August 3, 2012 (Blairstown, NJ) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Verified status to Saddlebred Rescue, Inc. as of August 1, 2012. Verification means that Saddlebred Rescue meets the criteria of a true equine sanctuary/rescue and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s...

The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised! In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much...

Diederique Van Der Knaap and Clive won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, August 5, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Week five of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival concluded on Sunday, August 5, with two exciting Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics featured in the grand prix ring at Harold Beebe Farm. Diederique Van Der Knaap, of New York, NY, rode Clive to victory in the $10,000 SJHOF...

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince get some serious height over the CWD fence in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – Laura Chapot just extended her impressive mid-summer winning streak with another victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Friday’s triumph marked the fourth consecutive win for Chapot in the last two weeks and the...

Luis Larrazabal and G&C Flash won the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Venezuela’s Luis Larrazabal earned an exciting victory in the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week...

So when I got here I thought ‘How hard could it be to take 20 minutes every day and write about what happened’? Very difficult when you are running around like a headless chicken. Cross country day brought glorious weather and some epic performances were on display. The crowds were amazing and you could hear the horses coming by the roar of the crowd all the way around the course. There were people installed along the galloping lanes, not even anywhere near a fence. It was...

So we got the competition started yesterday. Literally. Boyd was first in on Otis Barbotiere and did a great job with the French phenom. Still green, Otis tried his heart out and coped remarkably well with the atmosphere. Unfortunately the judges weren't all quite on the same page yet, as the caffeine in the coffee was seemingly NOT evenly distributed. There was a 7 point spread in his scores which in the sport of reining, for instan ce, would be cause for an audit.We got over that, but it...

Laura Chapot and Umberto glide effortlessly over a Liverpool in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - Just five days after an exciting win in last week’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Laura Chapot found herself holding another blue ribbon thanks to an impressive victory in today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson....

As the United States looks forward to the 2012 Paralympics for the United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team, the Para-Equestrian Driving Team will be preparing for the 2012 Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships, scheduled August 30-September 2, 2012 in Breda, The Netherlands. The 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Driving Team for the World Driving Championships include Diane Kastama, Grade 1, from Arroyo Grande, CA; Pam Johnson, Grade 2 from Pleasant Hill, MO; and Karen Gorham, Grade 2, of...

It began years before its inaugural date in 1993, this vision of an Arabian championship show for young people. Arabian horsemen have always applauded and supported their youth, and the current national show is a dynamic reflection of that recognition and energy. This year’s show officially began Saturday, July 21st, but there were also several days of Youth Clinics, Seminars and a Youth Convention that led up to first classes Saturday morning. There will be a total of over 130 classes at...