Lexington, KY - The following horse-and-rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO3* Bratislava, August 1-4, 2013 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The five following combinations will represent the U.S. at the CSIO3* Bratislava: Kirsten Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL) will ride Ilan Ferder's Calypso Calypso is a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding Megan Nusz (The Woodlands, TX) will ride Amalaya...

Note to self: The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” applies to many things. When teaching a WD clinic be prepared for anything! This week’s blog comes from Vancouver Washington on the Columbia River where the “Discover Western Dressage” clinic is being held as a fundraiser for Silver Buckle Ranch. The Buckle is a non-profit youth ranch that houses Clark County’s disabled riding program. It is a pleasure to be here and to know that the clinic proceeds will be used...

Alicen Divita - CVI3* Women's Individual Winner (Kate Revell, VaultingPhotos.com) Hollister, CA - The Pacific Cup CVI concluded three days of competition at Gilroy Gaits in Hollister, CA. It was the largest CVI ever held in the US, with 99 vaulters entered, including 33 foreign vaulters from 9 countries with a large contingent from Canada, Colombia and Argentina, as well as individuals from Australia, Hungary, Mexico, Norway, Russia and the Republic of South Africa. The Pacific Cup offered...

Welcome to a different kind of blog from WDAA. The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging moments on her journey...

Kenya and Caitlyn Shiels topped the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Walgreens (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - July 15, 2013 - Caitlyn Shiels gave Kenya a pep talk before heading to the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring for the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Walgreens. After collecting a bountiful array of ribbons during Horse Shows by the Bay Series II, Kenya had one more important outing on Sunday afternoon, July 14. "I told him, 'Today is...

Lexington, KY - In Germany and Austria over the weekend U.S. Dressage riders and horses competed to top placings at CDI4* events in Lingen and Fritzens-Schindlhof. In Fritzens, Austria Tina Konyot (Palm City, FL) shined in Grand Prix competition with a 3rd place finish in Saturday's Grand Prix and a 2nd place finish in Sunday's Freestyles test, with a score of 76.450%, riding Calecto V. In small tour competition Jennifer Hoffman (San Diego, CA) rode to 3rd place in the Prix St. Georges...

Calgary, Alberta – Five weeks of world-class competition wrapped up at Spruce Meadows on Sunday afternoon with a fantastic win for Ireland’s Conor Swail and Lansdowne in the $400,000 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Grand Prix. The final event of the summer featured a five-horse jump-off with a win for the Irish, Colombia’s Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS in second and fellow Irishman Cameron Hanley and Antello in third. Canada’s Peter Grant set the track on Sunday...

Holly Shepherd and Loretta Patterson's Triompf make it look easy on their way to the winner's circle (Classic Communications) Johns Island, SC - After a lengthy absence, Classic Company President, Bob Bell decided to reintroduce grand prix action to the boutique-style Charleston Summer Classic and dedicated the first grand prix in memory of Juan Hernandez. Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Loretta Patterson's Triompf celebrated the return of the grand prix Saturday night with a win...

Ashlee Bond and Agrostar shined in round one and braved the rain in round two for their win in Saturday’s $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – Ashlee Bond (USA) and Agrostar earned an exciting victory in the $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup 1.50m competition on Saturday during day three of the ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows. The pair led a five-horse jump-off out of 37 competitors to win over Canada’s Kara Chad and...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal (Carrie Wirth/Mary Adelaide Brakenridge Phelps Media Group) Parker, CO - Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima built what appeared to be a straightforward course for the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix for Summer in the Rockies V, considered the peak week of the summer series at the Colorado Horse Park. But the course was tougher than appearances let on. "I decided to do a more technical course than a really big course, which meant they had...