Quite Dark 2 on their way to a $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - Elite competition commenced during Week VIII of the Ocala Winter Circuit with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Twenty-three-year-old Hayley Gassel of Lenoir City, Tennessee, riding her own Quite Dark 2, with the expert guidance of trainer David Jennings, executed her plan perfectly to win against a jump-off field of 18 riders, capturing her first...

Thermal, Calif. - Horses and their riders wrapped up Week VI of the HITS Desert Circuit on Sunday with big money classes for jumper exhibitors featuring the $50,000 HorseWare Ireland Grand Prix and the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic presented by Bayer’s Legend. Kasey Ament and Zuidhoeve winning the $50,000 HorseWare Ireland Grand Prix. (ESI Photography) $50,000 HorseWare Ireland Grand Prix Week VI of the HITS Desert Circuit wrapped up with Sunday’s $50,000 Grand Prix...

Lauren Hough has announced the retirement of 17-year-old Selle Francais, Quick Study (Quick Star—Sirene de Plantro, What A Joy XX), after a decade-long partnership that traveled the world many times over. “It is with great pride, and a touch of sadness, that I am announcing the retirement of my partner of 10 years, Quick Study, better known to his friends as Joey,” said Hough from her winter base in Wellington, Fla. “We have had a remarkable journey together and have had...

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - The FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, concluded today at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), featuring 50 riders from a stunning array of countries at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and veteran partner Don Auriello, owned by Lövsta Stuteri, earned top honors in the competitive class and were the final pair...

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week seven of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Suncast®, began Wednesday morning at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for McLain Ward (USA) and HH Carlos Z in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Jumper Classic. WEF 7, sponsored by Suncast®, runs February 24-28, 2016. The week's highlight classes include the $130,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup...

Scott Stewart and Catch Me (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The arrival of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival heralds the traditional beauty of the hunter discipline, which is featured all week long in the main International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The professional hunter divisions were completed today and seven divisions named champions. WEF 6 runs through Sunday, February 21, with the highlight event, the...

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week five of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday with a win for Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic. Cyklon made Friday's class his comeback to the winner's circle after suffering a difficult year with illness and multiple surgeries. WEF 5, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, runs...

The Plains, Virginia -- February 12, 2016 -- The Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® has extended invitations world wide for nations to compete at Great Meadow this July when it hosts the first FEI Eventing Nations' Cup™ ever held outside Europe. Top riders will bring world-class horses and showcase their hard work and preparation at the picturesque Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, July 9-10. The event will be the final outing for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing...

Ocala, Fla. - The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix resumed a weekend packed with big opportunities for horses and riders at HITS Post Time Farm. Robert Lee and Cameron winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix (ESI Photography) $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix A talented field of thirty-three tested the course to vie for the blue as well as a prestigious qualifying opportunity for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix at the HITS Championship in September...

Chris Pratt and Edesa's Basantos on their way to a $350,000 HITS Thermal Grand Prix win. (ESI Photography) Thermal, Calf. - The crowd that gathered to witness the $350,000 HITS Thermal Grand Prix on Sunday of Desert Circuit Week III was in store for a spectacular display of equestrian sport. An electric atmosphere combined with supremely talented exhibitors, made for an excellent day for this top-dollar class with an exceptional ending. Thirty talented riders descended upon HITS Desert Horse...