Courtesy NRHA/Waltenberry (Todd Crawford on Matt Dillon Dun It) As the NRHA Futurity & North American Affiliate Championship Show continues, horses and riders showing in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals were officially received for the FEI general horse inspection on Wednesday, December 1. Traditionally, the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show has been the annual meeting ground for reining enthusiasts from all over the world. But this year is even more special. The first-ever $100,000...

Lexington, KY —Following in the footsteps of exemplary equestrians who have paved the way for decades, Kathy Kusner, Margaret Price, Alvin Topping and Edna Griswald Lytle are the newest recipients of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pegasus Medals of Honor. These Medals are given to individuals “who have exhibited outstanding service to horses and the sport and, who, through their dedication, have attracted people to the sport and contributed to horse sport by...

Simi Valley, CA —Making a name for herself among the top riders at the 2004 FEI Children’s International Jumping Final, Jennifer Stillman of Beverly Hills, CA, rode Masterpiece’s Montero (Bay Hanoverian gelding) to a second place finish at the Final competition November 28, giving champion Daniel Bluman of Columbia a real run for the title. "At first, my goal was just to go clean and when it came down to the final, I knew I had to go out there and I had to do good," says the...

Los Angeles, CA —As the 2004 season comes to a close, West Coast League riders step out of their saddles for a moment to reflect on five rounds of World Cup qualifiers that have determined their standings at the halfway mark. Separated by only a few points, Richard Spooner, Joie Gatlin and Gabriella Salick maintain an incredibly close race for the three World Cup slots afforded to the League. A tenth place finish atop Hilton Flight (Bay Irish Sport Horse gelding; Errigal...

The 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival opened today with the first rounds of the Open Division of the $150,000 National Horse Show Hunter Championship in the Internationale Arena. The next two rounds of Phase One will be contested December 1-2 to determine the top 12 that will move on to Phase Two, the final two rounds on December 4 that ultimately determine the National Horse Show Hunter Champion. A highlight of today’s hunter competition--Shachine Belle aboard In Disguise won the...

Kansas City, MO —Kelsey Nicole Smith, 17, of Delafield, Wisconsin, was crowned champion of the 2004 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Medal Finals, held November 20, as part of the UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Missouri. Riding Chimere (Chestnut American Saddlebred mare, Periaptor—RHR Fury’s Wild Flame), Smith topped the class of 31 entries in the two-phase competition that required both rail work and patterns in both...

Barbara Kearney's G.G. Valentine and two-time World Championship Hunter Rider Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, finished their show season as winners at the 2004 Syracuse Invitational Horse Show. Held at the OnStar Center in Syracuse, NY. for the second time, the best riders came to compete from throughout North America. Alfano and G.G. Valentine took home the Working Hunter Championship to cap off their extraordinary 2004 season. "G.G. was just super for me," stated Alfano, 36. "She is one of...

Todd Minikus of the United States flew to victory riding Flier in the $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix held Wednesday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, Canada. From the original starting field of 23 riders, only five advanced to the jump-off over the course set by Olympic master Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Minikus of Wellington, FL, was one of only two riders to post double-clear rounds in the jump-off, stopping the timers a full two seconds ahead of second-placed...

Lexington, KY --The nations’ best reiners will be coming to the heart of Kentucky in 2005, as a result of the combined efforts of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The USEF Open Reining Championship will be the headliner class at Fiesta in the Park—a new show that offers reining and hunter-jumper events, side by side in the Kentucky Horse Park. The show, slated for August...

As much as we love every facet of equestrian competition, we all know the costs can start to add up—especially when it comes time to take on the world in international competition. That’s why the Active Pony Drivers Committee is making it their mission to raise funds to help support the ponies and drivers going to the 2005 World Pony Driving Championships in Catton Park, England. “We want to do our part for fund-raising,” says Katie Whaley, who is heading up the project. “We’re really proud...