Jhesika Wills. (Photo by Carolynn Bunch). Lincoln, NE – Four advanced young riders have been selected for the 2011 Olympic Dream Program that annually sends young riders to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. The program is administered and funded annually by The Dressage Foundation (TDF). On May 2, an independent Selection Committee, after reviewing dozens of applications, chose Mary Bahniuk Lauritsen (MA), Jhesika Wells (WA), Kathryn Butt (SC) and Laura DeCesari (AZ) to...

Aaron Vale and Paparazzi. (ESI Photography.) Ocala, FL – Aaron Vale won the $25,000 Ocala Horse Properties, LLC Grand Prix on Saturday, April 9, during the Ocala International held at Sharn Wordley Equestrian in Ocala, FL. Just as Canada’s Francois Lamontagne had done the week before during the Ocala Jumping Classic, Vale won the $10,000 Blue Gate Farm Open Welcome on Thursday, April 7, as well as Saturday’s $25,000 Ocala Horse Properties, LLC Grand Prix during the Ocala International. Having...

Elizabeth Boyd & Brunello. (Flashpoint Photography.) Conyers, GA Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. The Classic Company has two weeks of horse showing not to be missed, with increased prize money, new classes and an array of special events. “We’ve taken many of our exhibitors’ suggestions and made them into reality for the Summer Classics. I believe they’ll be as excited as we are with the results," Bob Bell of Classic said. Hunter riders will take center stage during the...

Janne Rumbough. (Photo courtesy of JRPR.) Wellington, FL – Janne Rumbough and her PRE gelding JR proved to be an unstoppable team during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II CDI when the duo captured the Adult Amateur High Score of the show. The victories kept rolling in for Rumbough when her high score helped her win the Everglades Dressage Adult Amateur High Score Award, sponsored by Everglades Dressage and Bethany Peslar. Rumbough was presented with a beautiful embroidered saddle...

• Achieve Without Limits campaign honors and supports athletes; features ads, social media and events • Company to donate $1 for every Hartford Facebook page 'Like' to U.S. Paralympics* HARTFORD, CT - Building on its 16-year commitment to U.S. Paralympic athletes, today The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) launches Achieve Without Limits, a multi-year campaign that champions these athletes and their dedication to achieve. The campaign kickoff includes new television spots,...

Andre Thieme and Coco 135. (ESI Photography©.) OCALA, FL - On a perfectly beautiful afternoon at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, German show-jumping icon Andre Thieme riding Seth Vallhonrat's Coco 135 captured the victory in Sunday's $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to close out the Ocala Finals. Thieme's win marked the first time this season that a rider captured more than one victory in a Sunday Grand Prix, his first being aboard his own Cesar three weeks...

Flying Horse Photography©. (Lucy Davis and Nemo 119.) Thermal, CA — Lucy Davis, one of the youngest Grand Prix riders on the HITS winter circuit, captured her biggest win of the season when she won Saturday night’s $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119 to highlight Desert Circuit V at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Davis (Los Angeles, CA) got the best of the 26 starters that challenged International Course Designer Olaf...

Sandy Ferrell and Moshi. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is well into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The sun was shinning along with strong gusts of wind as the Green Conformation Hunters made their way into the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning. Sandy Ferrell was aboard the new entry from Stephanie Riggio, Moshi, for the championship...

The equine genetics research group at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is collaborating with Ray Geor, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor and chair of the department of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University, and Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee, to investigate the occurrence and genetics of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Bob Coleman, PhD, PAS,...

Lexington, KY - Who is the most beloved equestrian athlete in America? The clock is ticking. The buzzer sounds. Can you prove it? Actually, you can. All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation and you'll be able to "play favorites" in the nationwide fundraising effort "America's Favorite Equestrian." The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) jointly launched the charitable mobile texting game in celebration of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and...