Q (Shawn McMillan Photography) Katy, Texas. - Usually, the professional tunes up the horse before the amateur takes over the reins on the first day of a horse show, but Tuesday it was the opposite for Susan Baker's Q. Instead, Baker guided the elegant bay to top honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter section before trainer Peter Pletcher took his turn on Q in the First Year Green section. "Well, you know how horse showing goes!" said Baker laughing. "So, I was like, 'OK let’s do it....

Andre Thieme and Contanga 3 soar to a win in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, Fla. - After a commanding performance under the lights of the all-new Ocala Horse Properties Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd, Andre Thieme of Plau am See, Germany planned a trip home to Europe $350,000 richer. Thieme claimed his first million-dollar victory in 2011 and returned to familiar territory Monday night to take the blue in the debut of the Great American $1...

University of South Carolina star junior Katherine Schmidt was named a 1st team All American in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over Fences. Waco, Texas. - The National Collegiate Equestrian Association has selected its 2013-14 All-America class, it was announced Tuesday. The NCEA also announced its Second-Team All-America class and the All-America Honorable Mention squad. The NCEA National Championship will take place April 17-19 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas. It marks the...

Brian Hafner & Lombardo LHF earn another win in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Capistrano Dressage International CDI-W. (Terri Miller) San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - California's Brian Hafner has developed an impressive resume of dressage success in the Young Rider, Brentina Cup, and Grand Prix divisions with his long-time partner Lombardo LHF, including a win in last month's Grand Prix Freestyle at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W in Burbank, Cal. On the final day of California...

Waco, Texas. - The seeding has been determined for the upcoming Independent Championship, featuring four NCEA teams that compete as independents in the sport of equestrian and taking place this Friday and Saturday at Brookings, S.D., the NCEA Selection Committee announced Monday. Fresno State, the nation’s eighth-ranked team, will be the top seed for this weekend’s event. UT-Martin, which has been a part of the NCEA top-10 rankings this season, is the second-seeded team. Delaware...

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter made a steady, if unexpected, climb to the top of the leaderboard at the Carolina International CIC3* and Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. Little and “Demi” (Rubin-Royal/Patricia) weren’t the pair to beat until they clocked one of only two double-clear rounds on Hugh Lochore’s cross-country course, where time was of the essence. “I planned to start the course on both horses [including RF Smoke on the Water] as if I was going for...

Michelle Reilly and Umeeko celebrate their first CDI win in the Grand Prix Special at the Capistrano Dressage International CDI-W with judge Lorraine Macdonald (4* CAN) as well as David Wilson, Alisa Wilson, and Glenda McElroy of California Dreaming Productions. (Terri Miller) Burbank, Calif. - It was a day of "firsts" as new faces earned CDI victories in front of an enthusiastic and sold-out VIP crowd on the second day of competition at California Dreaming Productions' Capistrano Dressage...

Parker & Texas Checkmate (Tricia Booker Photography) Katy, Texas. - Paige Parker, of Baylor University, rose to the top of the Collegiate Invitational today with three consistent performances on three different horses. The Invitational was one of the featured events of the concluding day of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show I. The event, presented by Max Bowl and the Boatright, Dougherty and Roberts families, brought eight student athletes together for head-to-head competition on catch rides....

Catherine Passmore and Z Canta. (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - Poise, precision and power landed Catherine Pasmore of White Hall, VA and Pasmore Stables, LLC’s Z Canta at the top of the John Deere stadium leader board in the $33,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Winning Round on the final day of competition at the 2014 Live Oak International in Ocala, FL. Pasmore topped a field of 32 contenders including U.S. Olympic veteran ‘Leapin’ Leslie’ Howard, of Darien, CT, whose fault-free...

Alexander Zetterman and Flecu (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - Week eleven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, concluded on Sunday with jumper action on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Sweden's Alexander Zetterman and Flecu topped the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final. Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, was the winner of the series overall. Great...