The clock is ticking down for the start of the second annual The Chronicle of the Horse /USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, which will be held at the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, August 20-21. The Hunter Derby is rooted in tradition and all trainers, owners, and spectators are encouraged to make August 21 a “Black Tie Affair” and wear formal or evening attire. A full schedule of Derby events is available on the Derby website. The two days of competition will feature the...

Photo by Brooke Jacobs (: Members of the 2010 Three- and Five-gaited US Saddle Seat World Cup teams at historic Spindletop Hall.) The U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup hosted a benefit dinner on Sunday evening, July 4, at the beautiful and historic Spindletop Hall in Lexington, KY. The 2010 Gold Medal Gala featured cocktails, dinner and both live and silent auctions. Auction items included stallion breedings, barn visits, rides on very special horses, vacation packages, tack and equipment,...

Are you tempted to cut your grass, then rake it into soft, fragrant, tasty piles of clippings for your horse to nibble? According to equine nutrition expert Dr. Juliet Getty, this should be the last thing you encourage your horse to eat. It has to do with that extra step: raking. Grass clippings that stay on the pasture after mowing, where they can dry in small amounts, are generally not a problem. But never gather them into piles to feed them to your horse. It’s partly because clippings are...

Photo by Flashpoint Photography (Jennifer Ramsey and Cielo B captured the $7,500 Open Jumper Classics. ) Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, SC, welcomed exhibitors to something truly special in horse showing. The Charleston Summer Classics, a Boutique Horse Show produced by The Classic Company, began its two-week run by offering lots of Southern Charms. Returning to the historical Low Country area for a second year, Bob Bell, Chairman of the Summer Classic continued the rebuilding...

Photo by ESI Photography (Sue Lyman and The Lion's Share) Sue Lyman rode The Lion's Share to a roaring victory in Saturday night's $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby to highlight the Cavalier Classic for hunter riders at HITS Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper, VA. Lyman and The Lion's Share used a score of 85 in the first round to put them in the hunt for the blue ribbon when the top 12 horse-and-rider combinations returned for a handy round on a course set by Rian Beals. At the conclusion of the first...

Photo by David Mullinix (Hillary Dobbs and Marengo.) Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, and Marengo won the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by The Equinox Resort, on Sunday, July 18, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Dobbs are Marengo are no strangers to the winner’s circle at the Vermont Summer Festival, having won two grand prix events in 2009. This year, the pair faced off against 23 other challengers. In the first round, a total of four horse-rider combinations were able...

"What a mare, huh?" said Penny Brennon of her winning mount in the $5,000 Speed Derby. The mare in question is Cowgirl, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood that owner Debi Connor imported from Holland several years ago. With Brennon in the irons, Cowgirl won the $5,000 Speed Derby during the Rocky Mountain Classic (July 14-18, 2010) at the Colorado Horse Park. It was the second week in a row the pair topped the Speed Derby. "This is an amazing horse," Brennon said. "I didn't think we could have a...

Photo by Marc Manning (The combined driving trophy and medal for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games) The beauty of the horse and the spirit of the Bluegrass will be showcased in the unveiling of the trophies and medals to be presented to the world champions of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Lexington-based luxury gift store and fine trophy provider, L.V. Harkness & Co., has worked intimately with Moser Crystal of the Czech Republic to create Team and Individual trophies and...

Photo by Jennifer Singleton (One of the driving marathon elements for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.) Richard Nicoll, driving course designer for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), was recently on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park for several days to work with the course builder, meet with various decorators, and generally check on the progress of the marathon obstacles. According to Nicoll, construction is now about 95% percent complete on the marathon...

The hillside overlooking the beautiful Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park was packed with spectators on Sunday afternoon as Traverse City saw some of the country's top horses and riders compete in a $30,000 Show Jumping Grand Prix. After two exciting rounds of competition, Kim Farlinger of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, earned top prize with her athletic dark bay gelding Cordoba. The class featured a track set by renowned course designer Pierre Jolicoeur, and featured 17 horse-and-rider...