Mollie Bailey

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 10

Maddie Schaefer has been a Pony Finals regular for as long as she can remember. Even though she’s only 11, this marked her fifth year competing at the event. This year, found the perfect way to commemorate the occasion: by winning the medium pony hunter championship aboard Hi Lite. Model winner Rafael, shown by Lili Hymowitz, earned the reserve title.

Schaefer rode Hi Lite to the top of the over fences class today to beat out 104 other ponies and earn the championship.

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 9

Someone else might have thought that Yasmin Rizvi drew the short end of the straw. Her mother, P.J. Rizvi, and sisters, Zayna and Farah Rizvi, travelled to London to watch P.J.’s dressage horse, Breaking Dawn, compete in the Olympic Games with Canadian Ashley Holtzer. But Yasmin made the most of staying stateside, riding Roxbury to the medium pony hunter championship at USEF Pony Finals.

Parker, Colo., July 21

Coming back in the jump off for the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix at Summer in the Rockies VI, Kristen VanderVeen wasn’t sure she’d be the one leading the victory gallop. She and Bull Run’s Zino Platinum had conquered Peter Holmes’ first round—but so had nine other competitors.

Parker, Colo., July 17

When Kelley Farmer comes to a hunter derby, she shows up ready to compete. Her horses are fit and well schooled, and she always has her game face on. But at the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Summer In The Rockies VI, things didn’t look that way at the start of the class.

The Chronicle of the Horse is celebrating its 75th birthday in 2012. For seven weeks we’ll bring you a decade-by-decade look at the history that has filled its pages since 1937.

In a July 29, 1988, commentary, editor John Strassburger took stock of the last eight years in horse sport, marveling at the expansion at the top levels of the sport:

The Chronicle of the Horse is celebrating its 75th birthday in 2012. For seven weeks we’ll bring you a decade-by-decade look at the history that has filled its pages since 1937.

Plenty of major changes swept through the equestrian community during the 1970s. In international competition, the U.S. Equestrian Team was a major international force, with show jumping, dressage and eventing squads sweeping the 1975 Pan American Games (Mexico City) gold medals, and all three teams earning medals over the course of the Olympic Games in Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976).

Devon Pa.—June 3

Some horses have favorite venues where they always seem to shine, places where something about the atmosphere, schedule or facility suit them perfectly. Lucky for Jennifer Alfano, Devon Horse Show always seems to be at the top of Jersey Boy’s list.

Devon, Pa.—May 29

Sometimes slow and steady really does win the race—even in the jumpers.

Halfway through the jump-off for the $2,500 NAL Pony Jumper Classic at the Devon Horse Show on May 27, no rider had found a clear go around the track. Riders were going for broke, finding snug turns and turning on the gas—but hitting rails in the process.

Small pony Humble died May 26 at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Pa. Humble was in a barn on the show grounds when he died.

Humble, a 9-year-old Welsh pony by Blue Rain, was owned by Amber Hill Farm. He'd competed the day before in the small pony hunter division.

Humble had been a regular competitor on the A circuit, finishing overall eighth at USEF Pony Finals (Ky.) in that division last year.

May 26—Devon, Pa.

Sure, Tori Colvin probably leads more jogs in the junior hunter ring at major competitions than any other rider. But the hunter ring isn’t her favorite place to be.

“I like jumpers best, then hunters and equitation,” said Colvin, 14.