Hawke’s Bay teenager Rebecca Porter notched her first ever pony grand prix win yesterday at the Wellington Horowhenua Showjumping Championships in Foxton. Riding the perennial Chobidong, Porter headed off 15 other combinations. Five went through to the jump-off where the very consistent Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) and Hopeful Illusion were first out, going clear in 40.93. Next out was Porter who rode the round of her life to go clear in 40.27. The next three chased hard but paid for their efforts with a rail a piece. In the horse grand prix Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Daffodil set a scorching pace as the first of five combinations into the jump-off. They flew home clear in 34.01 over the Heather McDonald designed course. ...

Patrik Kittel headed up a Swedish one-two in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 series in Stockholm, Sweden today. But it was a close-fought affair as the 35-year-old rider and his 11 year old gelding, Toy Story, only pipped Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello by 0.1 of a percentage point, while Germany’s Isabell Werth (Warum Nicht FRH) and Helen Langehanenberg (Responsible) had to settle for third and fourth places respectively. ...

Triple FEI World Cup™ Driving Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) is the uncontested winner of the third FEI World Cup™ Driving competition of the season in Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Exell drove two fluent clear rounds and finished well ahead of wild card driver Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and IJsbrand Chardon (NED). ...

The Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi held at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort saw two battles unfold for supremacy. The Grand Prix alone had a purse of 400,000 euros that the top world riders were aiming for. The class also provided the showdown for the 2011 series title. The 2011 title challenge had come down to just two riders Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander and German Ludger Beerbaum. ...

The Morning Show were there at Polo in the City last Saturday in Sydney. They're now hooked on the fabulousness that is polo... Enjoy! ...

Claire Seidl of Tennyson Stud was not surprised when Belcam Altina (aka Sierra), a mare that she was foaling down for client and friend Lynne Rydge, decided to give birth in the early hours of 8 November, however she was surprised when instead of one foal she was presented with two! ...

This year’s Saddleworld Dressage Festival sees the return of the “Education Day” on Sunday December 11. The Education Day format consists of a series of 30 minute seminars on a range of different topics relating to performance horses. “We wanted to give spectators and competitors some extra value at the Festival this year, the seminars will be both educational and entertaining, with something for everyone on offer” says Event Director, Bryony Giusti. ...

New Zealand Dressage is riding a high with more international success, this time in the FEI World Dressage Challenge after a nail-biting finish at Taupo late Tuesday. New Zealand, comprising Anna McIntyre (Tauranga) on Cavort, Victoria Wall (Albany) on Astek Gymnast, Susan Tomlin (Palmerston North) Giusto MH and Abbie Deken (Taranaki) on KH Ambrose, won the zone 9 teams competition, heading off determined challenges from China, Chinese Taipei, the Phillipines and Hong Kong, and made a clean sweep of all seven sections. ...

With under a week to go to the Global Champions Tour final round in Abu Dhabi (24 - 26 November), excitement is at fever pitch and speculation is rife about whether Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander (pictured) or German Ludger Beerbaum will win this years series. For Edwina sits with 238 ranking points and Ludger with 218.50 points, isolating themselves from the rest of the field. ...

The Qld Working Cow Horse Club (QWCHC) held a two day event on the 19-20 November at the Caboolture Indoor arena. Saturday featured a two handed snaffle bit cutting competition, followed by a wild card team penning event and all the fun of NBHA Barrel Racing at night. Open and Junior Team Penning was held on the Sunday with some fast times recorded....