Lexington, Kentucky - Saddlebred trainer Michael Ray Benn, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2010. Benn had been a resident of Liberty for the past seven years and earned his living doing what he loved – training American Saddlebred Horses. He spent his younger years working with Don Hulse and Dale Pugh, and was the head trainer at Callaway Hills Stables in Columbia, Missouri for twelve years, before operating his own training barn in Springfield, Missouri. Most recently...

Mary McCormick (Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEF) Lexington, KY - Strong performances by both the Women's and Men's U.S. Vaulters entertained a near sold-out Alltech Arena during the second Individual phase of competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Thursday. Mary McCormick leads the U.S. effort, followed by Alicen Divita in ninth place and 2006 WEG Aachen Gold medalist Megan Benjamin in 11th place. The Vaulting Freestyle is perhaps the most appreciated phase of the...

Chris Nelson and Inside Out in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix (Photo by © ESI Photography ) CULPEPER, VA (October 6, 2010) -- HITS, Inc. capped off an exciting and record-breaking season when its 35th week of show-jumping competition came to a close on Sunday, October 3 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. The final week of horse shows for the 2010 HITS season was highlighted with a variety of special classes that had top-notch prize money for both jumper and hunter riders. Without a...

Each rider has a story, and you can hear from each member of the Kentucky Equine Research (KER)/U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in this new video. These inspiring riders of all ages have overcome adversity to reach an international stage with their horses, and they are vying not only for a place on the medal podium but also the realization of personal goals. “My mom is a physical therapist, and she’s really up on different types of therapy, and...

Tulsa, OK (October 5, 2010) – Two gorgeous American Miniature Horses rode away with a big prize at the 2010 American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) National Championship Show, thanks to a sponsorship from Farnam Horse Products. Farnam presented two “Best Groomed” awards at the show, an Open Adult Vetrolin® Grooming Award and a Youth Vetrolin® Grooming Award, with each winner taking home a year’s supply of Vetrolin® grooming products. Graham’s Magic Mystery, owned by Becky and Jim McKeith, won...

[Lexington, KY] –At the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Sunday, Alltech announced the first recipients of the Alltech ‘A+’ Award, established to honor creativity, passion, and excellence in equine journalism. The media contest was organized in partnership with American Horse Publications (AHP) and the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ) and open to the members of both organizations. Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech, presented an Alltech ‘A+’ Award and...

Theo Genn & Paradox (Photo by ©Flashpoint Photography) New Market, TN—October 4, 2010- “It’s remarkable. Like I’ve gone back to horse shows of my childhood when events were that…an event for the whole family with lots of beautiful horses, fun, good food and sharing among of the horse community.” Tennessee based trainer/rider David Wright said of the 2010 Gallop in the Glen. Held at the River Glen Equestrian Center in New Market, TN nestled at the base of the Smoky Mountains, new arrivals...

Tulsa, OK (October 4, 2010) – Dreams came true at the 2010 American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) National Championship Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when two lucky youths took home their own Miniature Horses after winning the Youth Essay Contest. Orry Williams, of Kentucky, and Danielle Bode, of Missouri, each took home a Miniature Horse donated by longtime AMHR member Belinda Bagby and her Cross Country Farm. Williams won a mini named Cross Country Lola, after an award-winning essay in the 13 –...

Chris Nelson and Inside Out at the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix (Photo by © ESI Photography) CULPEPER, VA (October 4, 2010)--The road to the 2011 $1 Million Grand Prix kicked-off on Sunday when Chris Nelson and Lazy Creek Ranch's Inside Out captured the win in the final HITS Grand Prix of the year, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the Culpeper Finals. Nelson, of Flower Mound, Texas, and nine-year-old Inside Out were one of 14 horse-and-rider combinations to ride the course designed by Marina...

CULPEPER, VA (October 4, 2010)--Kate Conover and Rock Steady were the top pair in Saturday's $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic during the Culpeper Finals at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Rock Steady is 10 years old and was imported from Europe by Emil Spadone in July. Since coming into the country, the horse has certainly lived up to his name in the show ring, and he put the icing on the cake with a win in Saturday's feature class for hunter riders. "He is so much fun to ride,"...