Conor Swail and Viva Columbia. (The Book) North Salem, N.Y. - Sometimes it is good to have friends in the right places, and for Conor Swail, a friendship with Ilan Ferder has resulted in the ride on his now top mount Viva Colombia. The Irish athlete piloted the 10-year-old mare to victory in the $85,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier CSI4* presented by Windsor Show Stables. The pair bested a 14-horse jump-off, beating second place finisher Ali Wolff on Casall and third place finisher Peter Lutz on...

Kelley Farmer and Mindset (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla. - An underdog rose to the top of the ranks Friday at The Ridge at Wellington's second annual Hunter Derby Days. Mindset is the rising superstar of Rose Hill Farm, bought for Lilli Hymowitz to show in the Small Junior Hunter division, but professional hunter rider Kelley Farmer captured the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby victory with consistent rounds and finesse on the turf derby field. Farmer and...

This article was originally posted at www.useventing.com . Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF (StockImageServices.com) Five days of competition came to a close Sunday at The Event at Rebecca Farm with the third and final phase of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series. Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF and Matthew Brown of Petaluma, California gave a top class performance, completing Richard Jeffery’s show jumping course without a single fault. James Alliston of San...

Tracy Fenney rode MTM Timon to the $30,000 Nutrena Grand Prix victory on the final day of the Showplace Spring Spectacular II (Phelps Media Group) Wayne, Ill. - Silence fell on the crowd at the Showplace Spring Spectacular II as Texan Tracy Fenney raced around the jump-off track aboard MTM Centano. A rub down the double-combination of the final line had spectators on the edge of their seats, but the rail stayed in its cups as Fenney dashed across the final oxer in 31.456 seconds to win the...

Capitano and Trapp O'Neal on their way to victory (Shawn McMillen Photography) Katy, Texas. - Saturday night's festivities at the 69th PIn Oak Charity Horse Show featured the $30,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix and Gala. With hospitality the hallmark of the show, it was a enjoyable night for riders and spectators alike. And especially so for Texas professional Trapp O'Neal. The grand prix attracted a field of 18 competitors, who performed before a packed and appreciative audience at the...

Katherine Schmidt and Striptease with coach Carol Gwin and Jill Townsend (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Twenty one-year-old Katherine Schmidt, of Ridgefield, CT, emerged victorious from the Collegiate Equitation Championship on Friday evening at the FTI WEF. Schmidt is a junior at the University of South Carolina (USC), where she is a double major in Marketing and Management. Schmidt made it through the first round of the evening's competition after beating out Auburn University's...

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...

Reining Young Rider Individual medalists: Jonathan Stepka (USA) - Bronze; Madison Steed (CAN) - Gold; Jamie Erickson (USA) - Silver (Waltenberry) Lexington, KY - The 2013 SmartPak Reining Championships concluded Saturday in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park with two high-scoring rounds of high-level reining. For the Young Riders, it was the scorching hot score of 219 from Canada’s Madison Steed to secure the Gold medal showing Jumpin Jac Trash (2007 AQHA Gelding). Steed, a...

Woodside, CA – Matt Brown punctuated a memorable weekend at the Woodside Horse Trials by winning the Horse division of the Preliminary Challenge on Che Landscape (32.4) and finishing fourth on Happenstance (36.0), while Kiera Carter rode Corinthoz to first place (32.0) in the Rider division. Professional’s Choice and Equine Insurance of California were the Presenting Sponsors of the Woodside Preliminary Challenge. The Preliminary Challenge reached an exciting climax in the...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Photo by Heather Bellock/PMG). Lexington KY - This evening's feature event at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show was the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance and Charles Owen. The class began at 7p.m. in the Rolex Stadium at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. Twenty riders showcased their mounts for the chance to take home the winning title and the final check. Tonight's courses...