Author Archives: Carley Sparks

Of the 132 classes and counting that Conor Swail (IRL) has won since 2015, Sunday’s Marshall & Sterling CSI4* Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) is one that...

Theo 160 isn't the top horse in Conor Swail’s string. He’s not even in the Irish rider's top three. But you wouldn't know it from the results the Holsteiner gelding...

“Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.”  Former U.K. prime minister Margaret Thatcher uttered those words. American show jumper Jeffrey Fields is putting them into...

Conor Swail logs a lot miles in the victory gallop. You don't get to be no. 6 in the world without making frequent trips to the winner's circle. But, as...

Gregory Wathelet’s upcoming Grand Prix mount Ace of Hearts has always shown the athleticism to be an international horse. Now he’s gaining the consistency. The 13 year old, former-dressage horse...

James Chawke’s Gamble spends most of his days in the paddock of the Calgary farm he calls home. But like a true snowbird, he’s making himself at comfortable in the desert...

“I haven't sped him that much," said Katie Laurie (AUS) of her top mount Django II. "He's normally such a big jumper or a bit slow and whenever I try...

Irishman Conor Swail has a new mount and a good problem. Casturano, previously campaigned by Canada's Samantha Buir, is a 10-year-old German Warmblood with a tendency to over jump—and consistently....

Ali Ramsay has never had a horse quite like 10-year-old Conrado 12. “He's my type. Like, if you think of [my top horse] Bonita [Vh Keizershof Z] and my horse...

"So Carmela's a little bit of a unique story…” shared Vanessa Mannix. The sensitive mare came into the Canadian rider’s string at the beginning of the pandemic and was an...

Theo 160 is a winner. At just 11 years of age, Conor Swail’s liver chestnut gelding has collected 34 podium finishes—half of them victories—and more in career earnings than most...

Most riders, upon entering the ring for a big class, will show their horse a tricky turn or a potentially spooky obstacle. Watch Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and you'll see him...

Katie Laurie (AUS) has ridden her fair share of hot-blooded, quirky horses. “I think it's just what I end up with,” she laughed. “I would love a lovely, quiet, [Grand...

Gamble has been on an unlucky streak this Desert Circuit, according to James Chawke (IRL). And by "unlucky," he means he's only won one class so far. The pair has...

“I was thinking that second is great, even the top five is great," said Elisa Broz of her plan going into the jump off for the $145,100 Premier Equestrian CSI3*...

You could call Ace of Hearts early career a series of unfortunate events. Discovered by a colleague at age five, the Estonian Sport Horse was training in dressage and had...

Cassio Rivetti (BRA) wasn’t planning to try and win the $5,000 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* Special Two Phase 1.40m with Nadale van Dorperheide at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) in...

Dot your I’s and cross your t’s is an idiom Ireland's Mark Kinsella takes to heart. “You must do your homework. Attention to detail is so important,” said the California-based...

"Caruso," according to Urban Dictionary, is the act of adding melodrama to everything you do. It's an accurate descriptor of Katie Laurie's Cera Caruso. The expressive 15-year-old Australian bred gelding, aka Elvis,...

Olivia Brown (USA) didn't have the chance to watch her jump-off competition in the $50,000 HorseFlight National Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park on Saturday night under the lights....