Kelly Farmer on Red Sky Laura Kraut: Going for Gold Again By Halie Greening Laura Kraut strode into the Show Manager’s Office with a smile on her face and some definite pep in her step, if she was nervous about the second Observation Event that would help determine the team for the 2012 Olympics, it didn’t show. Laura and Cedric, the brilliant grey 14 year-old gelding who are currently ranked 4th on the Olympic Show Jumping Team’s long list, will do their best to prove they should make the trip to London. Right off the bat Laura expressed her love for the sport asserting that the best part being a Grand Prix rider isn’t the fame or the tremendous places she gets to travel, “the best part is the horses.” The opportunity to be a part of one of the strongest duos in show jumping, and having a horse as extraordinary as Cedric is definitely something to be thankful for. As Laura signed her and her pal Cedric’s name on the Breyer model of Cedric, I enjoyed a great conversation with the 2008 Olympic U.S. Team gold medalist about her goals for the future for herself and some potential new rides. She is currently riding the 9 year-old KWPN Dutch Warmblood, Woodstock O as well as the striking Belmont. Although these horses have some very high standards to live up to, Devon Horse Show managers David Distler and Peter Doubleday concurred that these horses are both “really cool.” Hopefully their “coolness” carries through as Kraut has great faith that they will live up to her other superb rides.  If all goes well she plans to take them to The World Equestrian Games of 2014 in France, and the 2016 Olympic Games to take place in Rio de Janeiro .  Laura also has high hopes for her student Jessica Springsteen.

Thursday: Hunter Breeding: Spotlight on the Youngsters By Nichole Osborne Thursday morning began with Hunter Breeding. There was a plethora of yearlings, two year olds and three year olds present to contend for blue and championship ribbons. Arbor Day, owned by Brandon Gibson, was declared Best Yearling and Rappaport, owned by Sue and Chuck Grossman, finished in Reserve. The same pair, in the same order, was chosen as the Best Young Horses as well. Junior Johnson, with 15 total points accrued, won his way to the Leading Handler Award

Tuesday Night: Open Jumping Begins, Walton and Ward Prevail By Halie Greening As the first $7,500 Open Jumper class commenced, the sun shone down brightly on the challenging course of towering jumps Tuesday evening set up in the Dixon Oval.

Devon PA – May 30, 2012 – During Junior Weekend at the prestigious Devon Horse Show, young rider Abigail McArdle showcased her skills and earned top ribbons in both the equitation and the jumper rings. She placed in the top three during three of the equitation events with Apartico, and qualified for the jump-off during the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Classic aboard Cosma 20. Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 placed sixth in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Classic at the Devon Horse Show. (Photo by Rebecca Walton) The equitation classes were held at the beginning of the week, and McArdle kicked off the competition with a score of 89 in the WIHS Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase, which garnered the second place honors. She then went on to place third in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Classic, as well as the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search with Apartico.

Thorton, Ontario — Equestrian sport will benefit from a new facility as the Cornerstone hunter/jumper competitions make the highly-anticipated move to the Essa District Agriplex in Thorton, ON, this summer.

Wellington, FL (May 30, 2012) – Bon Orpheo, a beautiful bay Lusitano, rode away with the Interagro Lusitano High Score Award at the Gold Coast Dressage Association Finale.