McLain Ward and Antares F. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 10, 2011 - The fifth round of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was held on Thursday afternoon at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Grant Road Partners' Antares F. The pair was the fastest of three clear jump-off rounds in the class to win over 64 starters. Today's $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup grand prix was held over a course designed by Alan Wade of Co. Tipperary,...

Patricia Griffith and Sway. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL February 10, 2011 - Week 5 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is off to a busy start in the hunter rings. Hunter horses and riders were in full swing as they aim to qualify for the 2011 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular during week 6. Among the hunter divisions that hosted horses and riders this week vying for division championship honors were the Pre-Green 3' Hunters. Patricia...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is seeking an individual to fill the position of Endurance Chef d'Equipe. The successful candidate will be provided with a contract for the 2011-2014 quadrennial and possibly longer. A Search Committee has been appointed: James Wolf - Executive Director, Sports Programs Joseph Mattingley - Endurance High Performance Committee chair Tony Benedetti - Endurance High Performance Committee member Kathy Brunjes - Endurance High...

Attention Dressage Show Managers: Please discard any and all score sheets for all FEI freestyles and Young Horse tests downloaded before 2011. Although the dates on the bottom of the score sheets have not been updated, the FEI has posted revised score sheets for all FEI freestyles and Young Horse tests. The calculation of errors has changed based on new FEI rules, and these changes are reflected on the new score sheets. Please contact Jeannie Putney at [email protected] with questions. ENDS

Elani Rager and Castor in $25,000 HITS Grand Prix. (Brent Ericsen Photography©. ) Tucson, AZ - February 9, 2011 - Competition at the 2011 HITS Arizona Winter Circuit kicked off last week at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, AZ, with the first of six weeks of A-rated horse shows. Highlighting the week for High-Performance riders at the Sundance Welcome was Sunday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, which was won by Elani Rager of Corrales, NM, and Lisa Upplegger’s...

Waltenberry/USEF (Team Medalists at the 2010 SmartPak Young Rider Reining Championships) Lexington, KY - For the first time the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) will add a Junior Championship in the sport of Reining in 2011. Reining joins the Dressage, Eventing and Jumping disciplines in hosting International FEI championships for Juniors and Young Riders. The three Olympic Equestrian Disciplines were expanded to officially...

Ben Maher and Oscar. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - February 9, 2011 - Ben Maher (GBR) scored a win this morning in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers on the opening day of week 5 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Maher and Oscar put down a winning time of 60.806 seconds for the win over Peter Wylde (USA) on Lipton De L'Othain (62.987 seconds) and McLain Ward (USA) on Domino (64.050 seconds). The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's fifth week of competition continues through Sunday,...

Jacobs and Leap of Joy. (Photo The Book LLC©.) Wellington, FL and East Aurora, NY - February 9, 2011 - Charlie Jacobs rode his mount Leap of Joy to two blues and the weekend's championship tricolor during in the fourth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The duo won both classes during the High Amateur-Owners, completing four clear efforts over the technical track. Over the 12 weeks of the circuit, Jacobs chooses to show for six weeks....

Jumping Two familiar names jumped to the top of the $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health which served as the first of four FEI World Cup Qualifiers at Thermal in California. Rolex/FEI World Cup veterans (they were second in 2008), Rich Fellers and Flexible got back to business and won narrowly over Richard Spooner and Cristallo. Amateur Rider Karl Cook and Uno de Laubry were third. These three combinations were the only short course clears out of the field of 27 -...

Lexington, KY – February 9, 2011 – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) have announced that the Kentucky Reining Cup, which includes international Reining and the first-ever World Championship Freestyle, will be held in addition to this year’s event at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 28-May 1. One of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and the only CCI**** in...