The USDF “L” Education Program was developed to teach judges to evaluate the correct training of dressage horses, and is a prerequisite for entering the USEF Dressage Judges Training Program and obtaining Recorded “r” status. Designed to provide trainers, instructors, competitors, and spectators insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage, it also provides continuing education for licensed judges and “L” Graduates. Several programs will be...

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...

Lexington, KY - The U.S. Dressage Team heads to the Hickstead CDIO3* with high expectations this week as they look to continue the momentum that has been building throughout the summer. Four talented riders; Shelly Francis, Arlene “Tuny” Page, Kathleen Raine and Guenter Seidel Shelly Francis and Doktor (SusanJStickle.com) compose the Nations Cup team, while David Blake will ride in Grand Prix competition as an individual. Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Francis will also ride...

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 their journey...

Lexington, KY - A talented team of jumpers descend upon Hickstead, England this week to represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Hickstead. The prestigious competition will run August 1-4 and hosts the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines on Friday, August 2nd. The U.S. will be represented by three veterans as Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, and Richard Spooner all look to score top honors throughout the week. Additionally, young rising stars Reed Kessler and Katie Dinan make...

McLain Ward and Zander jumped their way to a win in the $75,000 AIG Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties this weekend (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - McLain Ward’s mount Zander proved that he is coming into his own in the grand prix ring on Sunday. The nine-year-old gelding was purchased by Ward of Brewster, New York and Grant Road Partners a year and a half ago and picked up several respectable wins over the last year, the most recent being this weekend’s $75,000...

As you know I occasionally receive a story from a Western Dressage rider and this week I would like to share with you the story behind a beautiful magazine cover photo that appeared recently in Paint Horse Journal and which featured coverage of Western Dressage. The photo was of Katrina Sanders and her Paint horse Pirate. Here is what Katrina shares with western dressage enthusiasts this week: “Thank you so much for offering to feature my photo in your blog! I am honored and so grateful...

Lexington, KY - At the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors mid-year meeting on Monday, July 22nd, some significant rule and bylaw changes were brought to the table. The changes concerned horse welfare, the structure of the USEF Board of Directors, and the discipline of western dressage. Each of the changes brought forth received a majority vote to approve and a summary of each change is detailed below. Horse Welfare Changes Two important Proposed Extraordinary Rule...

Twelve horses from a field of 48 returned to jump off in the Telefonica Grand Prix at the La Coruña CSI4* in Spain. Their riders included such worldwide show jumping stars as Daniel Deusser, Kevin Staut, and John Whitaker, and it was the U.S.'s own star Kent Farrington that led Amalaya Investment's Voyeur to the top of the leaderboard. With a clean jump-off round in a speedy 47.15s, after a fine first round over Javier Tranor's thirteen obstacle course, Kent and Voyeur proved...

Brittini Raflowitz cleaned up Chicago on the final day of Equifest I with the $7,500 Cavalor High Junior/Amateur-Owner victory aboard Zacca Zoeloe, riding to the second place with KT Undercover (Ashley N. Williams) Wayne, IL - The final day of Equifest I opened to cloudless skies and strong jumper competition as the Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers took the spotlight in the Grand Prix Arena at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. Brittini Raflowitz rode to her fourth major win of the week, this...