Bloomfield Ollie claimed the RDS Dublin Horse Show Supreme Hunter Championship. The gelding by Crosstown Dancer was bred by Daphne Tierney from County Wicklow, Ireland, and ridden by Jane Bradbury.

The chestnut horse began his string of successes at the recent event by winning the Goffs Country Property Hunter Championship, and then added the middleweight crown to his credentials.

When champions from all the weight divisions were called back into the arena, the judges first had to pick their four-year-old winner, and Bloomfield Ollie was called forward to pick up this accolade. His combined honors allowed Bloomfield Ollie to step into the top slot, taking the title of Supreme Hunter Champion.

Diminutive equines took center stage at the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships, held recently at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky.

Ponies compete in hunter and jumper divisions at the Pony Finals National Championships.

Championships in six hunter divisions (green and regular) were bestowed to ponies in three height categories: small (not to exceed 12.2 hands), medium (over 12.2 and not to exceed 13.2 hands) and large (over 13.2 and not to exceed 14.2 hands). In addition to hunters, pony jumpers vied for a national championship, and riders from across the country tested their riding skills in the EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals.

More information on the competition can be found on the USEF website.  

Ponies are notoriously easy keepers. Ever wonder how horsemen keep hunter ponies in top competition weight? Kentucky Equine Research (KER) went straight to the source. As part of a larger survey of feeding management practices of sport horses, KER nutritionists polled the owners and trainers of ponies to see exactly what they were being fed. The results of the survey are included in a paper titled "Feeding Horses at the Winter Equestrian Festival: A Review of Common Practices," featured in the proceedings of the 2010 KER Nutrition Conference, Feeding and Veterinary Management of the Sport Horse. 

The Kentucky Horse Park is the site of this year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. You can win tickets to this exciting international event by signing up for one of KER's free electronic newsletters. Enter to win now!

The growth of Braecrest Stables in Loretta, Ontario, from a rough piece of property to the beautiful facility it has become is a family affair. Hours of hard work from building fences to the construction of new barns and an arena has transformed Braecrest into a first-class training, boarding, and breeding facility.

At the heart of Braecrest Stables are the devotion and the knowledge of Claire Hunter. Hunter is the trainer, coach, and guiding force that clearly impresses those who seek out her abilities.
Hunter has a way of describing her equine philosophy that is equal parts knowledge and passion.

"Instilling the confidence, trust, and willingness in these animals is imperative for a successful future, whether it be in the show ring, or pleasure riding at home," she said. "When you create a relationship of mutual respect and understanding between horse and rider it results in reliable, safe, happy horse and a confident, successful rider."

Of course Claire's attention to detail extends to nutrition as well, where KER Team Member Brooks Performance Horse Feeds plays an integral role.

"At Braecrest Stables, we care for and train a huge variety of different breeds and ages of horses from foals to mature show horses. All have varied nutritional requirements and are therefore placed on individual feed programs. We chose Brooks Feeds because of the quality, consistency, and selection available. We can always depend on Brooks for our nutritional needs," remarked Claire.

"We have used these products extensively over the years: All Phase, Flax Appeal, Un- Ti, Phase II, Phase V, and Fit & Fibre. Not only are the feeds extremely palatable, the horses have never looked better. I'm proud to tell my clients that their future champions and equine partners are in very good hands with Brooks Feeds."

Castello, a bay Holsteiner gelding by Cassini I, owned by Roger Smith of Southern Pines, North Carolina and shown by Elizabeth Towell-Boyd, is currently ranked 2nd in the International Hunter Derby finals standings after besting the International Hunter Derby fields at the Aiken Spring Classic in 2008 and 2009 as well as the 2008 Atlanta Summer Classic. Randi Goulding, the Smith's farm manager, relies on Pennfield feed to keep Castello in top form.

Castello and Liza Boyd will get their chance to compete against approximately 60 of the best Hunter Derby contenders at the ASG Software Solutions USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY August 21-22, 2009. Live coverage of the event is available on the 2009 Derby Finals page on the USHJA website..

Small Hunter winner Leslie Webb and Kilpatrick Lord

Bluegrass Horse Feeds and KER would like to congratulate Richard Iggulden and Leslie Webb of Orchard Cottage Stables in County Down for a fabulous result at the 2008 Dublin Horse Show. This pair of virtuoso producers took the Supreme Championship for the third year in a row, with registered Irish Draft Darragh Classic Prince. Fed Bluegrass Cool 'N' Condition, Darragh Classic Prince was on top form at the biggest show in Ireland and took the honours in the Heavyweight Hunter class and the Irish Draft Mare or Gelding class. The seven-year-old bay gelding loved the limelight and shimmered in tip-top condition for his Supreme Championship winning performance.

Darragh Classic Prince was not the only success story for the Orchard Cottage team. Despite heavy rain reducing rings one and two to quagmires, Leslie Webb took the Small Hunter class on Yvonne Pearson's Kilpatrick Lord and went on to lead the parade of champions prior to the Aga Khan Cup event. Also in the ribbons was Corrilea's Imp, owned by Joanne Hepburn of Co. Kildare and ridden by Claire McMahon. The pair put in a foot perfect performance to take the Large Riding Horse Class.

Surpreme Champion Darrigh Classic Prince ridden by Richard Iggulden

The Bluegrass-fuelled success continued in other showing classes too, with Cappa Cochise taking the Reserve Champion position in the Irish Draft Stallion section for owner James Quinn from Galway. With expert help from Richard Iggulden and Leslie Webb, Catherine McDowell's Splash Out won their Coloured Horse class in fine style, as did Seamus O'Rourke's Red Ruby Man who went on to take the reserve in the coloured horse championship.

Paraic Kenny riding Another Razcal in the 128cm National Championship

In between rain showers, the show jumping went ahead amongst the roar of the crowds. Once again Bluegrass Horse Feeds had an important role to play as it is fed to Capt. Shane Carey's Mullentine Parscourt One, who showed amazing potential in the Four Year Old Finals. From the younger generation, Paraic Kenny rode his mother's Another Razcal to success in the 128cm National Championship, showing superb flair and skill as his pony raced around the tricky course.

The Dublin Horse Show successes prove that Bluegrass Horse Feeds produces excellent results, whether fed to speedy 128cm ponies or impressive Irish Draught stallions. Bluegrass Horse Feeds and KER are immensely proud to play such an important role in producing champion horses today and into the future.

Kentucky Equine Research congratulates Heritage Farm and rider Lillie Keenan on their recent domination of the USEF Pony Finals. Ten-year-old Lillie Keenan swept the pony hunter championships with Blackberry (small pony hunter), owned by Heritage Farm; Enchanted Forest (medium pony hunter), owned by Chansonette Farm; and Vanity Fair (large pony hunter), owned by Adrienne Sternlicht. Heritage Farm, Katonah, NY, participates in the KERx Wellness Program and includes the KERx Prescription Wellness Supplement as part of the farm's nutrition program.