Christian Heineking and NKH Selena (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal Calif. - With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will...

Scott Stewart and Lucador (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley's Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division. Reserve champion for the division was High Regard,...

Lexington, Ky. - The USEF and USET Foundation have come together in 2014 through a gift from USET Foundation Trustee Betsy Juliano and Havensafe Farm to host the first ever USEF/USET Foundation Dressage Pipeline Clinic, January 28-29, 2014 at the Global Dressage Grounds in Wellington, Fla. This clinic will showcase the U.S. dressage pipeline of athletes and horses with the four USEF Dressage Coaches: Robert Dover, USEF Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor; Debbie McDonald, USEF Developing Coach;...

Kevin Babington and Shorapur (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, Fla - Torrents of rain and claps of thunder welcomed riders to the fields of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) early Wednesday morning. However menacing, the inclement weather did not deter the field of 30 riders from entering into a heated battle in the 1.30-1.35m Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour. Kevin Babington and Shorapur returned to the second week of competition with their sights set on victory, tackling...

Laura Kraut and Bonito R (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Wednesday morning with a win for Laura Kraut (USA) and Bonito R in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.40m speed class. Jack Hardin Towell, Shane Sweetnam, and Samuel Parot also got wins on the first day of week two competition. FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday,...

Tim Maddrix pilots Claudia Styslinger's KT Cher to the win in Saturday night's $10,000 Open Jumper class (A&S 2014) Pensacola, Fla. - The Pensacola community packed the stands Saturday night in the covered arena at the Escambia County Equestrian Center to watch some top show jumpers compete for the $10,000 Open Jumper purse. Eighteen horse and rider combinations took to the course designed by Classic Company's Official Course Designer, Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana. "I...

Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain's Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV in the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, concluded today. FTI WEF 2, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, run January...

Heather Mason and Zar (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - Heather Mason (USA) and Zar finished on top of the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle, presented by Everglades Dressage, with a winning score of 72.275% at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AFDF). Second place went to Leida Collins-Strijk (NED) and West Side for a score of 71.150% and Austria's Katharina Stumpf rounded out the top three with a score of 67.000% on Nymphenburg's Love. The FEI Intermediaire Freestyle was on the...

The winning women's team with Michelle McFaul, Vice President, Community Affairs & Special Events for Nespresso, ringmaster Gustavo Murcia, and Paige, Mark and Katherine Bellissimo (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla, - January 10, 2014 - The crowds were out in full force at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday night to watch the women's team earn their sixth consecutive victory in the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival's (FTI WEF) $75,000 Nespresso...

Lexington, Ky. - At the USEF Year End Awards Gala Saturday night Abigail Wexner's Simon and Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd's Brunello were named International Horse of the Year and National Horse of the Year respectively. Voting was open to the public in December and both horses, already fan favorites, were rewarded for their tremendous results throughout 2013 with support from voters. International Horse of the Year Simon (Mr. Blue x Naline) 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding Owner: Abigail...