Show-jumping horses just do what comes natural

Each and every obstacle is designed to test the very natural and nurtured ability of the world’s best jumping horses and their riders. To horse trainer and tournament co-founder John Madden, the most rewarding aspect of the sport is that the horses meet “the challenges of concentration and bravery” more often than not. Read more at Syracuse.com.

Norco obstacle course reduces horses' urban fright

Norco's motto is "City Living in a Rural Atmosphere," and that's great for residents who enjoy living near an interstate on half-acre lots. But that combination sometimes causes the four-legged icons of Horsetown USA to shake in their shoes. Read more at The Press Enterprise.

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair gets underway Friday

Toronto, Ont. - The 88th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair opens at Exhibition Place, Friday. The annual event returns to Toronto this November with crowd favourites, such as livestock barns, horse shows, giant vegetable competitions, the Superdogs, and new shows and exhibits which include Horse Hockey, celebrity chef competitions, concerts and the Family Fun Stage. Read more at 680 News.com.

Zara Phillips poses with giant horse for sports brand

Royal action girl Zara Phillips shows no sign of flagging as she models her new clothing range yesterday. Read more at Mirror.co.uk.

North Ridgeville High School senior places in national horse show

North Ridgeville’s Alyssa Plewacki represented the region in the prestigious, week-long Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City last month. In her third year of competition, Plewacki participated in riding and horse judging competitions, placing higher than she ever had in the country’s biggest Morgan show. Read more at Cleveland.com.

Jockey Garrett Gomez is OK after being thrown from his horse Thursday at the Breeders' Cup

Louisville, Ky. -- Jockey Garrett Gomez, whose Breeders' Cup mounts include Blame in the Classic for New Orleans-born trainer Al Stall Jr., took a spill Thursday on the turf course at Churchill Downs but escaped serious injury. Read more at Nola.com.

Blonde Redhead get back on the horse

Getting your jaw stepped on by a horse doesn't do wonders for your singing career.

Just ask Kazu Makino, vocalist of the New York-based post-rockers Blonde Redhead. In 2002, the Japan-born equestrian was thrown from her horse and trampled. The ensuing recovery forced the band into a hiatus, but it returned in 2004 with the excellent Misery Is a Butterfly (the video for album closer "Equus" provided a surreal depiction of the accident's aftermath). Read more at NBC San Diego .

Madison mounted patrol horse dies

Officials said Kandour, an 11-year-old Percheron draft horse, was euthanized at the University of Wisconsin's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Thursday after struggling with medical issues for a few months. Read more at Channel3000.com.

Kandour, an 11-year-old Percheron draft horse, was euthanized at the University of Wisconsin's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Thursday after struggling with medical issues for a few months.

Wayward horse found safe and sound

Wiley, the wayward retired racehorse who escaped Sunday into the woods near Pequaywan Lake, has been found safe and sound. Read more at Duluth News Tribune.

Fall grasses increase laminitis risk

As temperatures begin to dip, Dr. Juliet Getty, equine nutrition specialist, wants your horse to make the transition to winter feeding in good shape, and that means understanding about the sugar and starch that lurk in your fall pasture growth. Read more at America's Bridle and Bit.

Doc turned horse trainer seeking Breeders' Cup win

Michelle Nihei abandoned a promising career in medicine nine years ago and headed to the racetrack. That gamble could pay off Friday when Nihei sends out Prince Will I Am, her first Breeders' Cup runner, in the $1 million Marathon. Read more at Businessweek.com.

Zenyatta’s inspiration brings a songwriter back to horses

In a “bucket list” moment, Julie June Stewart woke up at 4 a.m. and bought a ticket to the 2008 Belmont Stakes. She hasn’t stopped going to the races since — when she isn’t taking on a wildfire, hurricane or volcano as the nation’s leading expert in disaster airspace coordination. Read more at The New York Times.

Mine That Bird film in the works

Secretariat didn't exactly race out of the gate however that's not stopping Hollywood from returning to the racetrack for another film about an extraordinary horse. Kingsborough Pictures just announced production will begin in 2011 on Mine That Bird, the true story of the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner. Read more at About.com.