Meredith Darst with Won Up and Mapleside Magic Dancer (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - It is the last day of action for week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which means that numerous championships were awarded throughout the day. One place where there was a particularly large amount of awards being given out was Pony Land. Rings 11 and 12 were packed with children and their ponies and family members. Competition was fierce as they vied for some last minute points in their...

Mario Deslauriers and Cella. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL Week 11 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with a victory for Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Cella in the $30,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale. Deslauriers and Cella, owned by Jane F. Clark, were the only pair to master the course with double clear rounds for the win. Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week and concluded the...

Ocala, FL - Joe Yoder driving Jack Wetzel’s pair of Gelderlanders won his first USEF National Pair Championship Sunday at the CAI Live Oak. After finishing second in dressage and winning the marathon, Yoder went into the final Cones phase with a 15-point lead over Katherin Dancer. Three balls down incurred 12 penalties for the young man who just recently relocated from Bozeman, Montana, to Aiken, SC, to drive for Wetzel. Yoder squeaked in just under the 3 minute time allowed to secure his win....

Greystone's Adirondack A'Herne, also known as "Harry. (Martha Stewart Show) New York City – Former United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) member and breeder Cindy Fletcher is the proud owner of Greystone's Adirondack A'Herne, also known as "Harry," an 18-year-old bay Connemara stallion who appeared this month on stage at the “Martha Stewart Show.” Previous to his Martha Stewart stardom, Harry has made his mark in the show ring, winning more than 50 champion or reserve champion driving...

Rudi Kronsteiner and Finest Copyshot. (Photo courtesy NRHA.) Kreuth, Germany – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show started in Kreuth, Germany today with the first section of the $187,000 added Open Futurity go round. A total of 81 four-year-old reining horses from all over Europe were shown in Ostbayernhalle to kick off the first day of the weeklong show. Austrian Rudi Kronsteiner, 2010 NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Champion, had the best run...

Laura Kraut and Cedric (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric race to victory in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* during week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Kraut and Cedric won two grand prix classes in a row earlier in the circuit with victories in the $78,000...

The festival atmosphere started early as tailgaters prepared to welcome their expected guests. Tents were raised, tables set with colorful clothes topped with trays and baskets of food, coolers were filled with ice and beverages to keep everyone hydrated and happy during the warm day. With thousands of spectators expected, many arrived early to ensure a seat with a good view of the 80 some competitors who would fly though the obstacles. Volunteers took their places to wait patiently for the...

Lexington, KY - The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced the schedule for the 2011 ASHA Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge. The events currently scheduled for 2011 range from March to November, and are set to be held at various shows across the country. The ASHA Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge, funded by Elisabeth Goth, was developed to promote the American Saddlebred driving divisions among junior exhibitors. Competitors 17 years of age and under are adding driving to...

Ocala, FL - On the second day of dressage at the CAI-A Live Oak, Boots Wright of Ocala, FL, was awarded the best dressage score in the Intermediate division. Wright drove Mista Q and Marko, German riding ponies, gaining a decisive 17-point lead over second-place Sherri Dolan with her Shetland ponies, Smoke and Mirrors. Sybil Humphreys, driving her Section C Welsh pony, Cefnanokpark Bouncer, will go into Saturday’s marathon leading the 12-competitor Intermediate Single Pony class. Her score of...

Kent Farrington and Top Gun. (ESI Photography© . ) Ocala, FL - The 30th Anniversary of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit could go down as the most memorable one ever. The eight-week Circuit was blessed with beautiful weather, stellar competition and record-breaking entries in both the Grand Prix and Devoucoux Hunter Prix, proving that qualifying for this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final has captured the hearts and minds of equestrians from...