This is a truly thrilling time to be a part of Western Dressage and the Western Dressage Association® of America! I recently had the opportunity to chat with Cliff Swanson, who has been instrumental in many facets of the program, including authoring and editing the new tests, working with the Rules Committee, developing the Train The Trainers™ Program and conducting a wonderful series of Skill Set Clinics. Cliff also sits on the Advisory Board for the WDAA. According to Cliff,...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and its Eventing High Performance Department is proud to announce a redesigned Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program beginning in 2013. In 2013, a Developing Rider will be defined as a rider (maximum age of 25) who has achieved a qualifying result at the CCI2* level. Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor will lead the Developing Riders/Eventing 25 program and coach the accepted athletes. In addition to lessons under saddle, there...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has seated two new show jumping committees. The appointment of the Show Jumping High Performance Committee and the election of the Show Jumping Eligible Athlete Committee have been finalized. Show Jumping High Performance Committee Will Simpson, Chair Norman Dello Joio, Vice-Chair and Elected Athlete Ronnie Beard Jane Clark David Distler Kent Farrington Laura Kraut Anne Kursinski Beezie Madden, Elected Athlete Christine McCrea,...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has seated two new para-equestrian committees. The Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee and Para-Equestrian Eligible Athlete Committee are both pending approval of the USEF Executive Committee. Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee (Pending approval of the Executive Committee) Dale Dedrick Barabara Grassmyer, Elected Eligible Athlete Hope Hand Rebecca Hart, Elected Eligible Mary Jordan, Elected Eligible Athlete Kim Kelly...

Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce plans for the 2013 USEF Dressage Developing Program. The Dressage Developing Program is made possible by a generous gift from Akiko Yamazaki and Red Husky Foundation through U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. Debbie McDonald returns in 2013 as USEF Developing Coach, as the program seeks to identify talented, developing combinations with potential for future team and international success. The first step in this...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

The equestrian world recently lost one of the great eventing horses of his time, Bruce Davidson’s illustrious partner Eagle Lion was 27-years-old. The Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse gelding, by Gipfel out of Stream Lion and owned by Dr. George Strawberry, had numerous top placings both nationally and internationally. In 1995, Davidson and Eagle Lion were the first American pair to win the Badminton CCI4*. Between the years 1990 and 1998, the horse earned 1277 points. Eagle Lion was...

Westport, CT - The EQUUS Foundation and the American Association of Equine Practioners (AAEP) Foundation joinly established the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship program in 2011 to emphasize the importance of equine research, to reward researchers for their contributions, and to meet the increasing need to train future equine veterinary researchers. Two equine researchers were presented with the 2012 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows for their work to advance veterinary knowledge during the...

Lexington, KY - The 2013 Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Dressage Championships presented by HorseShow.com will host up-and-coming dressage horses over five divisions of National Championship competition. Four-, five- and six-year-olds will vie for national titles in their respective Young Horse Championships. While developing horses have the option to compete in Prix St. Georges or Grand Prix Championships. Markel has supported the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program since...

Connor Husain is the recipient of the 2012 Amanda Warrington Grant from the USET Foundation. (Shannon Brinkman) Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded the 2012 Amanda Warrington Grant to Eventing rider Connor Husain of The Plains, VA, the first male rider to win this prestigious grant. The Amanda Warrington Grant is awarded through the USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. Earlier this year, Husain won the North American...