Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 have often been among the top finishers during the first two weeks of the HITS Desert Circuit. Yesterday, however, they were the ones to beat in the $33,000 HITS Desert Classic, presented by Zoetis. It came down to speed as Bond and Cadett topped a 14-horse jump-off. (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - The Grand Prix Ring at HITS Thermal was set with 15 jumping efforts for 42 horses Thursday, and the outcome came down to fractions of a second. In an electrifying...

McLain Ward and Zander (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Zander in the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. The duo won over Great Britain's Ben Maher riding Quiet Easy 4 and Peter Wylde (USA) aboard Lewin 5. Week five of the FTI WEF circuit, sponsored by Adequan®, runs February 6-10. The week will feature the the $82,000 Adequan® CSI 2*...

Liza Boyd and Fieona (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Liza Boyd of Camden, SC, started her season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with big wins in the Gold Coast High Performance Working Hunter Division. Boyd was champion with Jack Towell and Kelly Maloney's Fieona and also took home reserve honors on Janet Peterson and Finally Farm's Quatrain. Boyd and Fieona, a nine-year-old Oldenberg mare, placed third under saddle and first in both over fences...

Lexington, KY - The Search Committee formed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to assist in hiring the next Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Dressage Team has approved the job description for the position. The Search Committee is composed of: Eric Straus, Chairman Janet Foy Catherine Haddad-Staller Susan Dutta Anne Kursinski David O’Connor The job description can be found at https://www.usef....

Peter Wylde and Zidane (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The fifth week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began on Wednesday, February 6, with a win for Peter Wylde and Zidane in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. The pair also topped the class during week three and Wylde hopes to continue their success in the Rolex FEI World ranking classes coming up in the remaining weeks. Week five of the FTI WEF circuit, sponsored by Adequan®, will run...

Georgia freshman Leylan Gleeson earned Equitation over Fences MOP Honors during the Bulldogs win over South Carolina. That win helped propel Georgia to the No.1 Ranking (Lauren Shamon) The first NCEA Coaches Poll of the spring season was released Wednesday and, as predicated , there was quite a shake up at the top. The Georgia Bulldogs have jumped Auburn University to reclaim the No.1 Ranking, and Oklahoma State has broken the SEC’s stronghold on the top three spots. The Cowgirls...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

Caitlin Silliman riding Catch A Star in a jumping lesson at the Florida session (USEF Archives). Lexington, KY - The USEF Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor conducted the first two training sessions of 2013 for the redesigned USEF Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program. The first session took place January 21-24 at Flying Tail Farms at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, CA for West Coast riders, followed by the second session on January 27-February 1 at Meredyth South in Ocala, FL. The sessions...

Lexington, KY - The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Shannondale Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. A diverse group of young dressage horses, representing a multitude of breeds and varied levels of experience, were selected for the training session with USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler. Scott Hassler instructs Sandie Gaines-Beddard and Flairance (Chris Hutchings) Hassler commented, “We had another very successful training session...

(Tammy Hardy Photography) Gloucester, MA - New England's most prestigious international equestrian show jumping event, The Jumper Classic®, Presented by Audi of America, returns to its roots this summer. This five-day show will be held once again on Boston's North Shore, at the 100acre estate known as Maplecroft Farm in Ipswich, Massachusetts from July 10-14, 2013. Established in 1989 in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, the event was held on the North Shore in both South Hamilton and...