It is with great sadness that the British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage announce the untimely passing of para-equestrian dressage rider Joanne Pitt. A World Class Performance rider, Jo, 34, has represented Great Britain up to Paralympic level and was a regular Grade II national and international competitor with notable success. With her long term partner Estralita, owned by her parents Robert and Hazel Pitt, she claimed the Grade II title at British Dressage’s winter championships less than a month ago. Jo, who was being treated for a very rare lung condition, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, died peacefully on Thursday (02 May) afternoon with her family beside her.

In 1975 Judy Yancey was a “dreamy eyed kid” who wanted a different kind of horse. She saw a small ad in the Chronicle of the Horse for a Trakehner Stallion for sale, imported from Germany, who was up in Canada.  With her father’s help, she went to the library to research Trakehnen, an East Prussian region from which the breed takes its name. Yancey bought the stallion Beaute', and brought one of the first warmbloods west of the Mississippi when she was located in Texas, which began her odyssey as one of the first and foremost breeders in America of German Sporthorses. Christophe Hinkel, breeding manager at the renowned Performance Sales International, Germany, home of the majority of the worlds’ top breeding stallions, has this to say about Judy Yancey. "At PSI we have had a long and successful relationship working with Yancey Farms. Judy Yancey understands the importance of the quality services required for assuring the best results when using imported semen for mares. We are proud of our relationship with Yancey Farms and contributing to the breeding programs in America." Yancey Farms, in Ocala, Florida is one of the pioneers in the American Sporthorse breeding Industry. While she likes to consider herself as “flying under the radar” Yancey is the first and foremost broker of imported semen for top stallions, which she has listed on her website. Her magic touch for getting mares in foal have made her the “go to girl” for aspiring and established breeders in the USA.

Wellington, FL – She's been called the 'fashionista' of the dressage ring and eq-forum boards lit up with stylish approval when Mary-Cameron Rollins sported a medium dark grey shadbelly with pale pink accents while riding her elegant black mare Rose Noir 2 to third place in last year's Brentina Cup. But great style isn't just a hobby, it's her signature as she prepares to graduate in June from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a degree in Retail Management and Merchandising. No less than longtime New Jersey equestrian beat reporter, Nancy Jaffer, also mentioned her stand-out style at the 2012 Dressage Festival of Champions: “Mary was wearing a stunning pinstriped gray shadbelly with pink collar and vest points, to match her post-ride pink baseball cap with ShowChic written in rhinestones. ShowChic is where she got the outfit, and Mary isn’t alone in stylish turnout as dressage goes beyond black and a little bling on spurs. Colors have become a big deal. Having ShowChic as a mentor has been great preparation for gaining experience towards my career. I had a blast on the buying trips,” Rollins confesses with a shopinista's grin.

When American Dressage rider, trainer and breeder Elisabeth Austin won the prestigious Anne Barlow Ramsay Grant in 2011 she knew exactly how she wanted to use the $25,000. The grant established by Dr. Ramsay was established in 2008 to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by United States citizens, by providing funds to train and compete in Europe.  Austin whose American bred Grand Prix Stallion Olivier (by Idocus) born and raised in Vermont on her mother’s Madeline Austin) farm Imajica, was the ideal candidate. “I chose to work with Carl Hester in England because I really respect his riding style, love how his horses go, and he got rave reviews from a few riders that I know and trust who had come over to work with him.” But, her plans were put on hold for a year because of a big time British event, the 2012 London Olympic Games where Carl competed for the British Team to a team Gold Medal, and his other horse, Valegro ridden by teammate Charlotte Dujardin won the individual Gold. This gave Austin time to focus on raising the funds to add Olivier’s son Coltrane to the plan. Austin rented out her Wellington condo, stuck out a winter in Vermont, and was off with her two boys to England this spring.