Natalie Dean and Ceitasi topped a field of 71 entries to win the $37,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI3* on Friday, March 13, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
The 10th week of WEF competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), sponsored by Horseware Ireland, runs through March 15 and is recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as a CSI3*. Remaining highlights of the week include the $137,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3* on Saturday afternoon, and the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic on Sunday.

With 17 combinations returning for the jump-off in the CSI2* $36,600 Bruins Tour Challenge Friday night at Deeridge Farms, Stephen Moore (IRL) had time to watch some of his competition prior to entering the ring, and he came away with one conclusion: He’d need to pull out all the stops to win. He did just that, riding Team de Coquerie to the top of the final Sunset Challenge event of the 2020 Palm Beach Masters Series®.

“It wasn’t really part of the plan; this season [we had] a few hiccups. This wouldn’t normally be [Eristov’s] class. The [$300,000 CSI5* CP Palm Beach Masters Final on Sunday] would be his class, but with everything that’s [been] happening, I thought I should go out today and try to win,” Coyle said.Win they did over a competitive, 56-horse field, which saw 22 riders jump clear by the end of the afternoon. Maximizing Eristov’s impressive stride, Coyle pulled out all the stops, dashing through the timers on 67.27 seconds, just ahead of Ben Maher (GBR) and Explosion W on 68.63 seconds, and Coyle’s countryman, Billy Twomey and Lady Lou, on 69.62.

In compliance with the City of Fort Worth, The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) has postponed the upcoming NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Super Stakes due to the current situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Association’s second leg of the Triple Crown was scheduled for March 24 through April 18 in Fort Worth, Texas.  

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Oklahoma and the Lazy E Arena will make western sports history in May, when WCRA’s Stampede at The E - “Oklahoma’s Richest Rodeo” combines forces with the renowned Bullnanza.  The blockbuster western sports pairing will bring the Sooner State three days of edge-of-the-seat action from May 14-16 with more than $1.5 million up for grabs.

McLain Ward (USA) continued to ride his recent wave of success Thursday at Deeridge Farms, piloting the swift 11-year-old Westphalian gelding Catoki to the top of the $36,600 CSI5* Suncast Welcome Stake, part of the Palm Beach Open CSI5*/CSI2*.

Daniel Coyle (IRL) finished the 2019/2020 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League held at Live Oak International in Ocala, FL (USA) the same way he started it—with a victory.
After beginning the season with a win in Vancouver (CAN), Coyle rode Farrel to the top of the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala, besting an eight-horse jump-off. The duo crossed the timers of Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s (GER) shortened course in 37.05 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas finished second with a 37.37-second time, while Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Cristalline finished third in 37.96 seconds.

The house of Hermès has taken note of the French ministerial decree of 9 March 2020 prohibiting gatherings of more than 1,000 people. Consequently, the eleventh Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais, due to take place in Paris from 20 to 22 March 2020, is cancelled. In the context of the exceptional current public health situation, Hermès is obliged to cancel the Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais 2020.


Missy Jean Etheridge captures NCHA Eastern National Non-Pro championship
Missy Jean Etheridge, Corinth, Miss., scored 224 points riding Cutting Commander on Saturday, March 14, to win the 2019 NCHA Eastern National Non-Pro Finals. Colt Moore, Williston, Fla., showing Highbrow Nadine, claimed the reserve championship with 222 points, while Denise Seiz, Cedartown, Ga., placed third with 217.5 aboard Willie J Rey.
This was Missy Jean Etheridge’s thirty-fourth ride in an NCHA Eastern Nationals division finals and her second win. Her first win came in the 2004 NCHA Eastern Nationals $10,000 Amateur aboard Pepto Jack LTE $33,466, by Peptoboonsmal, following her 2003 reserve championship in the $2,000 Limited Rider Finals on Chloes My Aunt LTE $57,299, by SR Hallmarked. The NCHA earner of $396,242, Etheridge has also competed successfully in NCHA limited age events, including last year, when she showed Rey Too Purdy LTE $59,291, by Dual Smart Rey, to win The Non-Pro 5/6 Classic, and earlier this year when she won the Ike Hamilton Futurity Classic Non-Pro Intermediate with Metallic Royal Mate LTE $98,831, by Metallic Cat.

The XXVI edition of the Sunshine Tour hosted in Montenmedio, Spain, runs February 12 through March 23 and offers over € 1.300.000 prize money.

The CSI3* Gran Prix turned out to be an exciting competition on Sunday, March 8. The jump off just kept getting better and better and had the crowd on the edge of their seats cheering.This demanding class was sponsored by Caser Seguros and a good number of competitors got though to the jump off which was a long one that demanded forward riding.  “There were 15 of us through to the jump off, that’s enough!” said Holly Smith. “This type of course is great, not too short and complicated so you don’t have to set up the horses too much for each jump.”