Shane Sweetnam and Solerina (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - - The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off its week of CSIO competition on Wednesday with a $5,000 Welcome Stake, held as two classes, with afternoon and evening sessions. The day session saw a win for Ireland's Shane Sweetnam aboard Solerina. The night session was won by Chile's Samuel Parot and Al Calypso. FTI WEF week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 26-March 2, 2014, featuring...

The Closer and Havens Schatt (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The first hunter championship of week seven was awarded to Kelley Corrigan's The Closer with Havens Schatt in the irons in the Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One three-foot division. Schatt and The Closer won the first class over fences on Wednesday and then placed first and second over fences on Thursday to earn the division championship. Le Reve Farm, Inc.'s At Ease and Christopher Payne finished in reserve with first...

Winning presentation with Quest, groom Juan Bernardo, ringmaster Gustavo Murcia, USHJA's Marla Holt, Enough Said, and rider Stephanie Danhakl (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - As World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition continues at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunter divisions set at the 3'3" height awarded top honors on Friday afternoon. For the victories, Friday's champions will earn spots in the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - A special $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine's Grand Prix CSI 3* was held on Friday night at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with another exciting win for Kent Farrington (USA) and his speedy mount, Blue Angel. The pair has been on fire this season and topped the class almost three seconds faster than second place finishers Cian O'Connor (IRL) and Carlous Z. Australia's Benjamin...

Wellington, Fla. - Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) announces the following riders have been invited to the $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, held at The Mar-a-Lago Club on Palm Beach Island on Sunday, January 5, 2014. The $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, will showcase 36 of the world's top riders in an FEI world ranking competition. With these top riders, along with hundreds of spectators, it is sure to be one of the highlights of the...

Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man at the winter training session (USEF Archives) Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and its Eventing High Performance Department introduced a redesigned Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program for 2013, and the participants had impressive performances throughout the season. Selected by application, 17 riders from across the country benefitted from regular access, coaching, and guidance from U.S. Team Coach, David O’Connor. The...

Katie Aoki comes from behind to win the Onondarka Medal Final (Flying Horse Photography) Los Angeles, Calif. - After three challenging rounds and a work off, Katie Aoki (Jan Hainze, trainer) led the victory gallop aboard her Truman in the prestigious Onondarka Medal Final at the LA National (Nov 6-10). “It was super exciting to win,” Katie shared. “I competed in the final last year and had kind of a tough time, so it was definitely something I have been working towards and...

Glory Days and Katie Dinan clear the Ace Bakery oxer (Ben Radvanyi) Toronto, On. – The phrase “We have a jump off!” is commonly heard around the horse show ring, but it’s rarely, if ever, heard following a speed class at a four-star international event. Friday night the ‘one-in-a-million’ happened. Veteran American rider Laura Kraut (Middleburg, VA) put in an incredible round in what, under normal circumstances would have been the first and only round of the...

Lillie Keenan piloted Clearway to the 2013 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show (Shawn McMillan Photography) Lexington, Ky. - In many ways, it came as no surprise when the champion of the 2013 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Finals was announced as Lillie Keenan of New York, NY. The young phenom has been at the top of the sport since she was a pony rider, and this has been an exceptional year for her career. It began with the 2013 North American Junior...

Victoria Colvin and Monsieur Du Reverdy (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Lexington, Ky. - Earlier in the day, the jumper action kicked off with the Deeridge Farm $10,000 Junior Jumper Welcome Stake. Eight combinations traversed the track without fault, but it was Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, who proved to have the key to winning aboard her own Monsieur Du Reverdy. After competing in last week's WIHS Equitation Classic, they transitioned back to the jumper ring, and Colvin utilized her...