Sara Ketcham and Annismindes Caesar float over a fence in the junior jumpers. Caesar is a 10 year-old Danish Warmblood by Caletto. The pair are based out of North Carolina.

Posted in Show Shots

It's off to the jumper ring this time around...

Unica Van De Roshoeve and Angela Covert-Lawrence competing in the CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby. Love the blue jacket and the gray horse. Such a nice color combination.

Pablo Barrios is all smiles... he'd just won the 30k WEF Challenge Cup/Week VI!

Another winner: Santo's Utopia & David Arcand, he won the Young Rider's Grand Prix, a class offered to riders 16-21 years of age. Santo's Utopia is an 11 year-old Dutch Warmblood that Arcand has brought along over the last five years.

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

For those of us with a strong affinity for the "pony horse" and pretty hunters, then here's a droolworthy example. This lovely mare is Star Quest's Serenade owned by Deborah Brenner. She is ridden by Amy Momrow in the green conformation hunters. Gorgeous!

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

There's nothing like winning a championship at a horse show. It's a fabulous feeling. The Winter Equestrian Festival does a wonderful job honoring their champions each week. There's hardly a more jolly time on the showgrounds than the Parade of Champions, as evidenced by the following Show Shots:

Texting out about the good news, no doubt!

This wasn't actually from the Parade of Champions, but since we're on the topic... pro Leslie Howard proves the thrill of a victory never gets old, as she flashes a bright smile and a wave after her victory in the $25,000 1.5m class last week.

If anyone knows the identities of the champions above... feel free to email them to us. Thanks!

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

Nick Skelton and his gorgeous gray jumper Carlo 273 prevailed in the $75k Adequan Grand Prix at WEF on Sunday.

Skelton gets a handshake from second place finisher Pablo Barrios.

Carlo 273 is a 9 year-old Holsteiner gelding by Contender. Skelton on Carlo:

“He’s really nervous with horses coming towards him. He turns and runs the other way. He watches everything. He’ll see a dog move, a child walking, or a golf cart go by, but when he goes through the start, he’s a totally different horse. He lives on his nerves, but that’s probably what makes him so good. This horse could be a very serious good horse."

“I think he’s an exceptional horse. He’s very, very talented. He’s fantastically careful. He has all the scope, and he’s good to ride.”

“It’s probably as quick as I’ve asked him to go. I’ve taken a long time with him. (In the past two years), I didn’t really speed him, never tried to win a class with him. Next week he’ll do the 1.40m quietly, training a little bit, then go in the grand prix. When they’re young, you’ve got to go up and down with them.”

“You can’t put the gun to their head every day, or else they won’t make 12 years old. Those horses are difficult to find, so when you have a good one, you have to look after them.”

For complete article, visit EquestianSport.com news.

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

Last fall saw some strong performances from several male equitation riders. Theo Boris won the USET West, Matt Metell won the USET East, and Chase Boggio won the North American Eq Championship, and was reserve champion in the Washington Final. Here are two young men perhaps hoping to follow with successes of their own:

Shawn Casady of Tennessee

Kalvin Dobbs of Indiana.

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

Kelsey Thatcher aboard Mirasol in the small junior hunters. Mirasol is a nine year-old 15.3 hand Warmblood gelding.

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

Here's a sequence of pics that'll make you laugh:

It was apparently a looong show day for Alexandra Cheng's equitation horse Galileo, who looked ready for a nap while taking a few extended yawns!

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots ,

2009 North American Equitation Champion: Chase Boggio on Graphiq (pictured on Saturday)

Another day of excellent competition is in the books. Three big winners emerged:

Chase Boggio won the North American Equitation (we were very pleased with that, as he was one of our favorites based on his #2 ranking on the 2009 Bigeq.com Eq Index). He rode just beautifully and his horse Graphiq went around very smoothly with a lovely rhythm. He completely dominated, winning by more than 6 points. Not even a rideoff this year. Reserve went to Laura King and we hear there's not a nicer young woman on the circuit. Congrats!

Sylvia DeToledo won the THIS National Children's Medal Final. People probably don't realize how difficult it is to qualify for these finals, it's unbelievably competitive and a real grind all year to accumulate the points to attend the finals. So each of those kids walking into the ring has already accomplished something impressive. Nonetheless, Sylvia emerged as the champion on Lion King, who is like the "Grappa" of 3' equitation. He's won the children's medal three times now, with sisters Lindsey and Kristen Mohr (they own him) and now Sylvia. He also won the Ariat Adult Final in '07 with Lindsey. He's a star, and Sylvia rode him to perfection. Props to reserve champion Sydney Calloway, she also rode brilliantly. The final result was very, very close and very well ridden.

Charlene Graham won the North American Adult Equitation title. She epitomized the classic "hunter" in hunter seat equitation, riding two lovely flowing courses on her pretty bay mare "Only You." Charlene was a delighted winner, which was nice to see. Reserve went to Melissa Feller, who was also the 2008 reserve champion in the Ariat Adult Medal Final. She rode her courses in a wonderful forward pace which was nice to watch.

The Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by us -- Bigeq.com!!! -- has come to a close. Congratulations to all the horses and riders for a great weekend of competition.

For those who were unable to attend or watch online at EquestrianSport.tv. We taped the rounds of the winners. They're on YouTube. Click the links below. Enjoy!

Chase Boggio & Graphiq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb1ROHb_gmg

Sylvia DeToledo & Lion King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHuwLE3pKxs

Charlene Graham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0_RqHYf-GY

Posted in Awesome Amateurs Bigeq , Cool Clips , Show Shots ,

Sights and scenes from day one of the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend... Cayla Richards wins the North American Flat Equitation Championship and the 15 year-old equitation division championship... Jessica Springsteen wins the 16 year-old division, riding two horses, Papillion 136 and a striking gray, Class Action... Morgan Hale (17), Caroline Spogli (13-14), and Sydney Callaway (12&u) win their age divisions. Amber Henter rides to two reserves, in the 16-year old division and in the North American Flat Equitation Championship. So many really lovely horses to watch. Helped with a lot of the awards presentations - lots of gracious and polite winners, tall horses (trying to get those ribbons on the bridle - ladder needed) and general good times. Excited for tomorrow!

View from the sponsor lounge.

2009 Capital Challenge Horse Show

Diederique Vander Knaap, youngest rider in the top ten of the NA Flat Equitation Championship - at 12!!! Wow.

Cute & Cute

Jessica Springsteen collects another blue.

Ribbons are pretty.

One of the courses.

Taylor Ann Adams in action.

Hannah Von Heidegger is all smiles after a win. She finished as reserve champion of the 12/u division.

Posted in Bigeq Show Shots , The Art of Showing ,