Last week I gave you some wonderful numbers that show the tremendous growth we have seen in Western Dressage over the last year. Almost 200 shows and events are already scheduled for 2013… 200! All those events are the brainchildren of people who want to help develop WD in their area. Most riders start by going to audit or participate in a clinic first or by becoming familiar with different philosophies and approaches to western dressage via the FaceBook pages or investigating the...

No.8 Kansas State University def. Oklahoma State University The Wildcats were looking to prove that they were back on top of their game. It appears as though they are. A huge question mark just a few weeks ago, Kansas State now looks like a team to watch heading into the big 12 championship and NCEA National Championship. Their 11-8 decision Saturday was vengeance for an early season loss to the Cowgirls, and a confidence booster. It was an even match, but K-State Hunter and Western teams got...

Andre Thieme and Contanga 3 were the fastest of two clear rounds in the jump-off of the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, and will return to Germany with a win (Flying Horse Photography) Ocala, FL – Andre Thieme didn’t think it was Contanga 3’s day when they were one of nine pairs to return to jump off Sunday in the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, at HITS Ocala. “I...

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna were the ones to beat in the at HITS Thermal in the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - With a first-place prize of $350,000 on the line, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rose to the occasion, piloting Bella Donna to a paycheck she will not soon forget as winner of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. The best...

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today's Equestrian & Fellows wrapped up competition Sunday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The highlight class was the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, with Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O taking the top prize. The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo wrapped up with awards in four divisions, and the...

Saer Coulter has been knocking on the door of a grand prix victory all winter circuit, but capitalized Friday with a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Wild Card, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal. She piloted Graciella 50 (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - They were the first pair to go clear, and Saer Coulter cleaned up with Graciella 50 to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Wild Card, presented by Zoetis, on Friday. The Stanford-based Coulter piloted the nine-year-old...

Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Whether it was the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day or just natural skill and talent, the Irish riders were on a roll on the final day of competition for week ten of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Horseware Ireland. Richie Moloney and Equinimity LLC's Slieveanorra jumped to victory in the $33,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic to conclude the week's jumper...

Ned Cunniffe and Cherrybrook Blue Suede Shoes (Photography) Wellington, FL - Ned Cunniffe piloted Cherrybrook Blue Suede Shoes to a St. Patrick's Day victory in the Autism Speaks Children's Large Pony Hunter during week ten of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Paulexi, LLC's "Suede," a seventeen-year-old Welsh Pony/Thoroughbred cross, was fourth under saddle and second in two over fences classes with Cunniffe in the irons. Reserve championship honors went to...

Kate Conover of Ocala, Florida and Trendy on their way to a victory in the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, which was presented Saturday at both HITS Ocala and Thermal (©ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - East Coast hunter riders went to bats with their West Coast rivals Saturday in the highly-anticipated $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge, where Kate Conover rode to first and second-place honors. Conover, of Ocala, Florida, piloted Caroline Kellogg’s Trendy to the win and James...

Eiken Sato and Espyrante (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Japan's Eiken Sato and Espyrante jumped to victory in the $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday night during another exciting evening of international competition for week ten at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a jump-off of seven nations, Sato beat out riders from Great Britain, Ireland, Venezuela, Germany, Greece and the United States for his first big win at the Pam Beach International...