It all came down to speed in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Eduardo Menezes and Cruschka who had the speed and rode to the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA – It was by all accounts a stellar kick-off to the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit Friday, as 38 horse and rider combinations tested themselves in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Crisp weather and a light drizzle did...

Tracy Fenney and MTM Timon have their sights set firmly on making an appearance in this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Championship Weekend in Saugerties, New York in September. They are off to a great start during winter qualifying after a win in today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Ocala. (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Tracy Fenney admits to having big plans for 2013, not the least of which include the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix....

Alise Oken and Teirra (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Twenty-one -year-old Alise Oken and Hi Hopes Farm, LLC's Teirra kicked off Friday's competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival with a win in the $2,500 RCG Farm High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed class in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Week three of the FTI WEF runs January 23-27. The week will feature the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge (FTI GCC),...

Samba and Jessica Ungerer (Anne Gittins Photography) Samba and Jessica Ungerer were awarded championship honors for the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunter division during week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ungerer and her eight-year-old German Warmblood gelding are trained by Robert Bielefield and Jeff Ayres. The pair won both over fences classes during day one of competition for the division and were second and fourth over fences before winning the under saddle...

Wellington, FL - Fifteen horse and rider combinations went to task Friday afternoon in the WDM Nürnberger Grand Prix, the first leg of the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by Wellington Classic Dressage. Earning the top spot on day one was Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC at the only North American stop in the World Dressage Masters Series presented by the Axel Johnson Group. The Swedish pair was awarded a score of 77.681% by the Ground Jury of Stephen Clarke, Isabel...

The Western Dressage world is abuzz with dressage talk. The hot topic of the moment seems to be progressive training, especially as it has to do with pyramids and scales. Pyramids are extremely stable structures that rely on strong, broad foundations and which rise to a point, a pinnacle if you will that represents a point of focus. Without the foundation, the pyramid loses strength. The intrinsic nature of the structure itself necessitates culmination in a point. The pyramid is the perfect...

Adrienne Lyle (Mary Cornelius) The Board of Directors of The Dressage Foundation announced that, for the first time, two recipients have been chosen to receive a $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize in the same year. Adrienne Lyle (ID) and her horse, Wizard, along with Sharon McCusker (MA) and her horse, Wrigley, were selected because they display the characteristics and qualities of being talented, committed, qualified riders whose plans are to reach and excel at the elite,...

Lisa Wilcox and Pikko Del Cerro HU (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Lisa Wilcox and Pikko Del Cerro HU scored double wins at the Wellington Classic Dressage Sunshine Challenge CDI3* with victories Friday in the Grand Prix Special and Thursday in the Grand Prix. Pikko Del Cerro HU, a 16.2 dark bay Hanoverian stallion owned by Horses Unlimited and Anne Sparks, scored 68.854% in Friday's FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* USEF HP $1,000 sponsored by Palm Beach Equine and Sports Complex. The pair...

What is the next frontier in the equestrian world? According to Dr. Jim Warson, Equestrian Medicine Specialist and author of The Rider’s Pain Free Back , “its rider health and development. The horses are as good as they are going to be in our lifetimes, so this is where the action is. Rider health and conditioning make us worthy of the horses that we spend so much time and money on”. Dr. Jim Warson with his beautiful horse, Gallahad Golden Warrior, “Trigger” Dr....

Janne Rumbough and Junior (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began this week with the National Opener Show on January 22-23. Dressage riders from all levels turned out to compete and get experience in the main Global Arena. The judge for the show was Margaret Freeman. The AGDF continues next week with the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. on January 31 - February 3, which kicks off the international dressage season at the...